Andy Robinson, the Edinburgh coach, insisted on dwelling on the positives in the wake of his side's Magners League mugging by Munster at Musgrave Park.

The visitors were in front going into the dying minutes, only for Ronan O'Gara to floor them with two dubious penalties.

Robinson declared himself satisfied with the display in general, but picked out rookie stand-off David Blair for special praise, along with comeback prop Allan Jacobsen and winger Andy Maxwell, who had answered an 11th hour SOS to play in Cork.

The coach said: "It was only David's second competitive appearance for Edinburgh and he really made the step up from the previous week.

"Chunk scored a really good try in his first match back since his injury lay-off and Maxwell did well after replacing Simon Webster at short notice."

Test utility back Webster was forced to call off with a shin problem, which is not believed to be serious. And Maxwell made the dash from his native Belfast to join the squad hours before kick-off.

Robinson explained: "We were aware that Maxy was in Ireland and when we knew Webbo was doubtful, we were able to track him down."

O'Gara's equalising strike was especially infuriating for Edinburgh. Welsh referee Tim Hayes appeared to be totally conned by home lock Mick O'Driscoll, who wrestled Jacobsen to the turf at the edge of a maul. Hayes ruled that Jacobsen had illegally collapsed the maul on his own, and not only awarded the kick, but sent the flabbergasted prop to the sin-bin - handing all the momentum to Munster when it mattered most.

Robinson went on: "Sport is about inches and the disappointing aspect for us is that all the effort and outstanding play from the team got undermined by a couple of penalty decisions that allowed O'Gara to take advantage. He kicked 12 points from the 10 metre line - we got punished heavily."

Blair junior was also in prime form with the boot, slotting the conversion, two penalties and a dropped goal.

The magic of O'Gara also paved the way for the home try by Denis Leamy. The international centre's dink to the left corner was gathered by Leamy on the deck and the back rower's momentum allowed him to make the line.

Edinburgh's touchdown came four minutes later when neat inter-linking between Hugo Southwell and Andrew Turnbull set up ruck ball for Blair to send Jacobsen crashing over.