Newport Gwent Dragons 21 - 10 Edinburgh: Limp first half leaves visitors with too much to do in Newport

The try-phobia of Scottish rugby players is in danger of spreading like an oil slick from the national side down through the pro teams, as Edinburgh ‘butchered’ some sitters like only the Scotland team can.

Edinburgh’s squad is far more badly hit through the Six Nations than sides like Newport, of course, so the away defeat was not all that surprising. However, the first half was disappointing nonetheless and the second-half missed opportunities were horrifying to witness.

Ironically, in the second half Edinburgh suddenly looked like a side capable of scoring from anywhere, with the hard work seeming easy as they carved out opportunities while, in a depressingly familiar tale, the easy bit seemed impossible.

They did score one try, second-row Grant Gilchrist forcing his way over from short range, though it followed a neat break by outside centre Matt Scott which ended with the try-scoring pass going astray.

The worst example also involved Scott as Tim Visser hacked through a loose ball and Edinburgh suddenly had a four on one. No-one committed the defender, finally Scott’s pass to Sep Visser on the right wing was late and awkward and the chance ended as a missed opportunity.

So did the match, for that would have narrowed the gap to 21-17 and set up a grandstand finish. Instead the game fizzled out having flattered to deceive most of the way through.

Although many of the star names are missing, this is still vital preparation for the huge Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Toulouse after the Six Nations, so Edinburgh were keen to emphasise they have had no problem scoring tries this season and one blip does not set a trend.

“We were very poor in the first half, 18-3 down at half time and we were not in the game at all, the Dragons were better at the breakdown,” was coach Michael Bradley’s explanation

“In the second half we created two or three glorious chances to snatch tries but managed to mess them up. At least we created them, though.

“We had a four to one there in our favour and we managed not to score, which took some doing, the other one when Matt got through and threw a loose pass for him.

“There are two ways of looking at it, we did create and did get people there, did flood the turnover and manufactured the line break. If you keep doing that then you will score tries for sure.

“Netani Talei and Stuart McInally were very good, they are pushing for places in the Heineken Cup side and every player with the jersey now has that opportunity.

“We knew the Dragons would do what they did and we did not stop them, which is disappointing, but this is a very important tournament to us, we are still trying very hard.”

Certainly there was plenty of effort, especially as the game opened up in the second half, but there was a problem with taking opportunities which was not helped by the little ball that went the way of Tim Visser, one player who certainly knows his way to the line. Brother Sep on the other wing also lacked opportunties to show what he could do.

The Dragons scored fairly routine tries, turning pressure into points through scrum-half Joe Bedford and France-bound left-wing Aled Brew, but they were not stretched after that.

The Edinburgh pack worked hard without ever getting on top, no-one had a terrible game and at times they were threatening, but certainly there is plenty to work on ahead of next week’s return to Galway for former Connacht coach Bradley. “They will be looking forward to facing us. They drew with Glasgow this weekend, so that will be such a difficult place to go, as Harlequins found out,” he said. “It will be fine, just as long as I go into the right dressing-room.”