Taylor shines for Scots in Agen

CENTRE GEORGE Taylor was the star of the show on his European debut as his two tries helped Edinburgh Rugby to a bonus point victory in their Challenge Cup opener away to Agen on Friday night.

Taylor, 22, has had to bide his time with Richard Cockerill’s side behind the likes of Matt Scott and Mark Bennett in the pecking order, but he took his chance in this 31-10 Pool 3 triumph.

After the game in the Stade Armandie, head coach Cockerill said: “It is mission accomplished for us. We were away from home in France, so overall we have to be happy.”

After fly-half Thomas Vincent had kicked the home side into an early lead, Edinburgh scored a superb try.

Taylor was on hand to finish off the brilliant move that he had started and fly-half Simon Hickey converted.

It was 21-3 to the visitors by half-time when Taylor added a second converted try and then full-back Damien Hoyland also went over with Hickey adding the extras.

A Hickey penalty in the 45th minute made it 24-3 before Agen scored a try through winger Benito Masilevu. Replacement Raphael Lagarde duly added the extra two points.

Edinburgh had lots of possession and finally scored the bonus point try in injury-time when hooker Cameron Fenton made it over, and Hickey added the extras.

“For us, it’s a really good start,” Cockerill said. “

“We know that there are going to be tougher days, and we know that’s not their best team.

“But our team could be stronger as well. Some of the wider members of the squad got some really good game time.”

Elsewhere on Friday evening, prop Marcel van der Merwe was the hero with two tries helping Toulon to overcome Bayonne 20-13.

And Stade Francais showed they are still confined to the shackles of their poor form despite the departure of coach Heyneke Meyer earlier this week, losing 27-11 at home to Brive.