Under-strength Leinster 'a lot sharper' than Edinburgh, says Sean Everitt

In the aftermath, Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt bemoaned his side's defensive frailties and lack of possession in their league defeat to Leinster on Friday.

Everitt's side scored five tries in front of an expectant home crowd, but also shipped five and ended up losing by two points - their sixth straight loss to the Irish province.

"Getting 37% territory in the game does eventually take its toll," said the South African. "Games are won on set-piece, disciplined territory and defence.

"The middle part of the second half is where they scored three tries, unfortunately. It came from them putting in good kicks behind us and exposing us in the backfield. It's something that we need to work on and it was something that was our strength last year."

What made Friday all the more worrying for Edinburgh was that Leinster travelled without 13 of the Ireland squad that won the Six Nations earlier this year. Star signing - and World Cup winner - RG Snyman, was also missing,

"They were a lot sharper, they put us under pressure," said Everitt. "It's probably a game where we should have kicked more because there was backfield space available.

"We all know that with line speed you need numbers on your feet so you're going to be exposed somewhere and perhaps we didn't manage it that way."