Leinster coach Michael Cheika arrived at the post-match press conference alone. The players were described as too "gutted" to provide a reaction to the lowest point of the Australian's three-year tenure with the province.

The facts don't lie. Cheika, despite constantly strengthening the team, guided Leinster to a European semi-final in 2005 and a quarter-final in 2006 but will fail to escape the pool stages in 2007.

At least he is not in denial, immediately ruling out any chance of qualification before pointing to a lack of penetration by a supposedly much improved pack and famed back line.

Then he went back to the mantra supplied after most high-stakes defeats these past three seasons.

"We made too many mistakes. The lack of discipline took away all the impetus we had early on. I think we must have given away six or seven penalties in a row."

The contract of the current coaching ticket - Cheika, David Knox and former All Black Mike Brewer - is up for renewal. An extension is on the table but has yet to be signed.

Cheika arrived in Dublin with a reputation as a successful businessman, a contrast with previous "career coaches" who identified the job as a stepping stone to brighter pastures. Matt Williams and Mike Ruddock both eventually moved into the international arena.

"The club want me to stay on," he said. "I'm focused on this year. I'm not a career coach. I'm not worried about where my next job is coming from or what the next thing is. I'm worried about making my players, who work hard for me as much as possible, get what they deserve. I think there are much more important issues to deal with than worrying about me. I worry about the team. That is the important thing and making them play better."

But is he keen to remain at Leinster?

"Well, I like it here. The players are quality players. They are good people as well, which is nice.

"You've got to keep evolving. You've got to keep moving it forward, moving the game on, moving the team on - keep building the team better. We've changed a lot over the years.

"I just want to keep concentrating on what I'm doing, especially after today. We've got to really work hard, be smart, get ourselves back for the big game on December 26th (against Ulster at the RDS). It's not about me."

And yet, the buck stops with the coach. In this fixture last season a far stronger Edinburgh team - they recently suffered a mass defection of players - eked out a one-point victory. Saturday saw them dominate at the breakdown and neutralise Leinster's backline threat.

"The team is not going backwards," claimed Cheika. "You've got to look at development in all areas. People can get on the back of that if they want to. Then you can say we went backwards last year because the first year we had a really good year.

"It's far too reactive to carry on with all that stuff now. We're very content in our own camp and we've made a lot of headway. We've got good playing personnel."

The possible influence of a World Cup hangover was dismissed, while Cheika noted Leinster were currently top of the Magners Celtic League. But everyone knows that will always be the second priority. The season will now be classed as a failure. Though it is clearly a question for the mute senior players, Cheika was asked about the inability to alter the game plan once it begins to malfunction.

"Obviously it is something that we want to do. We want to be able to play both games (kicking and running). You need to have experience in situations. It's obviously an area that I want to build in our repertoire."

The former England coach Andy Robinson was asked about the context that on paper Leinster were, almost man for man, a superior team.

"It's not about big names," he said. "You've got to start somewhere, you've got to come from somewhere. All players are developed and play for a club before they become stars. It's about why you wear the shirt, about the pride in wearing the shirt, and doing it each week, then it's about how big your heart is."

"And playing for each other as well," added his captain, Ali Hogg.

"Yeah, playing for each other, that's something that has really come together for this team," continued Robinson. "They're good friends with each other, work hard for each other, enjoy each other's company.

"If you've got that, you can build a team, if you don't, you're going to struggle to build a team. Their attitude is phenomenal, I've enjoyed working with them, I've been taken aback with the positive attitude they always show, even in the face of adversity. There aren't a lot of good-news stories in Scotland, that pressure is always on you, but they've got a really strong core."