Cockerill refuses to crow over win as he warns of testing times to come

Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill is refusing to get carried away with his side's 31-13 victory over Newcastle, warning it will be a different game'' when the pair clash again next week. The Scottish outfit moved to the top of their Champions Cup pool with a comfortable bonus-point win over previously-unbeaten Newcastle at BT Murrayfield.

It is looking good for Edinburgh at the midway point of the qualifying phase, but Cockerill is taking nothing for granted in a group that also includes French sides Montpellier and Toulon.

It's a good five points but we know what to expect next week. It will be a different game,'' said Cockerill in reference to the return fixture at Kingston Park.

We're still in the group, we still have a lot to do but we've got a fighting chance which is where we want to be.

We are going to go there (Newcastle) and try and win then go to Toulon which is going to be difficult and then Montpellier are going to come here looking to qualify.''

Cockerill insists his players are capable of challenging for overall success in the competition, but he is equally adamant that there is a long way to go.

He added: This is where Edinburgh want to be and we are doing alright. We are going to give it our best shot.

We genuinely believe that if we can get the right people on the field and play to the best of our ability we can beat anybody.''

In the away camp, Cockerill's counterpart Dean Richards was furious at the decision of tournament organisers to prevent him from drafting in a replacement after an injury crisis robbed Newcastle of three specialist front row players.

The Falcons director of rugby said: You lose three tighthead props in 24 hours, you ask for dispensation to bring in another one and you're not allowed that so you have to play a loosehead on the tight.

It's not like playing a left wing on the right wing or an inside centre at outside centre. There is a safety issue there and they weren't prepared to address it so I was particularly disappointed with it.''

Richards praised the efforts of his makeshift side, who led at the interval but were powerless when the hosts raised the pace after the resumption.

It was always going to be a difficult second half,'' he said.We created a lot of opportunities and didn't take them - we will look to nail them next week.''

But his final word was another comment on the intransigence of the organisers.

For the integrity of the game and the competition the boys said 'Look we'll give it a go', and to be fair to them they stuck at it,'' he said.