'Panicky' Edinburgh deserved to be beaten by Munster

Mike Blair admitted “panicky” Edinburgh deserved all they got after failing to turn the screw on Munster on Friday.

The men from the Scottish capital led 12-0 and 17-7 in the first half but were completely dominated after the break as they crashed to a 38-17 defeat at the hands of their Irish visitors.

“I believe these games against the Irish opposition in particular must be played at Test match intensity,” said head coach Blair.

“That’s why I was so pleased with the first half because we blew them away in the first half.

“But it was in complete contrast to the second half because we looked panicky on the ball and lacked all composure.

“There were a couple of bits where we mentally weren’t in it and it was really frustrating. The way Munster came out in the second half, we gave them everything they wanted. We were ponderous on the ball in attack, they won the contact, the physicality and they thoroughly deserved their win.

“The positive is that we showed in the first half we can do it but the negative is the second half, which was a completely different story.”

Blair admits his side will have to show significant improvement next weekend when they head to Saracens to kick off their Heineken Champions Cup campaign.

“Saracens are nine from nine, they’ve got lots of quality internationals and top-level club players so we’ve got to be on it,” he said.

“We’ve certainly got to be a lot better than we were against Munster.”