Key measures will ensure cup run is capital launch pad
WAS Edinburgh Rugby’s superb run to the final of t he European Challenge Cup a step in the right direction or yet another false dawn?
The capital team made history by becoming the first Scottish club side to make a major European showpiece — but steps must be taken to ensure they build on that success.
Optimism abounded three years ago after they reached the semifinal of the Heineken Cup, only for the team to go on a downward slide due to poor signings and results — with head coach Michael Bradley sacked halfway through the following season.
So, what must the SRU do to make sure Edinburgh’s latest run isn’t a one- off? Here, Sportsmail rugby correspondent R OB
ROBERTSON tackles nine issues that have to be addressed.
1 Make sure Alan Solomons remains as head coach
SRU chief executive Mark Dodson needs to pull out all the stops to keep the South African so he can continue his impressive rebuilding work.
It has been assumed Solomons will stay but there are only two weeks left in the regular Guinness Pro12 season when his deal runs out. There has been no news of the 64-year-old signing a new contract.
Why the delay? Has there been a last-minute hitch? If so, Dodson must sort it out as Solomons now has the trust and backing of the players.
2 Increase the size of the backroom staff
STEVE SCOTT has been Solomons’ only assi s t ant s i nce Omar Mouneimne departed in November for personal reasons.
Compare that to Glasgow Warriors where head coach Gregor Townsend has three assistants — Shade Munro, Matt Taylor and Kenny Murray.
An extra coach is vital to ensure Solomons and Scott have more support to help the team improve.
3 Step up attempts to find a suitable new ground
FOR Edinburgh to fulfil their potential, they must find a venue they can really call home.
Glasgow have gone from strength to strength since moving to Scotstoun and the capital club would benefit f rom a similar switch. Despite the best efforts of the fans, crowds of around 3,000 in the 67,000 capacity BT Murrayfield generate no atmosphere.
At times, the opposition get a bigger lift from playing on such a pristine pitch at the home of Scottish Rugby. A smaller, more intimidating home ground like Scotstoun is required i f Edinburgh are to continue growing as a club.
4 Release more funds for top-class players to replace those leaving
FANS’ favourites such as winger Tim Visser leave in the summer but no similar big name has been brought in to replace them.
For Edinburgh to build on their European success, they need to strengthen and, so far, there have been no real signs of that happening.
They have announced the arrival of uncapped Irishman Michael Allen of Ulster to replace Visser, but it’s hardly like-for-like.
They need an exciting new signing, or even an experienced Scotland international like Mike Blair — who has joined Warriors — to make the fans happy.
5 Try to calm things down behind the scenes
EDINBURGH players were so unhappy their long-serving team manager Lynsey Dingwall was removed from her job two months ago as apart of a cost-cutting exercise that they took the unprecedented step of sending an email to the SRU Council to complain.
They made it clear that, as a group, they had l ost faith in Edinburgh’s chief executive David Davies for his role in the removal of Dingwall, who had been at the club for 14 years.
That friction between the players and administrators has to be smoothed before the new season.
6 Hand the captaincy to Grant Gilchrist when he returns to full fitness
NEW ZEALANDER Mike Coman has done a decent job as skipper this season but Gilchrist is the man to lead the club forward in the long term.
The big second row had been Scotland captain on last summer’s tour and would have kept the job for the Autumn Tests and Six Nations if not for a broken arm.
For years, Glasgow had the influential Al Kellock as skipper and next season could have Jonny Gray. The fans can relate to both and Edinburgh also need a Scotland player in charge.
7 Sort out the stand-off situation
PHIL BURLEIGH didn’t have anything like the influence he should have had in the European Challenge Cup Final l oss to Gloucester.
Twice he put the ball straight into touch from the kick-off, which is criminal in such a big game.
Greig Tonks is being groomed as first-choice No10 for next season but hasn’t had that much game time there as he’s had to fill in at full-back because of injury to Jack Cuthbert.
With Scotland international Tom Heathcote leaving in the summer to join Worcester Warriors, there’s a lack of decent No 10s left on the Edinburgh books.
Tonks may be the long-term answer but he needs better back-up than Burleigh. Edinburgh signed 18-year-old stand-off Blair Kinghorn after he finished his final year at Edinburgh Academy, but he is one for the future.
8 Don’t put too much pressure on Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
IT’S been a remarkable first season as first-choice scrum-half for the 21- year- old, but he can’t be expected to remain so consistent at such a young age.
He has to be handled properly to ensure he doesn’t suffer from burnout with all the demands at both club and international level.
9 Make sure there’s enough strength in depth for Solomons to rotate his squad
INJURIES and a lack of decent replacements forced Solomons to play the same players over and over.
Ever-presents such as tight-head WP Nel — who hasn’t missed a Pro12 or European game — have done a superb job but there needs to be more back up.
I t was commendable t hat Edinburgh won their European semi-final against Newport and competed with Gloucester in the final without influential players like Matt Scott and David Denton.
Scott could miss the start of next season following shoulder surgery, while Denton has missed the last four games through concussion.
The SRU need to open their purse strings to strengthen the squad.