Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
Agen must bounce back from their heavy opening round defeat to London Irish against Edinburgh or risk leaving themselves with a huge task to qualify from pool 5. - 18/11/2015 15:59
Agen must bounce back from their heavy opening round defeat to London Irish against Edinburgh or risk leaving themselves with a huge task to qualify from pool 5.
The French side conceded eight tries against the Exiles but will be hoping for better things when they play their first home game of the new campaign on Friday night, despite their mixed form at the Stade Armandie.
Agen have won only three of their last seven matches on home soil, though they have won their two most recent fixtures there.
There is likely to be an emotionally-charged atmosphere given the recent tragic events in France and Edinburgh back-row Jamie Ritchie admits they must not let the circumstances take away their focus from the game.
Ritchie said: “We will pay our respects when we get there, but I don’t think we can get too much into the emotional side of things. We have to take ourselves away from that and concentrate on the game.
“Of course we will pay our respects because it was a devastating thing that happened, but for us it is about concentrating on our rugby. The boys will be focused on the game and that will be the main thing going into the fixture.”
Edinburgh continued their excellent form in the Challenge Cup with a 28-10 win over pool 5 rivals Grenoble in week one but they failed to pick up a fourth try for a bonus point.
Match Facts
- Agen have played just once against Scottish opposition in the Challenge Cup, beating Glasgow Warriors 34-23 in 1996.
- Agen have won only three of their last seven matches on home soil, though they won their most recent two home games.
- Edinburgh have won nine of their last 11 matches in the competition including three of their last four away games.
- The Scottish side have won six of their last seven matches against French opposition in the Challenge Cup.
Con tre gironi già assegnati a Exeter
Edinburgh continued their perfect start to the Challenge Cup with a commanding 27-6 triumph at Agen.
Scotland international John Hardie turned in a man-of-the-match display, setting up Cornell du Preez before he dotted down himself. A penalty try was reward for Edinburgh’s first-half forward dominance, as they took a firm grip on Challenge Cup Pool Five.
It took 20 minutes for this game to spark into life after the two sides traded blows in the centre of the park. The deadlock was finally broken by outside-half Greig Tonks, who knocked over a penalty from 20 metres after the hosts gave away a scrum penalty. Indiscipline was to cost Agen again three minutes later when they offended at a ruck and gave Tonks knocked over another penalty for a 6-0 lead.
Agen’s failure to get on the right side of referee Peter Fitzgibbon was to become a theme, and the Edinburgh pack took full advantage after 35 minutes. They put the squeeze on the Agen pack from close range and Fitzgibbon blew for a penalty try, which Tonks converted.
Edinburgh put real distance between them and the hosts four minutes after the break. Scotland flanker John Hardie broke clear and fed Cornell du Preez, who bundled over to score. Tonks converted before Agen finally got on the scoreboard with a penalty.
Hardie went from provider to scorer with ten minutes remaining to put the gloss on Edinburgh’s triumph. He was driven over the line to score, Tonks was on-song again to make it 27-6.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary