Rugby: Heineken Cup final offers hope for Edinburgh fans

Published on Friday 22 May 2009 09:58

ON the basis that you tell a man's true worth by the company he keeps, Edinburgh Rugby and their supporters may be excused holding out for a Leinster victory over Leicester Tigers in the Heineken European Cup Final at Murrayfield tomorrow (kick-off 5pm).

Leinster are, of course, from the same Magners Celtic League as Edinburgh.

And if these Dubliners were to lift the trophy for the first time then that would, surely, add further lustre to a competition already basking in the prestige of its clubs supplying 23 members of the latest 35-strong British and Irish Lions playing party with one vacancy still to be filled.

Furthermore, Edinburgh finishing runners-up on the domestic front suggests it wouldn't take much for a gap to be bridged that would allow skipper Mike Blair's team to soon be competitive on the wider cross-border front.

Certainly that is the view of tournament ambassador and the man who, coincidentally, captained the first Edinburgh team into European action 13 years ago – Scott Hastings.

He said: "When you consider how well Edinburgh did in the league this season and see Leinster being installed as many people's favourites tomorrow then it fills you with optimism that good times lie ahead in our Capital.

"Whether Leinster can deliver could be down to reproducing the form they showed in beating Munster in the semi-final.

"For me, that was the top performance in a vintage Heineken European Cup with players such as Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Rocky Elsom really turning it on.

"Against that Sam Vesty (pictured below] is in a rich vein of form in the Leicester centre and Alesana Tuilagi will be back from suspension on the wing compared to the team which edged home in the Guinness Premiership final last weekend.

"There are a host of British and Irish Lions on both sides and what it could come down to is how well these guys shut out the forthcoming tour of South Africa and produce the intensity that will be required."

One player who has faced both teams in recent years is Edinburgh's top try scorer for 2008-09, Ben Cairns. He predicts a much more free-flowing encounter than the 2005 instalment at Murrayfield when Toulouse just shaded Stade Francais after extra time in a try-less match.

"I see this final going down to the wire again but in a different style," he says, adding: "Leinster have always been really exciting but they have developed a steelier edge and a winning mentality."

On their first final appearance can they take that attitude forward with them? Or will it come down to Leicester's ability to squeeze success out of really tight matches as was shown in the latest English Premiership Final when they won 10-9 against London Irish?

"At Twickenham last week Leicester didn't play all that well by their standards but they still got over the line first and that's a great attribute to have especially with the way they are able to take scoring opportunities every time they come along," Cairns went on.

If familiarity with the Murrayfield surroundings comes into play then there can only be one winner. Leicester's visits are restricted to a single incursion two seasons ago when they went down 17-12 to Edinburgh.

On the other hand, Leinster have been in Edinburgh twice this season alone with mixed fortunes as Edinburgh won in the league to compensate for a Euro defeat. And that is exactly why Cairns is entitled to feel that what Leinster are doing today his team can achieve tomorrow.

"Nic Cartwright (Edinburgh chief executive) has outlined ways in which we can emulate what Leinster are doing in charting their progress over five years," he said.

"It hasn't gone unnoticed that they have the same Capital-city base as Edinburgh and their style of play sees them particularly dangerous off turned over possession.

"After winning the Magners Celtic League last season Leinster have focused on Europe and could be about to get their reward.

"Mind you if the latest league winners, Munster, had lost at Murrayfield instead of inflicting our only home defeat in that tournament then there would have been an eight-point swing which would have put us joint top alongside them," says Cairns.

If and buts, of course. But given that statistic and the rising eminence of Celtic League rugby, with many of the Leinster players sharing in Ireland's grand slam, it is little wonder that Edinburgh players and well-wishers alike will be paying particularly close attention to events tomorrow.