Blair: Win’s a win but fans need more entertainment

EDINBURGH continued their fine form with a bonus point win over Benetton, but head coach Mike Blair still believes his charges can play a lot better.

Since they drew with the Stormers back in early October, the Scottish side have won four on the bounce against the Bulls, Zebre, Dragons and now Benetton.

Blair said: “We got a win, but there is lot of things we can improve on and do better.

“It is a bonus point win over a good Benetton side so we have to be happy, but I don’t think we entertained the crowd. They wouldn’t have been going home saying they loved that performance.

“That sort of thing matters to me. I just thought it was a little bit flat, but if you are winning and can still improve then that is a good sign.”

Benetton took an early lead with a penalty from stand-off Leonardo Marin before Dewaldt Duvange, the visiting captain, was yellow carded for throwing out a hand to try and slow down the ball.

The home side went 5-3 up in the 13th minute when winger Darcy Graham was set-up by scrum-half Ben Vellacott and stand-off Blair Kinghorn, to score.

Their second unconverted try came just after the end of the first quarter, full-back Emiliano Boffelli on the end of a good team move on his home debut.

Before the break Edinburgh lost No.8 Bill Mata and winger Damien Hoyland to injuries but their seven point advantage was intact after 40 minutes. Benetton too lost players in the first half – winger Iliesa Tavuyara and prop Federico Zani.

The next score in this one was going to be crucial and it went the way of the hosts. Benetton were the victims of their own undoing, two loose passes in their half allowed Kinghorn to pounce for the score which he then converted.

Just before the hour mark Benetton gave themselves some hope with a try from replacement Manuel Zuliani, converted by Marin.

But with man of the match Magnus Bradbury performing well from the back row, Edinburgh sniffed out the bonus point try 13 minutes from time when a powerful lineout maul saw replacement hooker Stuart McInally rumble over the line. Kinghorn, who later went off with a head knock, converted.