For Edinburgh to give Duncan Hodge a first win against hapless Treviso may have been largely expected, but the manner of the win was impressive.
Hodge’s side were ruthless in attack, as both wingers showed off their finishing ability – Tom Brown finished both his tries well from close range, while Damien Hoyland showed off all the skills set to make him a Scotland regular as he bagged a brace.
Blair Kinghorn added a cutting edge at full-back, while the centre pairing of Dean and Allen looked to threaten, albeit against very limited opposition – Treviso skipper Alberto Sgarbi’s best days seem long past him.
The exploits of the three-quarters must come with a tip of the cap to the returning Jason Tovey, who was outstanding.
Excellent from the tee – we all knew the Welshman could kick goals when he arrived at BT Murrayfield from the Dragons, but the variation to his game shown on Friday night was superb.
Tovey controlled play superbly with Kinghorn and half-back colleague Sean Kennedy, and provided a number of assists – not least the cross kick for Hoyland and floated pass for Brown’s second.
The pack were once more imperious, with Hamish Watson to the fore, and Magnus Bradbury not far behind – the young back-row man’s dash to the line the highlight of the first half.
He looks at home in the Pro12, and may find himself pushing for further honours soon, while Grant Gilchrist led superbly from the front, bloody nose and all.
Another tip of the cap to prop Ewan McQuillin who filled in well at tighthead, although his appearance straight from the English Championship perhaps highlights the limitations within the Italian game at present.
Encouraging signs too from the bench, where Lewis Carmichael will have enjoyed his cameo at number eight, as he helped set up Kinghorn for the seventh try of the night.
A straightforward win in the end, with the Italians ending the match with two scrum-halves and two hookers on the field, such are their injury woes, but Hodge and the Edinburgh fans can be pleased with the manner in which Treviso were swept aside.
The interim Edinburgh Rugby head coach will hope they can do the same in Challenge Cup action against Romanian minnows Timisoara Saracens on Saturday.
