Deacon applauds Edinburgh strength

Deacon battled hard all day but could not help his side slump to thier third away defeat in the competition - a loss that sees them knocked out of a cup they have raised twice before.

But Deacon was quick to acknowledge the performance of Edinburgh on a brisk winter's day in Scotland, "Edinburgh are a quality side, we said our forwards would have the make their mark and grind them down," he said.

"It seemed to be working to plan early on but we didn't hold the ball enough, we turned over ball too much and that played into their hands.

"We knew it would be a very tough group with four great sides who could beat anybody on their day and that is the way it has turned out.''

And Deacon was left ruing his side's lack of consistency after defeat at Edinburgh saw last season's finalist's crash out of the Heineken Cup at the group stage.

The second row was recalled to Brian Ashton's Six Nations training squad this week and said: We have not won a game away from home in the Heineken Cup this year and that is the disappointing thing. Usually we come up with results away from home and we haven't done that. If you don't win the away games then you are not going to progress in the competition."