Free-falling Edinburgh Rugby’s hideous defeat lays bare gulf – why reaction needs to ease Sean Everitt scrutiny.
Edinburgh suffered their worst defeat since the United Rugby Championship began in 2021 against the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg, 55-21. It was also their first game where they had given up more than 50 points since they were defeated 56-3 by Racing 92 in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup in Paris during the 2020–21 season.
The Lions were leading 48-0 at the break due to their overwhelming first-half performance at Ellis Park, where they were scoring more than a point every minute. In the URC/Pro14/Pro12/Celtic League history, it was a record-breaking halftime score.
With three converted tries in the second half, Edinburgh at least stopped the bleeding, but against a team that has never advanced to the URC play-offs, it was too little, too late.
There had been little indication that Edinburgh would collapse in the way that they did in their previous encounters with the Lions, which had always been close games. Last season, Sean Everitt’s team defeated them 17–16 at home. The year prior, the Lions had won 22-19 in Edinburgh thanks to a last-minute penalty kick from Gianni Lombard, and the previous season, they had triumphed 15-9 at Ellis Park in the URC.
All tight games between sides who last season were scrapping for a top eight place. On Saturday, the gulf looked huge and Edinburgh now find themselves sitting second bottom of the URC with no wins from three. And it’s not about to get any easier. For the third week in a row they will face South African opposition, with the Stormers due in Scotland this weekend.
Everitt needs a big reaction from his players to try to get their season back on track and ensure his own position doesn’t come under further scrutiny. They produced something more akin to the real Edinburgh during the second half in Johannesburg but there was little to motivate the Lions by that stage after they had run in seven unanswered first-half tries.
Everitt spoke afterwards of his frustration at his players’ failure to execute their game-plan. Edinburgh’s loose kicking gave the Lions all the ball they needed and they exploited it ruthlessly and, at times, with impressive panache. Rabz Maxwane scored a hat-trick, the other winger, Edwill van der Merwe, bagged a double, and there were also tries for Quan Horne, Rynhardt Jonker and Francke Horn.
Edinburgh’s second-half response came via tries from Grant Gilchrist and replacements Patrick Harrison and Ben Muncaster. Ben Healy (2) and Ross Thompson added conversions.
Edinburgh at least stemmed the bleeding in the second half, scoring three converted tries, but it was too little too late against a side who have never made it to the URC play-offs.
All close games involving teams that were fighting for a top eight spot in the previous season. The gap was enormous on Saturday, and Edinburgh is currently ranked second from bottom in the URC after three games played without a victory. Furthermore, it won’t get any simpler soon. They will play South Africa for the third week in a row this Saturday, when the Stormers are scheduled to visit Scotland.
To try to get their season back on track and make sure his own situation doesn’t come under greater criticism, Everitt needs a strong response from his players. By the time they produced something more like the genuine Edinburgh in the second half in Johannesburg, the Lions had run in seven games and had little left to spur them on.
After the game, Everitt expressed his dissatisfaction with his players’ inability to carry out their strategy. The Lions had all the ball they required because to Edinburgh’s loose kicking, which they used mercilessly and occasionally with remarkable flair. In addition to Quan Horne, Rynhardt Jonker, and Francke Horn scoring tries, Edwill van der Merwe, the other winger, scored a double. Rabz Maxwane also scored a hat-trick.
Edinburgh responded in the second half with touchdowns from Ben Muncaster, Patrick Harrison, and Grant Gilchrist, who were replacements. Ross Thompson and Ben Healy (2) added conversions.
“This team proved it could play when we tightened up the game and took the bull by the horns in the second half. Kudos to the leaders for that.”
Edinburgh is now required to complete it in 80 minutes as opposed to 40.1
Read more news on https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply