Struggling: Edinburgh
Edinburgh boss Michael Bradley says his side should not give up on their Heineken Cup dream just yet, despite their disappointing start to Pool One.
Bradley's outfit, who reached the semi-finals of the European competition last season, have suffered 45-0 and 33-0 losses to begin 2012/13.
The coach is refusing to write off his side however but did admit to looking forward to getting back to PRO12 action against the Scarlets this Friday.
"We're not so much concerned with winning the Heineken or the Amlin it's about winning the next match at this stage," Bradley told The Score.
"At this stage you won't get me saying 'no' because we could win the last four games with bonus points and scrape in at eighth in the Heineken.
"Losing your first two games and getting no points is a recipe for being out of the competition and we have to acknowledge that."
Edinburgh were missing key Scotland internationalists Tim Visser and Greig Laidlaw for their most recent Heineken Cup loss against Munster but that was no excuse for Bradley.
"Munster compete much more in the breakdown that Saracens," he added.
"Sarries only put two in where Munster would put in three or four if they get a sniff. They dominated us there.
"I don't think Greig Laidlaw or Tim Visser would have made a difference (up front). Tim may not have got a pass in this match."
Comments
melkdave says...
@ArmchairGenral
I know and your point is valid ,i was just pointing out to certain posters ,what the HC would be like if their point of view thats its for development ,was taken seriously ,and what happens now in the Pro12 .Where A teams are fielded much to often so clubs can attain HC glory.It devalues the Pro12 league and maybe explains why league attendances are falling in Wales,Scotland and Italy ect,They fail to grasp that the league games are the clubs bread and butter .Of course it doesnt matter to the irish clubs or scotish clubs or even italian clubs as they are all owned and funded by their unions.But if your trying to spread the game and get more people playing /watching ect .A strong viable league is essential .In the long run the present Pro12 format just leads to failure in that regard.
Posted 12:06 24th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
No club worth their salt fields anything but their best available team in the HC. European pedigree depends on it.
Posted 08:56 24th October 2012
melkdave says...
Well this season Mr Bradleyit seems fairly obvious you should just concentrate on the Pro12 .Last season you sacrificed your league programme for HC glory,this season you can sacrifice HC glory to save your league programme,maybe just put out your A team in the HC matches left ,the experiance will do those youngsters a world of good, and the score wont be much differnt It would also please those celtic posters who view the HC as a development competion ,in fact Glasgow and Cardiff,and all those teams who have lost both matches and dont look like qualifying for the QFs.,should play their A teams in the HC matches remaining ,just for development purposes you understand Edinburgh concentrating on the Pro12 might just qualify on merit by finishing in the top 6 you just never know till you try Mr Bradley,them no one could say they dont deserve to be there in 2013,and it might just give your players confidance and belief in themselves ,and that they belong there .Something they obvisously dont atm believe imo.
Posted 15:09 23rd October 2012
curates_egg says...
Well he would say that, wouldn't he? In all seriousness though, they should do just that. Give up on it completely and focus on the Pro12. There may only be one Scottish team left; and there is no point wasting energy trying to do the impossible and recovering from a start like this. Target the Pro12 play offs Bradley.
Posted 08:47 23rd October 2012