LISTENING to Andy Robinson extolling the virtues of Scotland's capital, the Edinburgh Rugby coach could easily be confused with his Glasgow rival Sean Lineen.
After all, despite earning gainful employment along the M8, it is Lineen who serves as a Deputy Edinburgh Lord Lieutenant, representing the Queen at ceremonial events.
But, while Robinson may have arrived in Edinburgh 20 years after Lineen began t
o earn invites from venerable civic worthies while his sporting profile as a rugby player was sky high, it is clear just how much the relative newcomer feels at home here.
For starters you can tune in to Englishman Robbo's professed raison d'être for trying to help ensure a successful Heineken European Cup campaign starting on Saturday when Leinster visit Murrayfield.
"Part of the appeal is a great weekend out," he said. "And we have so many top European cities, phenomenal cities. That is why Edinburgh really do well in the Heineken Cup," he says.
Warming to the theme of how Edinburgh belongs at the Euro top table, he adds: "It's important that Edinburgh is successful because of how Edinburgh is seen as a cultural European city."
Robinson's perception of a cultural oasis might not sit entirely comfortably with his team sharing top billing this weekend alongside "Sing-a-long-a Abba" at our own Festival Theatre. Nevertheless, the point is well made that Edinburgh is entitled to crave success and he aims to help.
The priority is to halt a slide that has seen the team tumble to successive defeats in the Celtic League.
"If we play like we played on the last two weekends (away to Newport and Ulster) we will be beaten," he says.
Indeed Robinson appears to be banking on a special team focus that will come from facing up to the prospect that their European bid could be over almost before it begins. "Let's not beat about the bush," says the man who earned a reputation as a no-nonsense flanker when winning his eight England caps. "We have to have a belief in ourselves. We have got to attack. We have got to throw everything at Leinster and see what comes out of it."
Optimism also stems from a fresh start.
"It is away from the Magners League and, if you are to do anything in Europe, you have to win the first game. We have to get a foothold in this tournament."
Of course that is easier said than done, especially as Edinburgh lost a league match to Saturday's rivals by the resounding margin of 6-52. Turnarounds of that nature are nothing new to Robinson and Co, however, remembering how Edinburgh crashed 0-39 at Leicester in the Heineken Cup last season before winning the return 17-12 against those rivals who were still hoping to progress.
So, can something similar be achieved and what was key to the Leicester about-turn?
"There had to be a collective belief and we take that into every game we play, while operating to a framework. If we do that and everyone is on top of their game we can win. We go in as underdogs and Leinster have shown what they can do to us if we let them play. In saying that, we have a belief we can beat whoever – provided we do our best not in training but in the game itself."
Evidence exists to back up the claim because, over the years, Edinburgh have won competitive fixtures against six of the eight teams who have won the Heineken Cup – Toulouse, Wasps, Ulster, Northampton, Leinster and Munster. Exceptions are Brive and Bath. "If you put the scalps together there is a campaign to be waged, albeit we need to have intensity throughout," says Robinson.
If anybody should know it is Robinson, having coached Bath to the title and, although that was a decade ago, memories remain fresh – as does his relish for the event.
"My reaction at the final whistle of Bath's win was: 'How did we do that?' There were times, as with all teams, where we had to survive desperate defence and we needed a fingertip tackle (by Ieuan Evans) on the fastest man on the pitch. But we grew in confidence.
"The tournament itself is great for supporters as they go to different places. To get involved is a great weekend."
If Edinburgh do prosper then much will be down to the players as well as the vast experience of Robinson, who is quick to share credit with assistant Rob Moffat – another well-travelled rugby Europhile with now-defunct Borders and Glasgow.
And, who knows, success might even lead to a Freedom of the City award – putting Deputy Lord Lieutenant Lineen in the shade.
The full article contains 796 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
