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GUNNERS DEFINITIVELY OUT OF EUROPE

Munster: 38 Edinburgh Rugby: 6



There is a reason why the bookies make a good living.  That life lesson was repeated yet again at Thomond Park yesterday as Edinburgh's hopes of making it into the second tier Amlin Cup - a draw would have been enough - were comprehensively trashed by Munster.  Even the start of 17 points quoted by the turf accountants would not have seen an investment on the Embramen coming in as the Irish province romped into the quarters by a hefty 32 point margin.  All the visitors had to show for their trouble was two first half penalties from Laidlaw and a second half shutout, plus two yellow cards.

A bit was made post-match after this season's standout forward, Cornell du Preez, was carded late in the first period with the Gunners only 12-6 down and things looking pretty competitive.  One could say with some confidence that 'leading recklessly with the head' is not the brightest approach to clearning Paul O'Connell out of a ruck for all sorts of reasons.  Equally, Munster stretched the gap during the power play and it was always going to be a big ask to come back against a side that is usually very sound defensively.

But fundamentally, Edinburgh were second best in most aspects of the game and their own errors - tactical and unforced - really killed them.  Teams that have been there, done that, tend not to panic under pressure. The Munsters of this world - perennial quarter finalists at the least - have the patience to trust in their gameplan and their ability to deliver when they go behind, while teams like Edinburgh simply do not.  You simply cannot argue with a 6-0 try count.

This club has come a long way under Alan Solomons.  No-one could seriously argue that there is anything other than a long way to go.  But they are headed in the right direction.  They ended up with a 50% record in the Heineken this year, including one away win over Gloucester.  Had they won the match they threw away against the same opponents at Murrayfield, they would have had some sort of continued European involvement, Heineken or Amlin.  That's somethign to reflect on and build on next season.

One hopes that the gameplan becomes a bit more expansive in time, but that will only happen once confidence builds.  In order to do that, the Gunners first need to become hard to beat.  The Perpignan match shows that they can dog it out; this reverse shows that they are not yet in a position to do that consistently.