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Scottish stand-off Duncan Weir is looking for greater consistency from his Edinburgh side as they head into the crucial back-to-back clashes with Stade Francais Paris in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. - 07/12/2016 14:37
Scottish stand-off Duncan Weir is looking for greater consistency from his Edinburgh side as they head into the crucial back-to-back clashes with Stade Francais Paris in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
The Scots are top of Pool 5 having beaten Timisoara Saracens and Harlequins, and Saturday’s opponents Stade Francais trail them by five points in 3rd place. But Edinburgh’s impressive European form has not been matched in the PRO12, with the region third from bottom.
And Weir is hoping Edinburgh can make a return to their good run of form in the Challenge Cup when they host the French capital side at BT Murraryfield.
“I was not playing against Harlequins in the last European match because I was injured, but it is the best I have seen the team play,” said Weir. “A lot of things clicked that day and you could definitely see the squad had confidence.
“Over the last couple of months we’ve been taking our chances in attack as well. We have a busy time coming up in both the league and Europe and we don’t want to let ourselves down in either competition.
“It’s about finding that consistency. We’ve only played two Challenge Cup games and we’ve put in good performances, so it’s about backing them up, but it’s also about trying to find consistency in the PRO12 as well.”
Edinburgh’s thrilling win over 2011 Challenge Cup winners Harlequins in Round 2 was played out in front of 6,000 people at Murrayfield. And Weir wants to keep their cup momentum going against Stade Francais.
“When you play teams back-to-back it poses different challenges. Do you throw your whole playbook out in one week and then see how they handle it?” he added.
“Or do you keep something in the locker for the following week? “It’s a great opportunity to keep that momentum that we’ve built so far.”
Edinburgh produced a stunning comeback to maintain their 100 percent record in the European Rugby Challenge Cup with a 28-23 victory over Stade Francais. - 10/12/2016 21:45
Edinburgh produced a stunning comeback to maintain their 100 percent record in the European Rugby Challenge Cup with a 28-23 victory over Stade Francais.
First-half tries from Waisea Vuidarvuwalu and Sekou Macalou looked to have put Stade in cruise control at 20-3. But Edinburgh fought back to claim victory thanks to scores from Damien Hoyland, Ben Toolis and Sam Hidaglo-Clyne, with Duncan Weir adding a crucial 13 point haul from the boot.
Duncan Hodge’s men were looking to continue their perfect start in Pool 5, but it was Stade who got off to a flying start. Stade took a close-range lineout and hammered at the Edinburgh line before outside centre Vuidarvuwalu crashed over. Morne Steyn landed the conversion, and has since added a drop-gaol to make it 10-0 after 10 minutes.
The French heavyweights pressed their advantage with a well-taken More Steyn offload, before it got even better. Wing Josaia Raisuqe streaked downfield and found Macalou in support, and the blindside flanker found his way to the line.
Stade back Paul Williams was then shown yellow for a tip-tackle on Viliam Mata, and Duncan Weir got Edinburgh on the scoreboard moments later with a penalty. However, Steyn replied with one of his own to send Stade in 20-3 up at half-time.
But the hosts came out firing and were soon back in it thanks to flying wing Hoyland. Weir took play into the Stade half before releasing Hoyland, and he did the rest to pull Edinburgh back in to within 12 points. And the comeback was well and truly on when Ben Toolis was shunted over the line. Weir added the extras to pull them back to within five points.
Steyn added a penalty to keep the Scots at arm’s length, but then Hidalgo-Clyne sniped over the line after a spell of heavy pressure. Weir converted to bring his men back within a point, before he landed a penalty to send his side into the lead for the first time. And Weir added another penalty to wrap up the comeback triumph.
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