So how did Edinburgh conspire to lose a game that they had been in the lead in for all but 16 minutes?
Well, There are a few factors at play to help explain that.
We really didn't start playing until the 17th minute and although Benetton could only manage a single unconverted try in that period it would certainly have given them some confidence thereafter as they were bossing it up to the point that WP Nel opened Edinburgh’s account for the day.
We passed up what looked like an easy score, with two outside Bennett as we attacked in the 7th minute.
We had 10 missed tackles by the 20th minute.
We conceded 13 penalties which is only 4 fewer than last week when we came out top on the right side of a similarly close game.
It’s an exciting brand of rugby that Mike Blair has Edinburgh playing but it does feel that the balance is still off a little. Too often players made poor decisions in their own half, an example being a daft offload by Immelman or the missed touch by Van der Walt who was too ambitious with a penalty clearance which gave Benetton possession and led to their opening try.
We still seem vulnerable in the midfield and out wide especially. I’m surprised to be saying this but we missed Kinghorn. Either at FB where I think he would have made more of the possession that Immelman had or at fly half where at the very least his kick offs would have been contestable and there may just have been the prospect of a break if he had been at 10.
In the credit column, We scored 4 good tries. 2 of which came from the enterprising play of Vellacott. The other two from WP Nel and Rambo respectively who showed that the traditional Edinburgh values of a pick and go or a maul drive haven't been foregone in the quest for this new all action Edinburgh side.
Darcy Graham looked very lively and a danger every time he had the ball. On the other wing Jack Blain saw a fair bit of ball too and I have huge hopes for this young man but he needs to trust in his speed and skills more.
So we came away with 2 points, which is easy to be sniffy about. We probably shouldn't be, I did expect Edinburgh to win given Benetton's close season outgoing transfers and our pre-season victory against them but they have confounded that assessment so I have to hold my hands up on that one. Away wins in this league aren’t exactly 10 a penny regardless.
Bottom line. It's great to see an Edinburgh side that is enterprising and is prepared to attack from all over the field but that approach has to be balanced with a pragmatism that seems a little off at the moment. No reflection on Blairs approach but I'd expect a Cockerill led side to be able to close out a 2 pt lead with 6 minutes to go.
I suppose the question is would a Cockerill led side have gotten that close in the first place? Answer, 2 games in stadio monigo led to 2 losses.
So it’s on to week 3 at ERS (I just can’t call it Dam Health Stadium, not here anyway) and Stormers. For those of a nervous disposition please note, It could be another close one.
There are no gimmes as an Edinburgh fan. That might just be a good thing unless you have heart issues, then it could be costly.
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