Leinster 12 Edinburgh 3: Understrength Edinburgh show potential in Leinster defeat

Published on Sunday 25 January 2009 22:11

EDINBURGH put in a spirited defensive performance against overwhelming favourites yesterday afternoon in Dublin in their final Heineken Cup game.

Earlier this year Edinburgh had shipped more than 50 points at the same venue to Leinster in the Magners League, and that was arguably a stronger Edinburgh team.

On paper and in terms of finances Edinburgh should not have had a prayer in this game. Indeed, it would have been interesting to see what Edinburgh could have done with a full-strength team. Instead, coach Andy Robinson was shorn of six of the players from the winning team against Castres with winger Simon Webster injured in the warm-up.

This season Leinster have had their soft underbelly exposed when the going has got tough and their all– international back line has looked pedestrian on many occasions. Yesterday was a prime example of this.

The game started ominously for Edinburgh as they knocked on receiving Leinster's kick-off. The visitors however then settled well into the opening period, showing up well in the scrum, where debutant Kyle Traynor had the better of his opposite man, although referee Chris White had to have a word in his ear at one point.

Edinburgh even nicked the first scrum against the head. The lineout, too, functioned well on their own ball and they managed to disrupt a few home throws. David Blair kicked expertly from hand and late replacement Jim Thompson showed the Edinburgh spirit with one huge hit on opposite man Shane Horgan which had the big Dublin crowd gasping.

Robinson reflected on Edinburgh's good start to the game afterwards, saying: "We had a couple of chances early on to get a foothold and we didn't take them. For a young side coming away here to play it was important that we took them.

"When we had the pressure we allowed a couple of first-phase plays to go down, and it was too easy for Leinster to defend. We all know how good Contepomi is at kicking penalties and he did a good job.

I saw some young players like Kyle Traynor and Greig Laidlaw who really put their hand up and its really looking good for Edinburgh for the future."

Edinburgh though were too eager on many occasions at the breakdown and must have been sick of the sound of White's whistle. After 25 minutes they had conceded an incredible 11 penalties.

One of these saw centre John Houston sin-binned for taking out Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi who was supporting a barrelling run towards the Edinburgh line by home No 8 Jamie Heaslip. Contepomi calmly slotted four first-half penalties, punishing Edinburgh's repeated indiscretions on the floor. Edinburgh full back Chris Paterson responded with a penalty after Leinster were penalised for holding on in the tackle. It was Edinburgh's only shot at the posts in the whole game.

The second half started in heavy rain, and with Leinster pounding the Edinburgh try-line. The Leinster forwards and backs repeatedly attacked narrow and wide but Edinburgh defended brilliantly and saw Leinster resort to speculative chips over the top or grubbers which were easily mopped up by the Edinburgh sweepers.

With the glut of ball Leinster had in the second half they should have put the score beyond doubt.

The only Leinster player that Edinburgh had difficulty in getting to grips with was their outstanding full back and man of the match Rob Kearney who repeatedly opened Edinburgh up, but his slicing runs were from deep and never threatened the Edinburgh line.

Edinburgh's try-line defence kept them in the hunt for a bonus point and Edinburgh were attacking at the end, albeit from deep inside their own half, but piecing together some nice phases.

Scorers. Leinster: Pens: Contepomi 4. Edinburgh: Pen: Paterson.

Leinster: R Kearney; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, L Fitzgerald; I Nacewa, C Whitaker (capt); C Healy, B Jackman, S Wright, T Hogan, D Toner, R Elsom, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Subs used: D'Arcy,Fogarty, Le Roux.

Edinburgh: C Paterson; A Turnbull, N de Luca, J Houston, J Thompson; D Blair, G Laidlaw; K Traynor, A Kelly, G Cross, C Hamilton, B Gissing, S Newlands, S Cross, A Hogg (capt). Subs used: Kerr, Cairns, Reid, Macdonald, Lawrie.