Edinburgh tester leaves boss happy
Homecomings don’t always work out, but Todd Blackadder’s return to the Scottish capital provided him with exactly what he wanted.
A “test” was what the Bath director of rugby was hoping for against his old club, and that’s what he got from Edinburgh. In some areas the hosts looked better prepared at this stage of their summer. Their frontline defence, fitness and scrummaging were all in very good shape. Had they not turned over so much ball – much of which was forced by good pressure and scrambling by the visitors – they quite easily could have won this friendly. In the end, Jamie Roberts’ debut try off the bench sealed a 12-10 victory as Bath fielded all 30 of their travelling players. “I think both teams will be really be happy with that game,” said Blackadder. “I thought the contact and contest was really willing. We brought 30 players up with us and we just wanted to get some good rugby contact in. “I’m sure we’ll come out of it with quite a few work-ons, but I was really happy. “You want to be tested on all fronts and also give those players the opportunity to put their hand up. All in all, they all did that.” Tom Ellis scored from close range in the first half as Bath dominated possession. The hosts came back into it and took a 10-5 lead going into the final quarter thanks to a Jason Baggott penalty and a converted try from Chris Dean. But, after emptying a strong bench, the visitors executed some powerful phase attack off a scrum, which Roberts finished with a trademark hard line. Rhys Priestland’s conversion proved the mathematical difference between the two sides. It was the first time Blackadder had been back to Edinburgh in more than a decade. He played there from 2001 to 2004 and captained the side. He was also the forwards coach under Frank Hadden before returning to New Zealand. “Edinburgh are going to have a great season, I can see they’re a really good side,” he added. “Their set-piece is really good. They’ve got a really good foundation there and I thought some of their moves from the scrum and coming blind, they’ve got some smart plays. “Hamish Watson in the first half was good over the ball and they’ve got some good experience to come back, which wasn’t there tonight. “I wanted to have this game. I thought it would be perfect for us and it’s proven to be so. It feels like coming home.” Blackadder felt that for all their possession, Bath were a little flat and lacked penetration in the first half. He praised the tireless efforts of Josh Bayliss, who played openside and blindside during his hour on the field, but focused more on the collective than individual performances. “I was pleased with the possession but not the momentum in that first half,” the Kiwi added. “Little things like running on to the ball were missing. We showed a little bit more of that in the second half. “That was our intent and that’s what we’ve got to bring early in the game. “While we weren’t getting over the gainline we were keeping the ball, but Edinburgh’s defence eventually got on top of us, we made a mistake and we were down the other end. “Their nine bouncing out of the line really tested our ruck D, so I was really pleased with that. “We got tested and broken a few times, but that’s what you want.”