Mastering a perfect storm
IN a competition where two-strikes and you are as good as out, Edinburgh gave their ambition of progressing in the Champions Cup a sizeable boost when hammering Toulon 40-14 in their group game at Murrayfield.
The loss to Montpellier last week may yet prove costly but yesterday’s result, and more importantly the level of performance by Edinburgh, kept coach Richard Cockerill optimistic afterwards.
“We created some early opportunities that I thought might come back to haunt us. But I think that’s our best all-round display,” said the former Leicester and Toulon coach who reckoned his team took advantage of a “perfect storm” in terms of venue and opposition.
“Toulon have had some difficulties, but you still have to go out there and do it – but we still have to go over there,” said Cockerill, who stated he was happy with six points from two games, adding that qualification for the knock-out stages wasn’t the be-all and end-all.
The only downside for Cockerill was a shoulder injury, sustained by Magnus Bradbury, which the Edinburgh coach described as “not great”.
Early on, both sides entered into a kicking rally. But, when real territory was gained, it was Edinburgh who made the most progress, centre Matt Scott producing a jinking, weaving run deep in to the Toulon half.
Spinning the ball wide, a try looked on, but Allan Dell’s pass was intercepted. Thankfully, referee JP Doyle had seen an earlier penalty offence, Jaco van der Walt doing the needful.
Edinburgh looked bright, and Dougie Fife and Hamish Watson again made decent yardage, with Edinburgh pinning the visitors on their own line. However, having been repelled several times, the hosts were halted when penalised inches from the Toulon line.
During that charge, Grant Gilchrist left the fray, his head against a Toulon shoulder something of a no-contest.
Watson, as ever, was in the thick of things, but when WP Nel, the tighthead, emerged as acting stand-off, his surge again took Edinburgh yards from the try line. This time, after Stuart McInally was halted, Ben Toolis managed to get enough purchase on the ball for the try to be awarded after consultation with the TMO. Van der Walt again obliged with the extra points to make it 10-0.
Toulon’s response was swift. After the human wrecking ball Mathieu Bastareaud had made a couple of charges, Malakai Fekitoa and Julian Savea set up Romain Taofifenua to crash over.
Edinburgh, as their players had done after several crunching tackles, simply righted themselves and got back to business. As he had threatened earlier, Scott carved open the Toulon defensive line, but this time he had Henry Pyrgos in support to run in the touchdown.
Scott’s performance won’t have gone unnoticed, with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend viewing from the stand.
A van der Walt penalty soon followed his successful conversion, and Edinburgh led 20-7, which was stretched to a two-score lead when van der Walt split the posts with a penalty from distance.
Had Fife been a tad more accurate with a pass inside his 22, then Blair Kinghorn would have relieved the pressure as Toulon stepped up their game. Edinburgh however, were undaunted and, on the stroke of halftime, Edinburgh’s forward pressure again brought reward, referee Doyle calling for a penalty which van der Walt clipped over.
It is a measure of just how good this Toulon side are, however, that not many would have thought Edinburgh were home and hosed, even at 26-7 up.
There was, however, no let-up in Edinburgh’s t empo aft er t he turnaround.
Darcy Graham appeared from the wing, with continuity provided by Nel who fed Stuart McInally to bounce over.
In every department, Edinburgh were better, illustrated when Ben Toolis won a crucial line- out on Toulon’s throw yards from his own line.
Toulon threw off the shackles in the closing minutes, desperately trying to gain something from the day. However, even when Josua Tuisova appeared destined for the corner, Simon Bergham – whose crossing infringement last week deprived Edinburgh a possible winning score – produced a try-saving tackle that saw him emerge, headband over one eye, like Pudsey the Bear.
Daniel Ikpefan went over for a consolation try, but Edinburgh retaliated with a fourth, bonus-point score when Chris Dean touched down.
That the stadium announcer twice repeated Edinburgh had hit the 40-point mark only confirmed what an outstanding display this had been.
Toulon have had some difficulties, but you still have to go out and do it