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Edinburgh will play their 100th Heineken Cup tie against Gloucester at Murrayfield on Sunday. - 07/12/2013 18:45
Edinburgh can strengthen their grip on pool four with a home win over bottom club London Welsh.
After a defeat to Zebre in the PRO12 in their last outing, Alan Solomons’ side will be looking to get their season back on track with a third straight victory in the Challenge Cup.
They stormed to the top of pool four with back-to-back wins over Bordeaux-Begles in rounds one and two.
Edinburgh hooker Neil Cochrane, who returns to the squad following an injury lay-off, said: “It’s always much harder watching than playing. You want to be out there giving your all to help the team.
“We need to pick ourselves up this week and go in with confidence against London Welsh. Only we can turn it around now.
“We have a change of scene with the different competition this weekend, two good results previously against Bordeaux and Lyon, and we have a big opportunity now to go out and beat London Welsh this weekend.”
In stark contrast the Exiles are without a point in the competition so far this season as they prepare to make the long journey to Murrayfield.
They are desperately looking for a result to kick-start their season, which also sees them rock-bottom of the Aviva Premiership after 12 rounds.
Exiles’ fly-half Gordon Ross returns to former club on Sunday having spent two seasons at Edinburgh from 2000-2002 and has been named captain for the occasion.
“I really enjoyed my time in Edinburgh, it’s a good club and I’m looking forward to going back. Edinburgh are improving and it’s going to be a tough challenge for us on Sunday,” added Ross.
Match Facts
- Edinburgh have lost both times they have faced English opposition in the Challenge Cup, however those two fixtures came in 1997.
- Edinburgh have won their opening two fixtures in this season’s competition to give them an overall win rate of 50% in their Challenge Cup history (W4, L4).
- London Welsh have lost their last three fixtures in the competition by an average margin of 21 points.
- Edinburgh Rugby’s Ross Ford has won four turnovers in the Challenge Cup this season; no player has won more.
Edinburgh's bench came to their rescue as they ended London Welsh's hopes of a debut season's win with two late tries that made it three from three in Pool 4 and top spot a point ahead of Bordeaux-Begles. - 07/12/2014 16:10
Edinburgh’s bench came to their rescue as they ended London Welsh’s hopes of a debut season’s win with two late tries that made it three from three in Pool 4 and top spot a point ahead of Bordeaux-Begles.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Neil Cochrane came off the bench at BT Murrayfield Stadium to get the scores that mattered in the final quarter but Alan Solomans side fell a try short of taking maximum points.
However, wins over Bordeaux-Begles, Lyon and now the Exiles have put them in pole position at the halfway stage and ahead of their trip to Oxford for the quick-fire return.
Edinburgh were forced to make a late change, Tom Brown starting in place of Dougie Fife, but they took just a minute to open the scoring with a Tom Heathcote penalty goal.
Opposite number Gordon Ross – returning to his former club having spent two seasons at Edinburgh from 2000-2002 – levelled matters in similar style before it was a case of delight quickly turning to despair for London Welsh right wing Rhys Crane.
He raced over for the opening try of the contest after 15 minutes – and was then sent to kick his heels in the sin bin six minutes later.
Ross converted before Heathcote cut the deficit with his second penalty.
However, although down to 14 men thanks to Crane’s yellow card, the Exiles went back into a seven-points lead with Ross again on target and by contrast Edinburgh were left rueing missed chances.
The most notable came when Heathcote pulled another penalty chance wide to leave the home side trailing by seven points at the break at the home of Scottish rugby.
There was some joy for home supporters soon after the restart when tighthead prop WP Nel crashed over but Heathcote saw another chance of points from the boot go begging.
Things turned for the better with the introduction of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne at scrum half as 10 minutes later he crossed for their second try and take Edinburgh back in front for the first time in 50 minutes.
And another try from replacement prop Neil Cochrane ended London Welsh’s hopes of a debut win of the season, Hidalgo-Clyne adding both conversions.
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