JINKING INTO CAP HONOURS
RUGBY LAST NIGHT’S ACTION Johnstone in line for Six Nations bow for Scotland next week after double joy for Gunners EDINBURGH .... 34 DRAGONS .... 17
JIMMY JOHNSTONE boosted Edinburgh’s Pro14 bid – now he could become a Scotland hero like his famous football namesake.
The elusive centre fired a timely message to national coach Gregor Townsend as his two brilliant tries helped seal a crucial bonus-point triumph for the Gunners over the Dragons at Murrayfield.
While the Celtic legend enjoyed a glittering club and national career from 1962-1974, elusive centre Johnstone is hoping to earn his Test debut at the age of 27 in next week’s Six Nations showdown in Paris.
But he will have enhanced his chances as his double along with tries from Magnus Bradbury and Duhan van der Merwe (2) saw Edinburgh fight back from an interval deficit.
Comeback king Bradbury admitted the win was the perfect tonic after his long injury lay-off – and their shock defeat by Southern Kings in South Africa last month.
He said: “It’s great to be back out there with the boys after four months on the sidelines.
“It was a long haul for me, so I’m delighted to be back – and the try was the icing on the cake.
“It was important to get this result after our defeat in South Africa.
“We had to go back to basics and we got things right when it mattered. Now we have to build on this.”
Edinburgh had been forced to soak up early pressure and they surged ahead during their first real raid.
Chris Dean inflicted the initial damage with a powerful run. Then his backline partner Johnstone left four defenders for dead with a jinking run to the line. Jaco van der Walt slotted the conversion from a tricky angle – only to see the Dragons hit back immediately.
Tyler Morgan was in the right place at the right time to dash over in the corner at the end of a slick handling move.
Josh Lewis levelled it with a great strike from the touchline.
Johnstone wasted no time in snatching back the spotlight as he completed his quickfire try double – goaled by van der Walt.
However, Morgan emulated him two minutes later by cruising in to give Lewis an easy kick after intercepting a Dean pass.
And Lewis struck another blow as he banged over a penalty from 40 metres.
Gunners earned the bulk of possession in the build up to the interval but the Dragons markers held firm.
The exchanges after the restart were scrappy and mistake-ridden with neither side able to find fluidity. Edinburgh had a let-off when Lewis made a hash of his next penalty from long range.
And van der Walt cashed in by finding the target to equalise at the other end.
That gave the Gunners the momentum they needed and Bradbury marked his return by ploughing over for try No.2 – converted by Van der Walt.
Then winger Van der Merwe made sure of the bonus point as he broke through four challenges to reach the line.
And he repeated the feat two minutes from time to make sure of the ideal result.
DAVID KELSO AT MURRAYFIELD