EDINBURGH claimed a second win of the season over Leinster at Murrayfield last night and rejoiced in spiking the Irishmen's hopes of a Magners League title celebration in Scotland.
They fully deserved to end Leinster's 11-game unbeaten run in the
league, and though there was no great flourish to their last home game of the season, this was perhaps as pleasing a performance in the manner in which Edinburgh came back from early scrummage problems, coped with lengthy periods under pressure and, with a clutch of players missing, doused the fire of a side intent on earning champions' status inside these 80 minutes.
They were helped by Felipe Contepomi uncharacteristically missing a last-minute penalty – it came back off a post in a dramatic finale – but Andy Robinson, the Edinburgh coach, said afterwards: "Whether (Contepomi] kicked it or not, I thought our players responded today. There was a lot of courage, and that was an important team performance. We're not beating the top teams by 20 or 30 points so it takes great effort and concentration, and that's what you saw out there.
"Leinster are a quality side and deserve to be where they are; they've been the most consistent side this year."
There were no stars, but many heroes for Edinburgh last night. Robinson pinpointed the work of the midfield trio of Phil Godman, Nick De Luca and Ben Cairns in stifling the Leinster backs, and taking the game to them, while the pack earned praise for their ability to overcome the early hiccups and defend heroically on their line through concerted minutes of Leinster pressure.
Defence, Robinson revealed, had been a particular concern when he joined Edinburgh, but the fact the team has lost just one try in a host of games with top opposition this term – this was Leinster's first in their last two Murrayfield matches – and the growing strength in depth lent substance to his belief that this season had laid firm foundations on which to build success.
There was precious little fluidity in the first half but an eagerness to work hard and an appetite for kicking deep and chasing. At times it was almost like sevens as the kicks were run back and tackles missed, and attacks swept into and petered out in 22s.
There, the teams dug in and Edinburgh, largely, were forced to endure some heavy tackling practice to protect their line, but they stood up to that task. Contepomi opened the scoring with a penalty in the sixth minute, but the hosts finished their first real chance eight minutes later when John Houston thumped Luke Fitzgerald in the tackle – leading to the Scot's withdrawal soon after – and they counter-attacked.
Cairns, the inside centre, latched on to a hack ahead by skipper Allister Hogg and though he was caught as he collected the ball and raced into the visitors' 22, by winger Rob Kearney, ball was swiftly recycled and moved crossfield where Ross Ford, the hooker, crashed into the right-hand corner. Phil Godman converted superbly from the touchline.
Leinster tried to tighten the game with their forwards mauling deep into the home half, but this played into Edinburgh's hands and lifted the home pack. Referee Nigel Owens made a bizarre call on Alan MacDonald, the impressive openside flanker, awarding Leinster a penalty in front of the home posts for apparently seizing on a loose ball at a ruck too quickly, and Contepomi converted.
Godman quickly responded with a penalty at the other end, but though Edinburgh then lost Hogg to the sin-bin, after one ruck infringement too many, they produced a solid backs-to-the-wall display either side of the break. The Irish side had not been beaten in the league since last October, winning ten on the trot, but as Edinburgh picked up again with their skipper back on the field a strong feeling coursed through the home support that this game had become their side's to lose.
Hugo Southwell just missed a drop-goal and Godman a penalty, when suddenly MacDonald made a half-burst and Dave Callam, the No 8, took his flanker's pass at terrific pace to touch down.
Fitzgerald threw Leinster a lifeline with a try, converted by Contepomi, with nine minutes to go, but the Argentine's failure to grasp the last-minute opportunity ensured a gutsy home win and pleased supporters who, it was confirmed yesterday, will be returning to Murrayfield next season, after the planned move to club grounds was ruled out as a positive result of the rising attendances.
Scorers: Edinburgh: Tries: Ford, Callam; Pen: Godman; Con: Godman. Leinster: Try: Fitzgerald; Pens: Contepomi 2; Con: Contepomi.
Edinburgh: H Southwell; S Webster, B Cairns, N De Luca, J Houston; P Godman, G Laidlaw; A Allori, R Ford, G Kerr, M Mustchin, B Gissing, A Hogg (capt), D Callam, A MacDonald. Subs: C MacRae for Houston 28mins, G Cross for Kerr 40, D Blair for Webster 60-63, B Meyer for Laidlaw 75,
Leinster: G Dempsey; L Fitzgerald, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, R Kearney; J Sexton, C Whitaker; O Le Roux, B Jackman, S Wright, L Cullen (capt), T Hogan, S Keogh, J Heaslip, S Jennings. Subs: M O'Kelly for Cullen 36mins, K Gleeson for Jennings 54, C Warner for O'Driscoll 67,
Referee: N Owens (Wal). Attendance: 3138.
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