NEWPORT Gwent Dragons travel to Scotland for a must win Heineken Cup game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield next Sunday in urgent need of stiffening their pack and having to be far more tactically aware.

The conditions in Scotland could well be similar to the deluge which wrecked Saturday's opener against Newcastle as a spectacle and contributed to their surprise 10-6 defeat.

That means a kicking game will have to be developed because for all the potential of the Dragons back division conditions could again count against their running, handling game.

And more bulk and ball winning expertise will have to be drafted in up front because the Heineken Cup with its top English and French teams is clearly a step-up from the Celtic League.

If the Dragons follow up their defeat against Newcastle with another in Edinburgh their dream of Heineken Cup glory will be over.

And the Dragons have to prepare with scrum half Gareth Cooper nursing a knee injury and the loss for part of the week of Percy Montgomery, who has to return to South Africa for a training camp ahead of their tour to the Northern Hemisphere, starting next week.

"It's very disappointing we lost a home game and we've left ourselves with a hill to climb now," admitted Dragons captain Jason Forster.

"We've got to go to Edinburgh and get the show on the road. We've got to go hell for leather, it's a huge game now and the boys understand that. Hopefully we'll step up to the mark.

"We've got a lot of work to do, but we're looking forward to this week and we've got to win in Edinburgh. It's a must win game or it will all be over."

Dragons coach Chris Anderson remains upbeat despite the setback against Newcastle.

"It was a bit of a knock-back, but we must handle that as a group and come out fighting against Edinburgh," he said. "It's not the end of the world, but we have to win next week."

Cooper hopes to make it against Edinburgh after being forced off in the closing stages against Newcastle.

"I twisted my knee, but it's not too bad," he said. "I wasn't sure when I first did it, but I saw the doctor and he thinks it looks pretty good.

"It's going to be tough in Edinburgh, but it's not impossible to qualify. It's big game and there will be a big emphasis on that one now. We've got to get back on track.

"Newcastle played well, but there's nothing for us to be afraid of when we go up there." The Dragons' defeat added to a miserable weekend for Welsh rugby with all four regions losing in the Heineken Cup.

Llanelli Scarlets were also beaten at home when they lost to Toulouse while Cardiff Blues went down in Ulster and Neath-Swansea Ospreys fell in Castres.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock now faces an anxious few days before the South Africa Test at the Millennium Stadium a week Saturday in view of fitness doubts about Cooper and Iestyn Thomas (neck).

And he will be without Ospreys back row forward Jonathan Thomas who has been banned for 18 days after being sent off in Castres for throwing a retaliatory punch.

Montgomery has been included in a 33-strong South Africa squad for their Northern Hemi-sphere tour next month as he continues his international rugby rehabilitation.

He added seven more caps to the 50 he had already won when he was recalled by new coach Jake White in the summer after two years in the wilderness when he decided to go overseas and join Newport.

He helped reviving South Africa win the Tri Nations title and also set a new South Africa points scoring record when he overhauled Naas Botha.

He has returned home this week for a pre-tour training camp, but will be back in time for Sunday's vital contest in Edinburgh.