Rugby: Denton hails forward thinking

By BILL LOTHIAN
Published on 10/09/2012 12:00

Dave Denton believes 
Edinburgh Rugby have developed the forward power to be a force in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 League.

Proof, according to the Test back row, came in the form of a rare penalty try awarded to Edinburgh during Friday’s thrilling victory against Cardiff at the Arms Park.

Admittedly the Blues had just had a player sin-binned. Nevertheless, Edinburgh turned the screw impressively and Denton said: “For us to get a penalty try from a scrum is massive, it shows where we are going as a club.

“If we can get the right balance between our backs and our forwards, then we are going to be unstoppable.”

Too often in the past Edinburgh’s forwards have been perceived as a weak-link, but that has been turned into a strength – and the immediate future looks bright with Italian newcomers Zebre due at 
Murrayfield this Friday looking for their first win.

By contrast, Edinburgh are up and running as a consequence of the 21-19 success at Cardiff courtesy of a late Greig Laidlaw drop goal.

Denton said: “The mood in the dressing room before this game was very similar to that before the Heineken Cup semifinal last season; that was how important it was for the boys to get that win.

“There is a real emphasis that that game was where the season starts.

“We wanted to build momentum, to be a winning team,” Denton said. “We know what it feels like to have that confidence.

“We are playing very good rugby, we just need to make sure we convert that into wins every time.”

So far it has been a struggle for Zebre, losing 37-6 at Dragons followed by a 30-17 defeat at home to Connacht.