A DISMAL end to the season saw Edinburgh drop to their lowest finish in the Pro12 since Alan Solomons took over as head coach. They went into their final game with an outside chance of a top-six finish, but a truly wretched second-half consigned them to ninth spot after yet another late-season collapse.
The Murrayfield men had talking bravely about claiming a try bonus point to at least challenge for the top six, but after a bright first 40 minutes, they surrendered tamely to allow Cardiff to overtake their 10-point half-time advantage and pass them in the league.
Afterwards, Solomons did not mince his words or hide his anger. “It’s shocking, shocking,” he said. “We were poor and paid a price. We should have won that game. At 17-7 – and I know Jason [Tovey] was a bit unlucky with two kicks that hit the upright – and at three tries to one we were clearly the better side.
“All we had to do was keep it up and instead we played stupid rugby. The consequence was that we had no territory, no possession and when that happens you are going to pay a price. We have to look at it, say to ourselves it is not good enough. I have told the players that.”
Solomons’ main complaint was that after 40 minutes of keeping the pressure on Cardiff, his team started to play from far too far out, handing the ball back to the Welsh too readily. They were under the cosh for the whole second period as a result. Solomons added: “We had experienced guys but the fact is they did not do that [play territory] despite messages going on to the field. It’s massively disappointing.
“They are going on a break for four days and then those who are returning will be back for a two-week conditioning block. It is not good enough. We have to look at everything. It is unacceptable.”
What underlined Solomons’ frustration was that during the first half Edinburgh showed that when they hung on to the ball and got themselves in a position to attack, they could make it work.
The first try came from an extended period of pressure and with the Cardiff line under siege. No 8 Cornell Du Preez found space on the right and his perfect offload gave Hamish Watson, the flanker, the opening try.
It soon got even better for Edinburgh when Nasi Manu, back from injury, took a quick penalty from in front of the posts, wing Damien Hoyland provided the half-break in midfield and when he was tackled, Matt Scott, in his final game for the club, picked up and went the last five yards.
Two tries to the good and suddenly that vital scoring bonus point looked on and even when Rey Lee-Lo, the Samoan international who had done so much damage to Scotland during their World Cup clash, did cross for the visitors the reply was quick in coming.
This time, Scott was the provider, with his chip through the Cardiff defence creating mayhem. When he prodded the ball over the line he could have scored himself, only for Tom Brown to pinch it.
It should have been a platform to push on for the fourth try, but Cardiff had other ideas and for the opening part of the second half, Edinburgh barely saw the ball. After a couple of close shaves, the visitors’ offloading game found enough of a gap in the Edinburgh defence for lock Cam Dolan, to crash over.
With their ability to throw away possession in marked contrast to the Cardiff team’s sticky fingers, Edinburgh were quickly trailing when a poor kick from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne gave Cardiff the chance to run. Garyn Smith eventually finished off his side’s countering move for the go-ahead score.
Edinburgh: Tries: Hoyland, Scott, Brown. Con: Tovey.
Cardiff Blues: Try: Lee-Lo, Dolan, Smith. Cons: Anscombe. 3
Edinburgh: D Fife; D Hoyland, M Scott, A Strauss, T Brown; J Tovey, S Kennedy (S Hidalgo-Clyne, 60); R Sutherland (A Dell, 60), S Mcinally (C) (N Cochrane, 68), WP Nel (J Andress, 55), A Bresler (A Toolis, 55), B Toolis, N Manu, H Watson (M Bradbury, 49), C Du Preez.
Cardiff Blues: D Fish; A Summerhill (G Evans, 41), G Smith, R Lee-Lo, T James (J Evans, 42-48); G Anscombe, L Williams; G Jenkins (C), M Rees (K Dacey, 47), T Filise (S Andrews, 57), C Dolan (M Cook, 74), J Down (L Reed, 72), J Turnbull, E Jenkins, J Navidi.
Referee: J Lacey (Ireland)
Attendance: 4,962
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