Cross points out the positives of scrums rather than kicks

Published on Tuesday 20 October 2009 22:43

TIM Visser may have scored the try that edged Edinburgh’s first win in this season’s Heineken Cup, but as attention turns back to the Magners League and the arrival of reigning champions Munster, the performance of the hosts’ front row has not gone unnoticed.

Geoff Cross, Ross Ford, Kyle Traynor and Allan Jacobsen all played key roles in gradually dominating the second half forward exchanges with the Ulstermen, and nowhere was it more in evidence than in a six-minute spell near the end when the front row insisted on taking the scrum option when penalties were awarded against Ulster near the visitors’ line.

It was a turnaround from early season when the Edinburgh front row struggled to cope with Harlequins and Newcastle in friendlies and were beasted by the Ulster pack at Ravenhill. With first-choice players back and now match-fit, and scrum coaches Tom Smith and Massimo Cuttita having got the measure of them, the scrum is becoming something of a weapon for Edinburgh.

“It was enjoyable,” said Cross, a wide smile revealing the understated nature of that comment. “I don’t know what it looked like from the stands, but at the coalface it didn’t seem risky because we felt we were in a position to take an advantage in a place we were dominant. We were looking to put them under pressure and give our backs an opportunity to score, or to score directly through the pack.

“Now, we didn’t actually get that, so in that sense it was a let-down, but what was very encouraging was our discipline at the scrummage and the way we held the Ulster pack in and drew them into a really good grizzly, physical battle, and ran the clock down in a very important part of the game.

“What it shows is that we can do it and now it’s up to us to do it again when the time comes, but do better and get the result we set out for, which is points.”

The front row were back in harness yesterday with Cross, Ford and Traynor helping Edinburgh publicise their ‘Anygame’ vouchers that encourage supporters to buy adult tickets for all Magners League matches early, with the incentive of saving 5. These are available from the Murrayfield Ticket Centre.

After receiving criticism from supporters who experienced lengthy queues at the recent Magners League match with Leinster, Edinburgh acted successfully to improve access to the ground on matchday. The ticket centre was opened earlier on Saturday for the Heineken Cup match with Ulster, more staff were deployed and access opened up to turnstiles beside the centre, so stopping the unnecessary walk around the outside of the stadium just to get in once a ticket had been purchased.

There was never going to be the same issues as with the Leinster game, however, because while the attendance was just 14 fewer, at 5,747, the afternoon kick-off ruled out the late movement of club supporters and players and officials to Murrayfield from club games. A big test of Edinburgh supporters’ faith comes with the return to league action. The Munster fixture last year was at the start of an exciting season and attracted 5,444, and Edinburgh hope for something similar with 1,000 schoolchildren also given free tickets for Friday’s clash.

Their British and Irish Lions hooker Ford added: “The supporters have been absolutely brilliant in our last two home matches and have given the team a lift. Friday should be another special atmosphere.”

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