Despite holding a slender 96 lead at the interval, the visitors conceded two second-half tries to number eight Allister Hogg and Duncan Hodge via breakaway try through a gaping hole in midfield.

Speaking after the game in Scottish rugby's headquarters, a deflated Cheika admitted: "We're all disappointed because we had our opportunities and we didn't take them. To be honest it was a pretty ordinary game."

This was Leinster's third straight defeat since the final weekend of matches of last season's then Celtic League campaign . . . incidentally against the same opposition . . . when they were pipped to the title by a dramatic lastgasp David Humphreys dropgoal.

"We know that we've got to pay more attention to detail and our discipline wasn't as good as it should have been, " Cheika admitted.

But he should be privately impressed with his squad's defence overall, while closeseason signing Stephen Keogh . . . one of seven debutants on the night . . . proved to be a real handful with some powerful driving runs in an impressive opening outing.

Another first-timer, 18year-old Blackrock College schoolboy Luke Fitzgerald, showed glimpses of his promise in an encouraging all-round display.

A first-half yellow card for a professional foul on Edinburgh scrum-half Mike Blair tarnished Ronan McCormack's evening with the former Ulster prop barged over for a deserved 74th minute try.

So, were there any other positives from the game?

"There are always positives, " said Cheika. "I was pleased that we were competitive even though we were missing seven or eight players and then losing Kieran (Lewis) and Trevor (Hogan) during the game.

"But to be honest, I would expect the team to be competitive even if we were without 10, or 20 players for that matter."