Andy Robinson, a man with a coaching pedigree as long as most second rows’ arms, is back in the job he loves, taking on the challenge of reviving the Edinburgh side after a summer of turmoil and change. He admits it is a move that few would have expected, but says that he is relishing the chance to develop young players - and does not care if they go out in blue shirts and beat England.

Already he is enjoying “the most friendly reception I have ever had at Murrayfield”, after arriving yesterday to take charge of his first training session. With his experience as a World Cup-winning assistant coach with England, a Heineken Cup-winning coach with Bath, and a senior role on two Lions tours, he is certain to be an instant hit with the Edinburgh fans desperate for success.

“Coaching is my passion, something I love doing whether it is coaching youngsters at mini rugby or professional players,” he said. “I just love coaching and working with the team. Looking at this side it is young, has lots of potential and lots of enthusiasm. And it is a beautiful city to come to as well.” Asked if he was worried about his new charges going out to defeat England, he almost sounded enthusiastic about the prospect. “No, no,” he said.

“Coaches are there for the players, that is what they are about. I have loved coaching any player, whatever nationality. Coaching Bath and England you were always talking to players, working with them and looking to pass on the knowledge that you have to improve a player – whatever the nationality.”

Capturing Robinson is something of a coup for the new Edinburgh management, and will go a long way towards settling scepticism and doubts about the club after a turbulent few months ended with Edinburgh being brought back under Scottish Rugby Union control. Gordon McKie, the union chief executive, was delighted to have landed his man. “Andy Robinson’s arrival is a clear sign of our very serious intent to build Edinburgh Rugby into a major force in professional rugby,” he said. “He is a successful and proven coach and he is driven to achieve results. He will complement our professional coaching set-up in Scotland.”

Robinson explained that he had been thinking about the move to Edinburgh ever since the vacancy arose when the club was bought back by the union. He has seen both the Magners League matches the club has played, as well as their warm-up game against Bath, his former club, and says he is encouraged by the quality and enthusiasm he has seen.

“I hope the fans will see that I am passionate about coaching and passionate about Edinburgh being successful and developing players who play for Edinburgh and go on to play for Scotland. The work I do with the Edinburgh squad will be productive in terms of Scotland being successful.

“Edinburgh will be targeting success in the Magners League and that is important to me too. After that, it is putting down the foundation for growth. There is obviously a big goal you set out to achieve. We had a huge goal when I was with England, to win the World Cup, but then we had to sit down and work out how we were going to achieve it. We have a big goal here, but that is between me and the players at the moment.”

In a mark of confidence on both sides, he has been given a three-year deal at Edinburgh and says that he is there for the long haul.