Edwards looking for Leeds to retain winning mentality

Leeds were the favourites to win promotion from the RFU Championship following their relegation from the Premiership in May.

However, life as head coach began woefully for Edwards as Leeds lost four of their first five games.

But they have won six consecutively to move to within striking distance of the division’s pacesetters and welcome Rotherham tonight looking to make another statement of their intent.

Andre Bester’s side will be looking to lay down yet another marker having claimed a number of scalps in a highly-encouraging start to their campaign.

In short, there is plenty on the line in the Yorkshire derby at Headingley Carnegie tonight.

Edwards said: “We have made good progress in the first half of the season. We have won games we have not had a right to win.

“But we have got a winning mentality and have shown we can perform under pressure.

“The performances over the last six to seven weeks have been high.

“We know we can win the big games against Bedford, Nottingham and Bristol.

“We have won seven out of our 11 games and, other than Bristol, no team has won more games.

“But we need to keep winning these big games because there is a number of very good sides in this division and on any given day, anyone can beat anyone, as has been proved.”

Rotherham got the better of Leeds in the second game of the season back in September, a factor Edwards will use to motivate his players tonight.

He said: “We didn’t show the right desperation in that game.

“We have watched enough of Rotherham’s games this season to know what kind of game they will bring at us and we want to turn the tables.

“I’ve not been surprised how well they have done. They’re a committed team and Andre has got them playing hard.

“Too often Leeds have lost to Rotherham and I’ve played in some of those games. We need to change that tonight.”

Leeds would close on the top five with a win tonight while Rotherham would climb from fifth into top spot with victory, so tightly bunched are the top eight.

Bester said: “Leeds have some experienced players; Mike MacDonald, Andy Titterrell and Lee Blackett for instance and they are not as young a side as people would have you believe. We expect a very, very tough game.”

Bester will conduct late fitness tests on Shane Monahan, Sam Dickinson and Sean Dougall. Edwards will pick from his strongest available squad of the season.

James O’Connor will start at fly-half for Australia in tomorrow’s international against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

O’Connor, who has played on the wing and at full-back for the Wallabies, will line up opposite his new Melbourne Rebels team-mate Danny Cipriani.