While Martyn Williams headed the all-star cast presented to the crowd after the final whistle, by then wing sensation Alex Cuthbert had stormed over for a whirlwind 20-minute try hat-trick to bring an emphatic halt to the Blues’ five-match losing run at the expense of a distinctly second string Edinburgh team.
Just six days before the Heineken Cup semi-finalists clash with Ulster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium they elected to leave out the entire starting line-up from their historic quarter-final victory over Toulouse.
The choice meant the Blues were able to sign off their home section of the Pro12 with a comfortable bonus-point victory, with Wales flanker Williams declaring “it was not the strongest Edinburgh side but we still had a job to do and we did it.
“A lot of boys have put a lot into the region over the years and that was a nice way for them to finish at home.”
With some heavy rain making handling difficult, it took the Blues 18 minutes to crack the Edinburgh defence when Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams scampered over and departing All Black full back Ben Blair added a fine conversion.
Cuthbert started his demolition of the Scottish club with his first try just before half-time and added his second and third in the third quarter.
No 8 Luke Hamilton was driven over by his fellow forwards and replacement flanker Josh Navidi got try number six at the death but by then the Blues and Cuthbert had long ended the game as a meaningful contest.
Blair landed four of the conversions as the Blues wrapped up tournament win number 10 ahead of a trip to face the Scarlets that brings the curtain down on their season a week on Saturday.
