We let a big chance slip and that hurts.

We had a very serious preparation for the game against the Cardiff Blues; it was the second in this block for which our stated goal had been to win them all. A win would have helped us to secure second position and put us nearer the playoffs.

The latest column by Edinburgh player JP Scoino.

The week was a bit longer than accustomed given that it was a Saturday game, which meant training on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The more we train it always benefits us, more so given that the team would rotate players given that we had a number of our players in France to play for Scotland in the Six Nations.

Watch Guinness PRO14 LIve in Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and France. (All times UTC/GMT)
Fri 1 Mar Leinster v Cheetahs (7.35pm)
Sat 2 Mar Connacht v Ospreys (2.45pm)
Sat 2 Mar Benetton v Edinburgh (3pm)
Sat 2 Mar Scarlets v Munster (5pm)
Sat 2 Mar Zebre v Glasgow (5.15pm)
Sat 2 Mar Cardiff Blues v Southern Kings (7.35pm)
Sun 3 Mar Dragons v Ulster (3pm) 

The extra time allows us to go through tactics and movements and we are also able to fit two gym sessions for lower body and one for upper body strength. Even at this stage of the season, gym work is important.

In our off day we added a yoga class, which helps us recover and enhance our mobility, mostly around the hips.

Saturday was a wonderful day in Edinburgh—11 degrees Celsius, sun with scattered clouds, no wind—perfect conditions to play rugby, atypical for this time of the year, more so if we think that a year ago it was snowing. 

From the early hours, you could breathe the rugby spirit in the city as people were preparing to watch the Scotland vs. France game from Paris in pubs.

Obviously, the result of game at Stade de France was not what they were expecting, neither was the team’s performance. Yet, this did not stop the crowds from coming to support us at Murrayfield.

Stats were not on our side and in the last six games against Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh had only won once; on the other hand, we had never lost at home. We wanted this fact to give us strength and helps us get the four points on offer.

We had a very positive first half, using our two opportunities to go ahead 14-0, being able to control what the Welsh threw at us.

At the break, we knew our first 40 minutes had not been perfect but we had the upper edge. We had to avoid unforced errors and stay strong in defense. Unfortunately, it didn’t work that way.

Our mistakes, mostly unforced, kept repeating themselves and we feel we lost the game which makes it even more frustrating.

Losing 19-17 after leading 14-0 is never good, it is even worse when you are your own enemy.

This has put the team under unnecessary pressure in our quest to reach the playoffs.

More so now that we travel to Italy to play Treviso, against my fellow Argentines Nacho Brex and Tomy Baravalle, a team that has won its four last games.

We will need to stay strong and make sure we get through this.