Pool Six/ Edinburgh 15 Toulouse 19: If Toulouse's victory over Edinburgh came as a surprise to no one inside Murrayfield, then the manner and margin of it came as a shock to those who made their way to Scotland's national stadium expecting the home side to be little more than practice fodder for one of the competition's perennial favourites.

The Scots stretched and harried the French side to within four points of what would have been a shocking defeat. It was a spirited, entertaining performance, characterised by powerful running and a refusal to bow at the feet of French rugby royalty.

More than anything, it was confirmation that when it comes to coaching rugby Andy Robinson is nowhere near the dud those critics who hounded him out of Twickenham painted him to be.

It was not so long ago this Edinburgh team were shut down, having fallen victim to rugby politics, and it was only six weeks ago the former England coach travelled north to take charge of a squad pulled together at shorter notice than an anarchist's tea party. On this evidence, he has a legitimate claim to the status of miracle worker.

Next Saturday sees Robinson and his squad travel to Leicester's Welford Road, where the home side will be looking to make amends after a defeat in Dublin.

Edinburgh will need to produce another spirited performance if they are to make any kind of impact in Pool Six but they also need to eliminate the basic errors that cost them three soft penalties in a 20-minute spell in the first half. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked over all three with an efficiency that contrasted with David Blair, who could make only one of four kicks.

Trailing 9-3 at half-time, the home side took the game to their opponents, running in two tries to one at the other end. The first came when Edinburgh set up camp on the visitors' line - an impasse eventually ended by Nick De Luca, who stood up France's international centre Yannick Jauzion and skipped in for a try. Robinson had earlier brought on Phil Godman for Blair and John Houston for the ineffective Andrew Maxwell - a smart move that looked even smarter when the replacements combined, Houston diving in at the corner for another try. Godman's conversion reduced the deficit to one point with almost 15 minutes left.

Weary Edinburgh legs and the experience of Toulouse combined to produce the expected result. As the home side huffed and puffed in the no-man's land between the two 10-metre lines, the visitors ran down the clock until frustration provoked their opponents into giving up another penalty. Elissalde converted to secure the 19-15 margin

EDINBURGH: Southwell; A Turnbull, Cairns, De Luca, Maxwell; D Blair, M Blair; Jacobsen, Ford, Kerr; Hamilton, Gissing; Hogg, Rennie, S Cross. Replacements: Callam for Cross (48 mins), Houston for Maxwell (50 mins), Allori for Kerr, Godman for Blair (67 mins).

TOULOUSE: Poitrenaud; Clerc, Jauzion, Mermoz, Medard; Du Toit, Elissalde; Perugini, Servat, Montes; Lamboley, Albacete; Nyanga, Dusatoir, Maka. Replacements: Poux for Montes (half-time), Millo-Chlusky for Lamboley, Bouihlou for Nyanga (both 50 mins), Kunavore for Medard (59 mins), Sowerby for Bouihlou (60 mins), Courrent for Du Toit (78 mins), Vernet-Basualdo for Perugini (79 mins). Sinbinned: Elissalde, 55.

Referee: G Clancy(Ireland).

• Guardian Service