Luke Crosbie’s impersonation of a jack-in-the-box at the start of the second half of Saturday evening’s 1872 Cup clash at Murrayfield was a decisive, tone-setting moment in the match, putting Edinburgh firmly onto the front foot ahead of Magnus Bradbury’s try a few minutes later.
It typified the mind-set of the capital club, who were powerful, aggressive and relentless during that second period to bully their way to a well-deserved their 28-11 victory. Three times the flanker was brought down as he thundered up the left wing, taking play from halfway into Edinburgh’s 22, and he kept springing back to his feet with no discernible slowing of momentum. Six Warriors were chewed up and spat out before the Edinburgh man was finally stopped.
“I don't know what happened,” chuckled Crosbie afterwards. “I kind of ran, hit the deck, didn't feel anyone on top of me so got up. Then the same thing kept happening. It was like doing this fitness thing that we do, down-and-ups across the field. By the time the ball went away I could barely breathe. It was a good carry.
“I like carrying the ball,” he added. “All I want to do as a back-row is to tackle and carry, that's my job. I want to get front-foot ball for the team, and I also want to put my body on the line and try and get the ball back if the other team have it.
“I think it's important if you want to be a good team in these big games that each player needs to know their responsibility and be a cog in the system by being good at whatever their job is. I feel the reason we can lead on that is players like Gilco [Grant Gilchrist] reading the lineouts and everyone controlling their area when it comes to big pressure moments.”
Crosbie was part of a ferocious back-row effort on Saturday, alongside openside Hamish Watson, who was a British and Irish Lion last summer and long-established top-class performer, and No 8 Magnus Bradbury, who was named man-of-the-match.
Bradbury’s physical attributes have never been in doubt, but he has struggled over the years to find the consistency required to establish himself as front-line player for club and country. However, he has had a barnstorming end to this season, and it feels like his imminent move to Bristol Bears in the summer has already had an invigorating effect on the big man.
“I'll definitely miss him,” said Crosbie. “Maggy has been class, he's an Edinburgh legend coming right through. I love playing with him because he's physical as well, and I know that if I'm stood next to him and we make a double shot it's going to be a decent hit and knock the air out of their lungs probably.
“All the boys love him. I can't speak highly enough of him. When I came to Edinburgh, he was great at helping the younger boys and he still does now. He's a great club man here and I'm sure he'll do great at Bristol.”
Before it is time for any fond farewells, there is the small matter of Edinburgh’s United Rugby Championship play-off quarter-final clash against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town to get out the way in two weekends’ time. It is a big ask against a team which has won its last eight games on the bounce.
“They're a physical side but we can put on a performance on the field that can get the result that we want,” insisted Crosbie. “We’ve shown that before. I'm sure we'll enjoy tonight, then we've got a training week next week to prepare for the quarter-final.
“It was important to get that win tonight after two tough defeats. We work hard to go and get the performance that we know we're capable of. It's frustrating when you get beaten and you know as a collective that you are good enough to get a good result, so we’ll take confidence from this and look to build on it.”
On a personal level, this has been a generally positive season for Crosbie, who initially carried on the form which saw him named the club’s player-of-the-season in 2020-21 to earn his first Scotland cap against Tonga in October. However, it was frustrating to miss out on the chance to compete for further international game-time during the Six Nations window because of a leg injury.
“That's sport and you'll always pick up injuries,” he reflected. “You can't let it get you down. I've just been working hard, staying in the moment, and coming to games [as a spectator]. It's been great getting opportunities to play for Edinburgh [in recent weeks], and to get the win in such a big game has been great for me and the team.”
He is, of course, aware that Scotland will play three Test matches in Argentina this summer but insists that he has not thought about whether he will be involved.
“I'm just enjoying this moment,” he said. “I've worked hard all week and prepared well. I've done all my stuff at training and away from training to get a good result, so I just want to enjoy that. Whatever happens, I just control what I can control. The rest kind of takes care of itself.”
