Scott hoping for return of Edinburgh flair

A tough first season under new coach Alan Solomons last year saw Edinburgh finish eighth while trying to implement a more physical aspect to their previously flowing game.

Scott admits the appointment of Solomons and assistant Omar Mouneimne shortly before the start of the campaign made it difficult for the players to quickly adapt to the new approach.

The Scotland international is out until December with a shoulder injury but believes Edinburgh are now poised to combine elements of both methods and recapture their best form.

"We had a tough year last year but the coaches came in right at the end of pre-season so they didn't really have much say in how we were going to play," said Scott, speaking at the GUINNESS PRO12 launch.

"To integrate a completely different style of rugby during the season was quite difficult. Now we have had that season under our belt and we have had a full pre-season so we are well equipped.

"Edinburgh in the past has been a club known for its expansive rugby and a couple of years ago we got to the semis of the Heineken Cup playing that style.

"It was more a case of 'if you score three tries, we'll score four' and I think when Alan and Omar came in, they wanted to play a completely different style of rugby.

"They wanted us to kick a lot more for territory, be a lot more physical and abrasive and that style of rugby was something we had never really played before."

With 11 frontline players currently injured, Solomons will hope his remaining side are prepared for a bruising encounter as they face a season opener at Munster on September 5.

Yet Scott is adamant that to challenge the strongest teams in the GUINNESS PRO12 Edinburgh need to rediscover some of their former panache.

"Now it is about finding the balance between the way we used to play and the way we played last year," he said.

"The best teams in the world can defend, they have got a good set piece and they have also got a bit of venom in attack.

"I think we need to regain a bit of our old flair and hopefully we can find that balance this year."

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