WHAT WAS THAT?
Edinburgh: 0 (14) Gloucester: 10 (31)
Before his Manchester United days, the great Eric Cantona was called to appear before a French Football Association disciplinary panel for some misdemeanour or other. He kicked off proceedings by approaching each member of the panel, saying "idiot" to each one in turn, before taking his seat. Amazingly, he did not receive a sympathetic hearing.
Lynn Howells would not be the only one around here who would like to do the same with today's Edinburgh squad. Only this time, there would be a fair few additional words and phrases involved, none of which can appear on a family website.
One could moan with some justification about the referee and the antics of the opposition (3 yellow cards during the game and at least one citing on the way), perhaps, but the truth was that Gloucester deserved the win. They were the better side. Once again, their pack annihilated the home set piece; so much so that the Edinburgh forwards were going through the motions in the last quarter. Their backs did not create much, with Rory Lawson spending much of the time knocking the box kick behind the Embra defence - usually after his runners had passed him. The tactic worked from time to time, but one would have preferred to have seen the dangerous visiting backs getting a bit more of the ball. As it was, though, Gloucester scored four good tries that just about keep their qualification hopes alive for the moment.
From an Edinburgh point of view, this was as witless and as gutless a display as one has seen for some time. You cannot beat teams of this quality while making the number of grotesquely stupid errors, often unforced, that Embra made today. No-one is exempt from some criticism on that count. The home side's miserable game was summed up when Ben Cairns - a gifted footballer who had an otherwise very fine match - dawdled behind an aimless Gloucester chip into the home in goal area, waiting for it to go dead. The chasing Tindall pounced for the converted try that took the score to 17-7 to the visitors on the hour, and effectively ended the contest. 10/10 for Tindall's determination. Minus several million out of ten for Cairns' boneheadedness.
"Shape Up or Ship Out" was the slightly spectacular headline that appeared in a recent edition of a local newspaper, referring to some of the Edinburgh squad. Though of a rather constructive bent, your correspondent is now beginning to agree that there are one or two in this squad who must get their act together pronto, otherwise they will not be here next year.
The team lacks steel and lacks leadership. Too often, we find ourselves in headless chicken mode when under pressure. With Jason White unlikely to make next year's World Cup, there is a great opportunity for Alasdair Strokosch to step into the great man's shoes in the national side. But in order to do that, he must now really impose himself as a leader at club level - not only should he scare the opposition, but he has got to drive his pack into a much more aggressive frame of mind. As it is, far too many Edinburgh players are nice young men who one would be delighted for one's daughter to bring home.
Unless a healthy bit of nasty is introduced into this squad quickly, we are going to have more of this sort of nonsense, and another promising start to a season will be wasted.
Yet things started well for Edinburgh. A brilliant Di Rollo interception in his own 22 saw the international sprinting towards the enemy line after three minutes. But he failed to see the supporting Paterson in time, and the ball went forward in Balshaw's superb tackle only yards out. Already, Edinburgh errors were putting the home side under pressure, and Lamb put the visitors ahead with a penalty on ten minutes.
Both sides were playing positive rugby, but good defence kept the game scoreless until the closing minutes of the half. When Edinburgh won quick ruck ball, they looked dangerous at times, but quality possession was all too rare as, once again, the set piece disintegrated under Gloucester pressure. With half an hour played, it was a surprise to see Bortolami hit Hugo late after the full back had cleared his lines, then spend around a minute attacking him on the ground as play continued, the referee and touch judges seemingly oblivious. It was equally surprising to see Murray subsequently carded for an innocuous ruck offence shortly afterwards, which resulted in an alert try by Narroway, taking advantage of a four man overlap. The conversion took the half time score to 10-0 Gloucester.
The second half again began brightly for Embra, though, with some excellent continuity play seeing Taylor breenging for the line. He was tackled just short and the ball appeared to go forward in the tackle, but Strokosch was given the try following up. Paterson's conversion brought Edinburgh to within a penalty, and very much in the game.
Indeed, the momentum did seem to be swinging Embra's way, and they enjoyed periods of pressure in the Gloucester 22. But, on a rare foray into the home 22, Cairns' error gave Gloucester the chance they needed.
With Edinburgh pressing once again in the Gloucester red zone, their backs committed to attack, a turnover saw Allen streak away for a superb breakout and Gloucester's third try on 68 minutes. Ten minutes later, yet again after sustained but fruitless Edinburgh pressure, a poor pass was intercepted by Walker, and Morgan gathered well for another end-to-end try.
Back to the Gloucester 22 in injury time. Such was the home pressure that Walker was carded for a high tackle, following man of the match Buxton into the bin, as Gloucester repeatedly came in from the side at rucks on their line. Eventually, Cairns crossed for the try that, though it brought the score to 14-31, was too little too late.
So another disappointing Heineken campaign for Edinburgh comes to an end. But they remain handily placed in the Magnersleague, which must now be their priority, starting with a chance to redeem themselves against resurgent Glasgow next Friday in the Inter-City.
SCORERS:
Edinburgh (0) 14
Tries: Strokosch, Cairns
Cons: Paterson 2
Gloucester (10) 31
Tries: Narraway, Tindall, Allen, Morgan
Cons: Lamb, Walker 3
Pens: Lamb
Edinburgh: Hugo; Paterson, Di Rollo, Easson, Cairns; Godman, Blair; Jacobsen, Hall, Dickinson, Mustchin, Murray, Strokosch, MacDonald, Taylor. Replacements: Kelly, Hewett, Pringle, Callam, Senio, Hodge, Dey.
Gloucester: Balshaw; Simpson-Daniel, Tindall, Allen, Foster; Lamb, Lawson; Wood, Azam, Nieto, Bortolami, Brown, Buxton, Hazell, Narraway. Replacements: Elloway, Califano, Eustace, Balding, Richards, Walker, Morgan.
Referee: Poite (France)