Cockerill calls for more Edinburgh self-belief

CHALLENGE CUP: Coach feels players must realise they are good enough to square up to top sides

Richard Cockerill has urged his Edinburgh side to be more arrogant about their own abilities.

The coach delivered his advice after watching them lose their unbeaten Challenge Cup record in a dismal affair in rain-lashed Paris.

Edinburgh had already ensured top spot in the pool and now face Cardiff Blues at home. However Cockerill reckons they would have completed the double over Stade if they had displayed more self-belief.

He declared: “We learned something about ourselves – that, actually, we are better than we think we are!

“If we apply ourselves and stay in the battle and play every minute like we mean it, we are good enough to keep pace with the big teams.

“I am disappointed that we didn’t front up in that first 20 minutes .

“But now the guys are beginning to realise what it takes – physically and mentally – to perform away from home against very good sides.”

Prop Paul Alo-emile burrowed over at the base of the post for Stade’s first score. Then Jonathan Danty’s chip-and-chase try was allowed when he looked marginally offside.

Edinburgh stepped up the pace after the restart and, following a spate of pick-and-drive moves, it was Damien Hoyland who found the gap to get them back into the contest.

State hit back strongly and Italian Test skipper Sergio Parisse burst through to restore their advantage.

Substitute Dougie Fife pounced for another Edinburgh touchdown, but it proved too little, too late.

SNS. Damien Hoyland: got Edinburgh back into the game with his try.