Edinburgh got their season underway with a 32-24 bonus-point win over last season’s Magners League runners up, Leinster, at Murrayfield tonight.
All Scottish eyes were on Edinburgh who were without a win after three games however the unrelenting faith shown by Rob Moffat in his squad was repaid as a competent Edinburgh put in a convincing performance to seal the victory.
He said: “It was good victory but there are plenty of aspects that will need to be better.
“What was pleasing was the way we came out at the start of the second-half and played the game at a tempo that enabled us to get the try-bonus point.”
Edinburgh full-back Chris Paterson got the hosts off to a great start with a penalty kick after just three minutes however the lead was short-lived when Leinster stand-off, Isa Nacewa, equalised a minute later before the hosts added another two: the second from Nacewa and the third from full-back Rob Kearney, who was drafted in for the long range effort, 3-9.
It was a worrying position for Edinburgh who had the better of the field position and possession but not the spoils. Much to the delight of the 3000 strong Murrayfield faithful, a try from prop Geoff Cross allowed Edinburgh to reclaim the lead.
Chasing the game, Edinburgh opted to kick an in-range penalty for territory and, off the lineout, sent the ball wide to the opposite flank.
After several pick and goes, scrum-half Mike Blair darted from the back of the ruck and offered a cute inside pass to Cross who crashed in under the posts for his first try of the season. Chris Paterson converted, 10-9.
On the 25 minute mark, Leinster underlined their intention to kick every opportunity when Nacewa slotted another from half-way to take the lead, 10-12.
Edinburgh then dominated the remainder of the half before Paterson missed the opportunity to snatch the lead before the break with a missed penalty attempt.
HALF TIME: 10-12
Five minutes into the second-half Paterson missed another uncharacteristic kick at goal however normality was soon restored by try-scoring sensation, Tim Visser, who registered a fine five-pointer.
As Edinburgh were imposing themselves deep in Leinster territory, the ball found its way to the Dutchman inches from try and touch-line but in narrow quarters he spun on a two-pence to avoid the tackler before dotting the ball down just inside the flag. Paterson missed the conversion, 15-12.
Just as soon as the Edinburgh fans were taking their seats from applauding Visser’s efforts, fellow winger Mark Robertson had them back on their feet with a third try for the hosts.
Edinburgh dominance had found them on the Leinster try-line once more, with several opposition defenders sucked in making space out wide.
The ball was spun to wing-in-waiting, Mark Robertson, who out sprinted his opposite man on the angle before cutting in to make life easier for Paterson who converted, 29-12.
Ten minutes later Edinburgh were on the scoresheet once more when Blair brothers Mike and David combined to great effect.
Mike Blair spotted that the quick tap was on and fed fellow half-back, David, who showed a lovely dummy to the Leinster defence before crossing for the bonus-point score unchallenged.
He then polished off the score with a fantastic conversion from the far touchline having taken over the kicking duties from Paterson (who had been replaced by young full-back Tom Brown for his Magners League debut), 29-12.
Blair then stepped up once more and slotted a penalty to put Edinburgh in a comfortable position with 20 minutes to go - though it appeared all too comfortable as Leinster registered two tries in the final ten from back-row Jamie Heaslip and full-back Rob Kearney right at the death.
Nacewa’s conversion of the Heaslip score meant that Murrayfield held its breath for the second conversion which would have secured a bonus point for the visitors had Kearney not sliced the kick across the park to signal the end of the game.
FULL TIME: 32-24
Edinburgh team: Chris Paterson; Mark Robertson, Ben Cairns, Alex Grove, Tim Visser; David Blair, Mike Blair; Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Esteban Lozada, Scott McLeod, Scott Newlands, Ross Rennie, Roddy Grant CAPTAIN
Substitutes: Andrew Kelly (on for Ford), Kyle Traynor (on for Jacobsen), Jack Gilding, Craig Hamilton (on for McLeod), David Denton, Greig Laidlaw (on for Blair), John Houston (on for Grove), Tom Brown (on for Paterson)
Leinster team: Rob Kearney; Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Isa Nacewa, Eoin Reddan; Heinke Van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Ed O’Donoghue, Devin Toner, Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings CAPTAIN, Stephen Keogh
Substitutes: Jason Harris-Wright, Cian Healy, Simon Shawe, Mariano Galarza, Jamie Heaslip, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan, Eoin O’Malley
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU)
Attendance: 2923
