Edinburgh booked their place in the quarter final of the European Challenge Cup with a hard fought 33-15 victory over Bayonne at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
The match had been moved to the national stadium from their usual home of The Hive because of Storm Kathleen, with concerns over how open the ground was and how much of an effect the wind would have on proceedings.
Edinburgh started brightly and almost got their first try of the match after six minutes when a cross field kick from Ben Healy almost found Jamie Ritchie on the wing but the Scotland international couldn’t quite get enough of a hold on the ball and it slipped away.
Edinburgh were putting the pressure on in the early stages but they weren’t being clinical and it ended with Bayonne being the first team to get on the scoresheet when Tom Spring forced his way over the line and he then converted his own try too with 18 on the clock.
The home side responded well and got themselves back on the attack and this time they did take their chance with Hamish Watson being the man to touch down with a TMO check confirming that the ball was grounded.
The wind had an effect though and Healy’s conversion went well wide of the post from a good position.
It wasn’t a first half that produced the most exciting of European knockout rugby and both sides seemed to be playing within themselves as they approached half time.
Edinburgh started the second half much better though and instantly got themselves on the scoresheet and in front for the first time. Matt Currie burst through and nobody from the visiting side could stop him from finishing it off underneath the posts. This time Healy did convert and Edinburgh were in a good position.
Bayonne were able to bring it back to within two points with a penalty from Spring, and the visitors fly-half was scoring all their points as he got another try from the restart after a run from Nadir Mmegdoud before Spring had one of his own – although this time he failed to convert.
Edinburgh were able to get through Bayonne a bit easier in the second half though and Ben Vellacott then got himself on the scoresheet to put Edinburgh back in front with a four point lead when Healy converted.
Yan Lestrade was yellow carded in the aftermath of that try and Edinburgh took advantage with a third try to put breathing room between the two sides, with Vellacott sneaking it over the line once again.
There’s not a match where Duhan van der Merwe doesn’t get on the scoresheet and even though he had a relatively quiet night, he ran over the top of the Bayonne defence on 68 minutes to effectively put the game beyond doubt.
A game of two halves
The first half was a slow, ponderous display by Edinburgh and they struggled to make the most of their possession and territory. The second half was much better though and they set the standard by coming blistering out the blocks with an early Currie try. The performance was much more professional, the odd moment aside. Sean Everitt will be much happier with that though.
Weather plays its part
In his pre-match press conference Sean Everitt warned that the weather wasn’t conducive to good rugby and he wasn’t wrong at at all. The game being moved to Murrayfield did help because if this was played in the Hive then there would have been much more to be concerned about for both teams.
It still wasn’t a help though and the swirling wind inside a stadium that was empty on three sides perhaps levelled the playing field against a French opposition that have been miserable away from home this season.
Strength of the bench
Edinburgh’s experience on the bench was a big help after they got themselves in front. Being able to bring on the likes of Ali Price and Dave Cherry really helped. Bayonne didn’t have the same strength from their replacements and it was noticeable as they began to fall away in the second period of the match.
Need more against better opposition
Edinburgh managed to make it a relatively comfortable night in the end but their first half performance left a lot to be desired and they need to improve when they face better times. The likelihood is they will return to Durban next week to face Sharks if results go as expected on Sunday and having just experienced a defeat over there in the URC, it will need to be a much improved showing from then and from the first half tonight if they are to extend their Challenge Cup run.
Knockout record improves
Before tonight, Edinburgh had won just one knockout game since they reached the Challenge Cup Final in 2015. It showed a lot of character to push through a disappointing first half and get the result they needed to keep themselves fighting in the URC and in European competition.
Now they have to balance the two moving forward while others – including Glasgow – only have to focus on what is happening domestically.
Edinburgh: W Goosen, J Henry (C Dean 74), M Bennett (J Lang 63), M Currie, D Van der Merwe, B Healy, B Vellacott (A Price 65), L De Bruin (M Jones 75), E Ashman (D Cherry 58), WP Nel (D Rae 66), S Skinner, G Gilchrist (J Hodsgon 65), J Ritchie, H Watson (L Crosbie 58), V Mata
Tries: Watson (24), Currie (42), Vellacott (53, 57), Van der Merwe (68)
Conversions: Healy (43, 54, 57, 68)
Penalties:
Bayonne: A Callandret (K Labarbe 60), B Pourailly, Guillame Matocq, Yan Lestrade (E Buliruarua 64), N Megood, T Spring, G Rouet (T Dolhagaray 59), Q Bethune ( P Castillon 51), V Guidicelli (T Acquier 51), P Scholtz (M Villar 64), T Ceyte, M Leindekar (K Mikautadze 51), R Bourdeau, B Heguy (P Huguet 70), M Ariceta
Tries: Spring (18, 49)
Conversions: Spring (18)
Penalties: Spring (48)
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Attendance: 5365
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