Edinburgh secure record second place with classy performance

There was a panache to this victory in terms of some breathtaking attacking play, as well as some hardness in plenty of gutsy defence.

When asked if he could have believed this Edinburgh side could finish second just 19-and-a-half months after he took over in charge, Robinson had no hesitation in replying, "Yes, I knew they had potential, it was just a question of working hard. It is the players who drive the club, the attitudes and performances, and that is what makes the difference to me.

"I cannot fault the way they work and if you work hard then you get something out of it. We like to play an offloading game and run good angles and once we started keeping the ball we were able to do that."

Cardiff Blues, after all, were no pushover. This was a big occasion for the home side as it was the last time Cardiff Arms Park, one of the most famous names in rugby union, would host a game of top- flight rugby before the Blues move to a new stadium shared with the city's football team next season.

The ground was virtually full for a final farewell and the Blues were determined to go out on a high note, giving them an extra edge for a game which was otherwise meaningless for them.

Edinburgh, of course, had that second place very much in mind and were determined to play the sort of open rugby with recognition of space which has become a trademark under Robinson.

The Blues had the help of a strong wind at their backs in the first half and were stronger at the breakdown, but Edinburgh were prepared to run the ball from everywhere to try to create an opening.

That attitude cost them the opening try as scrum-half Greig Laidlaw tried to create something inside his own 22 from turnover ball, only to see his pass go into the hands of Blues centre Jamie Robinson who handed the ball on to his brother Nicky to touch down.

Nicky Robinson turned creator for the second, taking the ball up to the Edinburgh defence and then slipping it behind him for blindside wing Chris Czekaj to burst through under the posts. Full-back Ben Blair converted both.

In between, Edinburgh were able to land a penalty from Chris Paterson after the home side fell offside trying to stifle one of the Scots' best attacks.

The 14-3 margin at half-time would not have deterred Edinburgh and they soon made inroads with a penalty try just four minutes after the restart. There was no question about the award as Jamie Robinson got his hand on the ball from an offside position to prevent a certain try. The centre was sent to the sin bin.

The try followed a free-flowing move left with prop Geoff Cross making inroads in midfield to help create the overlap.

Cross played a key role again in the second try which followed just two minutes later after flanker Roddy Grant got the turnover and made ground upfield. Cross took it on again and Ben Cairns was the player who eventually had a simple jog over the line for a try.

That put Edinburgh ahead and they soon took the game by the scruff of the neck with their third try, with centre Nick De Luca finishing off another flowing and ambitious move which took advantage of the space on the left with Jamie Robinson still off the field.

The centre's return did not stem the flow of tries as Edinburgh's confidence rocketed thanks to the skills on display. It was De Luca's turn to create, giving Phil Godman the scoring pass for the bonus point after a strong run down the right by wing John Houston.

De Luca rounded it off with an interception try and the celebrations could begin with several minutes of the match remaining.

It was Edinburgh's fourth win out of the last five at Cardiff Arms Park, so they, too, will be sorry to see the old ground off the circuit, but the Scots have more important things to worry about in trying to improve by one place next season. Their biggest problem could be that the architect behind it all may have done such a good job that he will hand over the reins, but that is nothing more than Robinson deserves.