Edinburgh remain top after uninspiring victory against Cardiff
Edinburgh remain top of Conference B in the Guinness PRO14 after edging past Cardiff 14-6 in a far from thrilling affair at BT Murrayfield.
There was no sign of the swashbuckling rugby that had seen Richard Cockerill’s men demolish Connacht seven days earlier.
However, the result was more important than the performance and Edinburgh continued their march towards the play-offs while preserving a run the means they are still unbeaten this season.
The hosts led 8-6 at the interval after George Taylor touched down and Simon Hickey kicked a penalty, while Jason Tovey responded for the Welsh outfit with two penalties.
And the only scoring of the second period came in the closing eight minutes when Hickey added two further penalties.
After 10 minutes in which both sides applied the boot more than they handled the ball, the visitors opened the scoring when Tovey, back on the turf that was his home patch for two seasons, banged over a penalty.
Hallam Amos gathered the restart but paid the price for dithering when his clearance was charged down by Taylor, who gathered well and plunged over. Hickey’s conversion attempt rattled back off the post.
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Cardiff sought an instant response and Amos came within a whisker of atoning for that error with a bristling run down the right flank, but he was bundled into touch just short of the whitewash.
The visitors continued to press and Tovey had a chance to nudge his side back into the lead with a penalty for a line-out offence but his kick was just wide of the target.
The hosts also squandered a three-pointer when Hickey hit the left hand post for a second time. But he made amends a couple of minutes later with another award that sailed over.
Cardiff battled back and by half-time, the deficit was down to two points after Tovey slotted is second penalty from close range.
Neither side threatened the opposition line in the opening 10 minutes of the second period, but Edinburgh gradually ratcheted up the pressure and it looked to be only a matter of time before they eventually unlocked the Cardiff defence. The chance came in the form of a penalty, but Hickey was just short with a 45 metre effort.
The game stuttered towards the final 10 minutes with Edinburgh still in the ascendancy, but the lack of a cutting edge within sight of the line meant that the score remained unchanged.
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With advantage being played, Duhan van der Merwe latched onto a cross kick from Hickey and was thwarted just short of the line as he tried to extend his try scoring record to six matches. However, the referee brought play back to the original offence and this time Hickey steered his kick between the posts.
A penalty just inside their own half allowed Cardiff to mount a final effort to win the game.
A knock on inside the home 22 meant the hosts could boot the ball clear and a further penalty 35 metres out with two minutes left to play handed Hickey the chance to clinch the win.
He stroked over the kick to bag the victory and leave the visitors empty handed.
Press Association
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments