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Déjà vu all over again. Almost
Edinburgh: 15 (3) Toulouse: 19 (9)
Four years ago, after another World Cup, Brendan Laney led Edinburgh to an exhilarating home win over Stade Toulousain. The Chainsaw's winning try set them on the way to a Heineken quarter final appearance against the same gentlemen. History probably should have repeated itself at Murrayfield this afternoon, as Andy Robinson's youthful side nearly pulled off a fine win. They will be kicking themselves tonight that they didn't.
For much of the first half, the atmosphere inside Murrayfield was pretty flat. The match was evenly balanced, but the visitors, shorn of one or two stars, did not really seem in the mood. Edinburgh, by contrast, were very much up for it. Throughout the game, one was particularly impressed by the strength of their scrummaging. In the past, Edinburgh packs have been worn down by the power of the toulousain eight. Not today. the arrival of Ford and Kerr has undoubtedly added something to the front row. Add a rejuvenated Allan "Chunk" Jacobsen, and you have the makings of a useful front row, particularly with Messrs Smith, Allori and Cross pushing for places.
The home back row had the edge on their illustrious opposite numbers throughout. As usual, Ross Rennie had a fine game at openside. He popped up regularly in the loose, and his subterranean work at the breakdown was again highly effective.
Edinburgh's back play was often good, with the De Luca-Cairns partnership in midfield looking like it has a long and productive future ahead of it. His kicking apart, David Blair looked comfortable at this level, particularly with big brother Blair, Mike, taking on much responsibility inside him.
After a promising opening from Edinburgh, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked the visitors into the lead with a penalty on three minutes. Both sides put in several good series of phases, but neither defence looked particularly troubled. And Edinburgh coped well with Toulouse's first sustained pressure, after 12 minutes. But indiscipline on their own ten metre line saw Elissalde double the advantage with another penalty after 15 minutes.
Yet while the visiting skipper had an excellent day with the boot, David Blair had clearly left his kicking trousers at home, missing the first of a number of relatively straightforward pots at goal on 19 minutes. The young 10 made amends shortly after, with a penalty after excellent Edinburgh pressure on Toulouse's scrum forced the infringement. Elissalde took the lead back to six points shortly afterwards, though, off another ruck offence on the Edinburgh 10.
The half ended with Mike Blair alertly taking a quick free kick, driving Edinburgh deep into the Toulouse 22. But a knock on saw a good attacking platform wasted. Blair Minor missed the chance to narrow the gap on the stroke of half-time, with a sclaffed penalty effort from distance.
As the assembled crowd wondered quite what to make of the burlesque malarkey going on on the running track during the break, they would nonetheless have been quietly thinking that this was a game that Edinburgh could win. They would also have been missing an entertaining exhibition game involving the latest products of North Berwick's legendary Recreation Park rugby nursery.
The start of the second half livened things up big time. First, Maxwell then Andy Turbnbull had dangerous runs. Then Toulouse broke well down the right wing. At first, it looked like Edinburgh had snuffed out the danger of a two on one. But then Medard ran crossfield towards the posts with Maxwell in hot pursuit. It seemed as if the Ulsterman could have tackled his opposite number with some ease. However, he ended up shepherding the winger over for an avoidable try, goaled by Elissalde. 3-16.
A gap like this could have been the cue for Toulouse to cut loose and play a bit of rugby. However, it galvanised the home side instead. Another alert tap from Blair Major saw Rennie take the ball up into the 22, then Jacobsen. But when the ball was spun out to Cairns, the centre was isolated and turned over.
Ten minutes into the half, a great combination between substitute Dave Callam and Andy Turnbull again saw Edinburgh in good shape in the Toulouse 22. Elissalde killed the ball under pressure. Given that troubles come in threes, he was first deservedly shoed by Gissing; then yellow carded; and finally today's announcer continued to mispronounce his name.
Edinburgh took advantage of the power play. After multiple phases, with Cairns coming close, De Luca burst through traffic for a fine try wide out, Blair Minor missing the difficult conversion. 8-16.
Ten minutes later, several breenges in midfield from Ross Ford after a Godman half-break saw the ball shipped to the other wing. Good hands put Houston in space on the 22, and the replacement sailed over for the try, untouched by human hand. Godman's fine conversion from the corner reduced the deficit to only one point. Game on with the momentum in Edinburgh's favour.
Yet Edinburgh could not take that final step. First, they were unlucky to be pinged for supposedly taking the jumper down in a lineout, Elissalde knocking the penalty over for a four point lead. And though they had Toulouse under pressure for the rest of the match, little errors cost them dear - a miscommunication between Hugo and Turnbull just before no side saw the pass going behind the diminutive winger in a dangerous position. That rather summed up Edinburgh's night. Great promise and the opportunities to win, but they couldn't quite grasp them.
They are not far away.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Mike Blair deserved the award, having outplayed his opposite number and been at the heart of much good stuff in the Edinburgh attack.
SCORERS:
Edinburgh: Godman 1C, Blair D 1P, De Luca 1T, Houston 1T
Toulouse: Elissalde: 4P 1C, Medard 1T
TEAMS:
Edinburgh: Hugo, Andrew Turnbull, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, Andrew Maxwell, David Blair, Mike Blair, Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Gavin Kerr, Craig Hamilton, Ben Gissing, Allister Hogg (capt), Ross Rennie, Simon Cross.
Replacements: Andrew Kelly, Augusto Allori, Matt Mustchin, David Callam, Ben Meyer, Phil Godman, John Houston.
Toulouse: Poitrenaud, Clerc, Jauzion, Mermoz, Medard, Du Toit, Elissalde, Maka, Dusautoir, Nyanga, Albacete, Lamboley, Montes, Servat, Perugini. Replacements: Courrent, Bouilhou, Sowerby, Kunavore, Millochluski, Poux, Basualdo.
Referee: Clancy (IRFU)
Martin Bell
