Andy Robinson will have witnessed Bath's chilly European exit at Murrayfield with mixed emotions. The Scotland coach, who was in charge of the club when they became European champions 12 seasons ago, would have been warmed by the performances of Chris Paterson and Phil Godman as he sifts thorough his Six Nations candidates this winter but saddened by the decline of Bath.
Bath have won three games this season and their current coach, Steve Meehan, knows that after a game played in an icy blizzard a frosty reception awaits his underperforming team when Gloucester come to the Rec next Sunday. "I don't think I have seen a game played with that amount of snow falling," said Meehan. "But it is a pity for the supporters who travelled because we would have liked to have given them a better performance than that."
Bath could scarcely have chosen a worse strip to wear than white as the first half deteriorated into a farce, sleet turning into a snow storm with the referee, Roman Poite, telling the players that they would assess the conditions at half-time and hope they could find a yellow ball after the interval. The Christmas card scene, with carols at half-time, was probably not appreciated by Bath's players who were thankful to survive the game without serious injury. Paterson's three penalties against two from Bath's fly-half Nicky Little were the eventual difference between the sides on an afternoon when no one came close to a try.
Paterson looks rejuvenated after his short, unhappy spell at Gloucester and was named man-of-the-match. At 31 Robinson will consider him for the Scotland side next year while for Bath the return of Butch James and Olly Barkley in the new year can not come soon enough as the team lack invention. Luke Watson was outstanding in the back row on Saturday but for Meehan that was cold comfort.
Edinburgh Paterson (capt); Hudson, Cairns (Robertson, 30), De Luca (Thompson, 60), Visser; Godman, Laidlaw; Traynor (Jacobsen, 49), Ford, Cross, Turnbull, Hamilton (McKenzie, 62), MacDonald, Rennie, Newlands (Callum, 62). Pens Paterson 3
Bath Abendanon (Cuthbert, 66); Stephenson, Carraro, Hape, Cheeseman; Little (Davis, 66), Claassens (capt); Flatman, Dixon (Mears, 54), Wilson (Bell, 63), Hooper (Grewcock, 54), Short, Beattie (Skirving, 63), Salvi, Watson. Pens Little 2
Referee R Poite (France).
