Edinburgh boss Andy Robinson © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Matches: Edinburgh 16 - 27 Leinster

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup

Teams: Edinburgh | Leinster

Angry Edinburgh head coach Andy Robinson dubbed today's first-half display against Leinster as the worst in his time at the club.

Robinson's men suffered a terrible start to their Heineken Cup campaign by going down 27-16 at Murrayfield.

All the damage was done before half-time as missed tackle after missed tackle allowed the Magners League champions to run in four unanswered tries and claim a bonus point.

A Robinson rollicking at the interval saw Edinburgh score a penalty try to reduce the arrears, but Leinster comfortably held out to end their four-match losing streak at the venue for this year's final.

``The first-half performance for a professional rugby side is unacceptable. Let's not hide away from it,'' said Robinson, before confirming the opening 40 minutes was the worst since he took charge a year ago.

``To concede four tries as we did and in the manner they were conceded is unacceptable - and I've explained that to the players.''

The former England boss shouldered his share of the blame for the first-half malaise, saying: ``We have let down the Edinburgh supporters and I take responsibility for this.''

The defeat was the club's fifth in six games this season in all competitions and Robinson added: ``We can't keep going on about missed opportunities and 'if onlys'.

``At some stage, we've got to grow as a team. That Leinster team, when you watch the game today, were there for the taking. They weren't as slick as I've seen them. However, when they got in behind us, they took their chances. It's unacceptable to me that they got into those positions because it was all down to missed tackles.

``Rugby's a tough sport but every single player has got to be able to make their tackles and today we dropped off tackles.''

The officials were not spared a Robinson tongue-lashing, with the coach angered by some of the tactics employed by Leinster which went unpunished.

``Every time we got in behind Leinster, a deliberate penalty got given away and I wanted the referee to understand that,'' said Robinson, who at one point exploded out of his seat in the stand to remonstrate with the fourth official.

``We had one penalty try - it was clear cut. I thought potentially there was a second one. I needed the fourth official to communicate that to the referee. It's one of those that's just very, very frustrating. It's happened to us quite often.''

But he added: ``The referee did not lose us that game. As I've always tried to explain to the team, we win or lose matches.''

Robinson admitted his side already face an uphill task to advance from Pool Two, which also contains Wasps and Castres.

``I set this up as a cup final and that's what it was for us. Effectively, for us to qualify will be very difficult.''

Leinster counterpart Michael Cheika was ambivalent about his side's display but was delighted with the result.

``I don't think we ever expect to get a bonus point up here,'' said the Australian, who also masterminded a 52-6 Magners League win over Edinburgh last month. There were parts of the game where we performed very well and there were parts of the game when we didn't perform very well.

``We were able to take the opportunities at times when we were going really well, which pretty much made the difference because they were right in it until the end.''