Beaten Blues cast doubts over Heineken chances

Jan 5 2008 by Staff Reporter, Western Mail

Blues 10-11 Edinburgh

A LATE drop-goal denied the Blues top spot in the Magners League and raised serious questions over their Heineken Cup credentials.

Phil Godman struck six minutes from time to pinch a dramatic one-point win at the Arms Park for Edinburgh, who leap to third in the table.

A losing bonus point does take the Blues level with leaders Leinster, who play today against the Ospreys, but the biggest concern for Dai Young now is the untimely loss of form of his team during the break in their Heineken Cup campaign.

In their last three games, his Blues were “embarrassing” against the Dragons, failed to turn up against the Ospreys and made hard work of this match.

Yet again the Blues found themselves facing 13 men for a time, and again failed to fully capitalise after dominating the ball, but lacking the final bite.

Soaking conditions can take some of the blame for this overwhelmingly lacklustre display, but the lack of an in-form fly-half just a week before a crucial European tie against Harlequins is becoming critical.

Nick MacLeod tried, perhaps a little too much at times, and the contrast with Edinburgh’s far more assured Phil Godman only highlighted the lack of control in such a vital position.

And with the inexperienced Dafydd Hewitt playing in the number 12 jersey, the gulf between Jason Spice at scrum-half and the likes of Tom Shanklin and Gareth Thomas in midfield was vast, such was the lack in communication.

Last night’s mud-wrestle was the first taste of Welsh rugby for new elite performance director Graeme Maw following his appointment on Thursday, though the conditions seriously hampered the opportunity to cast an eye over the talent he will be working with for Wales.

After a late inspection, Irish referee George Clancy was happy for play to go on even if the Blues were not, after falling behind inside eight minutes.

The Blues may have been firing for top spot last night, but Edinburgh’s similar lofty form at the end of 2007 under former England coach Andy Robinson, winning four of the previous five games, had the Scottish outfit eyeing honours at home and abroad.

Scrum-half Mike Blair was even moved to play down Edinburgh’s rise to fifth in the table ahead of this trip south, but it was opposite number Jason Spice who opened the door for the visitors to take the early lead .

The Blues kept things simple, splashing their way inch by inch upfield, but their handling was careless when they sought the try-line, and Ben Cairns hammered them back 70 metres.

Spice was aimless with his clearance kick from the resulting line-out. That allowed Simon Webster space to drive at the Blues as attackers outnumbered defenders four-to-two, Godman delivering the scoring pass for Turnbull to canter over.

The early score was a knock, but not serious and, as the Blues dominated the remainder of the half, the pressure paid off.

Shanklin and Rush punched holes, Blair was full of running and Thomas carried manfully, and though Robin Sowden-Taylor and Dafydd Hewitt both fumbled within sight of the line, Edinburgh were forced onto the wrong side of the law.

For the second time in 10 days at the Arms Park, the visitors were reduced to 13 men as centre Nick De Luca on the half-hour mark, and then lock Matt Mustchin four minutes later, were shown yellow cards for cynical fouls as the Blues pressed.

Unlike the Boxing Day clash with the Dragons, when handed the same opportunity again, the Blues pack smelt blood and made their advantage count, shoving the Edinburgh scrum off their own put-in in front of goal. Rush picked up and steam-rollered over from 10 yards.

Blair’s conversion was enough to hand the Blues a 7-5 lead, but it was all they took into half-time as Edinburgh eat up the clock.

The second half brought little cheer and descended into a midfield arm-wrestle that failed to produce a single clear try-scoring opportunity for either side.

Back to full strength, Edinburgh squeezed the life out of the Blues, and scrum-half Mike Blair to set up Godman’s late winner after Ben Blair looked to have won it minutes earlier.