Rugby: Samson shows strength of character in Bath call

Published on Tuesday 15 December 2009 08:37

THE newest graduate to Heineken European Cup rugby with Edinburgh today urged the Capital side to carry on where they left off at Bath when the fixture is reversed on Saturday with a visit to Murrayfield for the Englishmen.

When he stepped over the whitewash with three minutes plus additional time remaining of an eventual 9-16 defeat on Sunday at the Recreation Ground, scrum half Ross Samson became the 132nd Edinburgh player to experience the continent's blue riband event, although fellow sub David Young – a 78th-minute entrant – had represented Leicester and Gloucester previously.

Short and bittersweet the experience may have been, given the overall result, but the 21-year-old, who was brought back to his native land from Newcastle over the summer, believes there is plenty that both he and the team can take from the occasion.

That is particularly the case since qualification, despite this setback, remains entirely in Edinburgh's hands.

Five points only may have been garnered at the halfway stage in Pool 4. But three wins with try bonus points against Bath (home), Ulster (away) and Stade Francais (home) would see Edinburgh finish on 20 points, which was good enough to gain entry to the knockout stages a year ago.

More relevantly, if they reach that target and give nothing away by way of try or losing bonus points against Ulster or Stade Francais, Edinburgh would be guaranteed to march on.

A tall order? Of course. And few, surely, would pretend otherwise.

Nevertheless, a bit of Samson spirit wouldn't go amiss in the battle to overcome even such long odds.

Reflecting on what was not only his Euro debut but also his Edinburgh baptism, former Stewart's-Melville prospect Samson said: "Above all it is has left me wanting more."

During his brief spell on the pitch, Samson gained praise from TV commentators for driving his forwards on during a spell of relentless pressure on the Bath line.

He added: "I had a couple of tap-and-gos. There's no point in being shy and holding anything back."

That is particularly the case when you've waited as long as former Scotland under-20 cap Samson to get a taste of pro action.

He was farmed out to Tynedale during his spell at Newcastle, which only saw see him wear the famous black-and-white in the Middlesex sevens. On returning home, there was further frustration as he had to keep himself ticking over while Mike Blair and Greig Laidlaw monopolised the No. 9 jersey.

He was on the bench but didn't make it on the pitch in Edinburgh's opening Magners League match at Cardiff, as well as the most recent assignment, at Llanelli Scarlets, which again produced an away win.

Samson said: "The bench was definitely getting a bit warm underneath me, which was another good reason to be grateful for my opportunity when it came. To play in the league remains a goal but to have joined the list of those who have appeared at European level is especially good, given the high standard.

"I knew when I joined Edinburgh that Greig was a quality player and he's having a great season in backing that up.

"As for Mike he is, well, Mike – the Scotland captain and a British and Irish Lion. But I didn't move to make up numbers so I'll try to kick on, even if it has been difficult sometimes keeping my hand in by playing with an Edinburgh Accies club who have had injury problems, and the Gael Force team which has struggled in the British and Irish Cup."

Pledging that the assault on Bath's defences can be carried over to this Saturday, Samson takes some consolation from the one point that came from finishing within a single score.

"We could easily have drawn had we scored a late converted try and, at one stage, I certainly thought we were over their line.

"But one point is better than none from a match where we maintained our attacking ethos even if we now have to go out and claim a victory.

"That would certainly be reward for those fans who followed us south and who deserved nothing less than to be acknowledged by the players at the end."