Edinburgh booked their place in the last eight of the Challenge Cup with a bonus point win over a lacklustre Bordeaux in the capital.
A majestic performance from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne was the highlight of the night, the scrum-half breaking the club record for the most points in a European tie with his 28-point haul.
WP Nel and Scotland centre Matt Scott also crossed, but the night belonged to the number nine, who kicked 18 points, and scored two tries to steer the hosts to the last eight.
The first points of the evening were duly added from the boot of Hidalgo-Clyne, who continued his recent run of form to make it 3-0.
And Solomons’ side should have extended their lead twice inside the first quarter, as a break from Dougie Fife saw him feed David Denton, but the number eight’s pass went to ground, while Tim Visser was culpable of a bad pass moments earlier.
Hamish Watson was penalised following a period of kick-tennis, and that allowed France stand-off Beauxis to level the scores on 24 minutes (3-3).
Parity was not to last long though, as the Edinburgh pack marched their visitors towards the line, before Hidalgo-Clyne spotted a gap to dart over for the game’s first try.
His conversion was wide, but the capital club led 8-3 with half an hour played.
The kicking tee was out again just two minutes later as the Edinburgh scrum, now dominant despite the introduction of the experienced Jean Baptiste Poux, won the hosts another penalty, and the number nine made no mistake to make it 11-3.
Beauxis and Hidalgo-Clyne traded penalties at the end of the first half – with the home side turning round 10 points in front at the break.
HALF-TIME: EDINBURGH RUGBY 16-6 BORDEAUX BEGLES
It was fast turning into the Hidalgo-Clyne show at BT Murrayfield.
He landed another penalty shortly after the resumption, before he was on conversion duty once more for the game’s second try. A superb break from Al Dickinson was the catalyst, as the prop burst clear, before Matt Scott burrowed his way over from a yard. The conversion was successful, and the hosts led 24-6.
In typical fashion, though, the French side came back into the match with a try from their captain, Serin, who gathered a chip through to score under the posts. Pierre Bernard, off the bench for Beauxis, converted to make it 24-13. .
But Edinburgh struck once more, as a great Visser break was rounded off from short-range by WP Nel, the prop going over to give the hosts more than 20 minutes to hunt the elusive fourth try.
Hidalgo-Clyne converted Nel’s try, and the scrum-half capped a virtuoso performance with his second try of the night, sniping over from short-range after more good work by the Edinburgh pack
He converted, and made it 38-13.
Bernard went over for a consolation try towards the end, but Edinburgh were not to be denied as they clinched European knockout rugby for the third time in their history.
3 responses
Great result for Edinburgh. Lets hope that they can pragress in this competition. I recon if both Glasgow and Edinburgh play they way they have been playing over thae last 2-3 months they will be serious contenders for silverware in both the pro-12 and Europe.
Good result and good performance against Bordeaux. Best I’ve seen SHC playing. Good timing prior to 6N.
I’ll be going to watch their QF match against London Irish at Madjeski.
The difference between Edinburgh now and Edinburgh back in October is quite stark. From shipping 60 points aginst Ospreys in a massively enbarassing performance, to beating all sorts of higher placed teams.
Some can be explained by the sick list, but not all. Possibly the baprism of fore for younger players has helped in the longer term.
Top 6 qualifying is still a possibility, although results against higher placed teams are needed.
Coincidence that the upturn also ties in with Omar Mounimnes departure as defence coach and Stevie Scott taking over?