It didn’t matter on a grand scale. We were unable to make the eight but finishing a tempore horribilis with one of our worst-ever defeats at home felt somewhat fitting.<\/p>\n
The 26-5 thrashing by Connacht may even be the worst-ever defeat at the Hive depending on your standpoint. A 21-point deficit. The same as 2022 when we lost to Munster but that day it was 38-17 and we at least managed three tries.<\/p>\n
It is also our joint worst points total (38) in the URC, matching our total in 2022-2023. We won one fewer game back then but 12th was the headline for both years.<\/p>\n
The game itself displayed a number of things that have been apparent for the entire season.<\/p>\n
The effort was there but the words of Richard Cockerill spring to mind: “Effort should not be commended. It should be expected.”<\/p>\n
Our attack was hopeless or directionless or wayward or just hapless. Pick your own adjective. After 20 minutes we had 78% possession, had been in Connacht’s 22 at least five times and scored zero points.<\/p>\n
Connacht’s defence was good but we offered little bar physicality which they just soaked up.<\/p>\n
We had an opportunity for an easy three points in that opening quarter and then there was another chance after Connacht had taken the lead. It may not have made a difference but it might have put a different dynamic on the game and changed the narrative.<\/p>\n
As already alluded to, the bodies were definitely on the line but it felt like the brains were on the beach.<\/p>\n
No one bar Darcy Graham had anything approaching a decent game in the backline. The performance as a whole was typified by the moment after we scored our late try. Ross Thompson was given two shots at the conversion and missed both.<\/p>\n
So where does this leave Edinburgh?<\/p>\n
I do have some confidence in an upturn in our fortunes for the new season but it will depend on how quickly our new recruits arrive and how readily they adjust to their new surroundings.<\/p>\n
Given that a couple of those signings may not be with us until late October, the fixture list which has just been released<\/a> could be significant.<\/p>\n We will soon find out if those are the pieces required or if it’s the board itself that needs to change.<\/p>\n