WINGER Mark Robertson acknowledged the dream of a win to mark his first start for Edinburgh Rugby had gone up in smoke early as Munster launched the Celtic League with a win at Murrayfield.
But, at the same time, the 25-year-old was adamant that traditional Capital resilience would soon pay dividends given the narrow margin between success and failure against the reigning Heineken European champions
Edinburgh have never lost back-to
-back outings against Irish opposition since coach Andy Robinson took up the reins almost a year ago and Robertson, one of the few to make a home line-break in a 80 dour minutes, is hopeful that can be maintained with Leinster next up in Dublin on Friday.
He said: "The European champions are a tough side to play against and to get anything from them we had to fire at the start, which we didn't do. When we did get the ball, though, we looked dangerous," said Robertson when indicating that the upside of going straight in against a side of Munster's calibre is that standards are immediately set high.
It was shortly after half-time, which Edinburgh had reached 9-17 adrift, that Robertson, pictured below, threatened to erupt up the touchline and produce that elusive spark needed.
"They had quite a few guys back including (All Black try record holder) Dougie Howlett leaving me having to set the ball up but there were other times, too, when we were a bit unlucky.
"Nick De Luca jumped for the ball over their line and, although I thought he was maybe taken out in the air, it was a 50:50 situation which ended with us getting a penalty. Then there was a chance when Dave Callam went through but just couldn't get the offload pass away. So, when we were able to get quick ball we were dangerous; I think there is a lot more to come from both myself and Edinburgh so that we cause problems," said the player called up just before kick-off to deputise for hip-injury victim Simon Webster.
It is certainly the case that Edinburgh will not find many rivals as astute as Munster at slowing down the type of rapid possession on which they thrive and so can be expected to come good sooner rather than later.
Nevertheless, there was a raggedness to their play overall.
Too often kicks went straight to Munstermen, the line-out spluttered and creaked while ball carriers were either left isolated or the vital pass was allowed to go to ground.
It was all a sign of a team under constant pressure and, had Ronan O'Gara shown the form that has made him one of the world's top goal-kickers by accepting clear-cut chances, Munster would have had another nine points to add to their two unanswered tries through Keith Earls and David Wallace.
By contrast, harassed and hustled Edinburgh, in eschewing a similar cutting edge and vital composure, had instead to rely on Chris Paterson slotting five penalties out of six to take his Celtic tally to 408 and lie joint 11th in the all-time charts.
The first of these came after only 25 seconds in an ideal start but an inability to consolidate advantage was manifesting itself as early as the third minute when midfield fragility – Rua Tipoki bounced off two would-be tacklers – set up Earls unopposed out wide, O'Gara converting. The second quarter started with Paterson cutting the gap to a point but again Munster had the next word, Paul O'Connell battering forward before quick release saw Wallace capitalise in the same quarter where the opener had been touched down, O'Gara adding goal points. When Paterson struck for a third time there was an inevitability about O'Gara responding almost straight away and one of the biggest indictments of Edinburgh's lack of sharpness was their inability to take anything from the absence of Marcus Horan on a yellow card either side of the interval. Galvanised by Horan's return, O'Gara made it 20-9 which was adequate insurance against Paterson's penalties in the 55th and 75th minutes – the last of which ensured the team did not retire empty-handed having collected a losing bonus point.
According to Munster coach Tony McGahan, the Scots, in gaining a modicum of consolation, had earned their spoils.
"Full credit to Edinburgh, who attacked us well at the breakdowns in the second half to make it close in the end." he said and it was certainly the case that Mike Blair and Allan Jacobsen had striven particularly hard to wave the provoke positive responses from a lacklustre team.
McGahan counterpart Andy Robinson said of a match where, sadly, promising flanker Alan Macdonald retired with a hip knock after 29 minutes: "They had two cracking scores and deserved to win."
Who, among those 5443 fans who braved a wet and windy night at Scottish rugby hq would argue with that?
Scorers:
Edinburgh: Penalties: Paterson (5)
Munster: Tries: Earls, Wallace. Conversions: O'Gara (2). Penalties: O'Gara (2)
Edinburgh: Southwell, Paterson, Macrae, De Luca, Robertson (Turnbull, 55 mins.), Godman, Blair (c) Jacobsen, Ford, G Cross, Hamilton, Gissing, Mustchin, Hogg, Macdonald (Callam, 29).
Munster: Howlett, Earls, Mafi, Tipoki, Dowling, O'Gara (Warwick, 64), O'Leary (Stringer, 60|), Horan, Flannery (Sheahan, 650, Pucciariello (Buckley 55), O'Callaghan (O'Driscoll, 60), O'Connell (c), Ryan, Wallace, O'Sullivan (Buckley, 38-47).
Referee: J Jones (Wales).
The full article contains 911 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
