Mike Blair hailed the character of his Edinburgh side after they pulled off a gritty 21-18 win away to Saracens, the three-time European champions.
In the wake of last week’s United Rugby Championship victory against Benetton, Blair had criticised the lack of entertainment served up by his charges, but after watching them open their Challenge Cup campaign with a memorable success, the 40-year-old was in no mood to quibble.
“I said last week about entertaining — that was not one to entertain. That was one to grind through,” admitted the head coach. “When I spoke to the guys after the game I didn’t talk about the rugby side of things. There was some excellent game management. There was some other stuff that from a team point of view we need to get better at.
“But what I talked about was the heart and the attitude and the commitment to playing for the jersey. That’s something that we’re really trying to instil at the club — about that pride in the history of the jersey and what it means to play for Edinburgh.
“That’s what got us through the game — that attitude. It wasn’t other things, it was putting your body on the line and giving everything for the jersey.”
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Edinburgh are awaiting news on the first-half injuries suffered by flanker Hamish Watson and James Lang, the centre. “James’s was his bicep but it was more a bang so we don’t know yet. Hamish is a knock to the head or shoulder. We’ll have to wait,” said Blair, who was asked about reports that Sam Skinner, the Exeter and Scotland lock/back row, is set for a summer move to the capital club.
“Nothing is confirmed with that,” said Blair. “We’re trying to build a squad next year that fits with how we want to play, and it’s also something with how our players take control of the squad and show leadership.
“The signings that we’re looking at will hopefully mimic some of that. It does take time to get the squad that you want.”
