DEFEAT IS A KICK UP BACKSIDE
Chris Dean says Edinburgh must use their derby defeat as a “kick up the backside” ahead of next weekend’s PRO14 date with destiny.
The stand- in skipper insists the Gunners did not take their eye off the ball as Glasgow inflicted a 15-3 loss at Murrayfield on Friday.
Ulster will pitch up in six days’ time for Edinburgh’s first PRO14 semi-final.
He said: “We must use the experience as a kick up the backside and make sure we are totally focused in the lead-up to Ulster, which is a massive game for the club.
“They will be a very powerful outfit who have regularly done wel l over here. They are very physical and direct.
“Our old team-mate Roddy Grant is one of their coaches and we know what he is all about – collision focused and really aggressive.
“But the work we put in defensively, as shown in our stats across the whole season, indicates we will be in a really good position.”
For the 700 fans allowed into Murrayfield – the first supporters at a sporting event since March – it was a letdown as Edinburgh, complete with 10 changes, failed to make it back-toback wins over Glasgow.
But Dean added: “Our performance had nothing to do with the Ulster match or the fact we f ielded a much-changed line-up.
“The guys who stepped in are every bit as good as the ones who stepped out. These boys wanted to put their hands up for next weekend, so there was a lot of intent.”
Huw Jones made the switch from centre to the No.15 slot for both clashes and has told Warriors boss Danny Wilson he’s happy to make it permanent.
But on the prospect of mounting a challenge to Stuart Hogg for the Scotland full-back job, Jones grinned and said: “Hoggy’s world class and I don’t think he has anything to be worried about at the moment!”