Summary

  • Edinburgh have won four from five in URC

  • Bulls sustain second defeat of campaign

  1. Good night!published at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Edinburgh 31-23 Bulls

    Well, after all of that Edinburgh head to second in the URC table - albeit with plenty more matches to be played this weekend.

    It was another tight victory for the capital side but one they deserved and in victory, they knock the Bulls off top spot in the league.

    This is an Edinburgh side that would have lost in previous seasons. Now they have the nous and grit to grind out victories.

    My thanks to Kevin Millar for joining me. Until next time!

    Duhan van der Merwe flies over for his scoreImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Duhan van der Merwe flies over for his score

  2. Everitt backs Healy's importancepublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Edinburgh 31-23 Bulls

    Edinburgh's coach Sean Everitt tells Viaplay: "We're getting used to these tight situations. Every game we've played so far has been tight.

    "I was very nervous, but I knew if we stuck to our task we'd be okay. We allowed the Bulls in, gave them a few soft penalties which put us under the pump. I'm just happy with the win at the moment.

    "It's massively important. Ben has been really important for us all season. I told him just to kick the ball dead - I didn't want us to defend the ball any more.

    "We went through a torrid time with narrow losses, now we're getting narrow wins."

    Sean EverittImage source, SNS
  3. Healy has the final word againpublished at 21:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    Edinburgh 31-23 Bulls

    Kevin Millar, @topofthemoonGW

    Ben Healy has played all 400 minutes of Edinburgh's season so far.

    Last week his drop goal with time expired was the winning moment for his new side. This time round his penalty at the death provided the coup de grace, removing the losing bonus point from the Bulls' grasp after Edinburgh had already secured the maximum five points themselves.

    Sean Everitt's new Edinburgh side is shaping up and will move on to another home game next week against Benetton in confident mood.

    Ben HealyImage source, SNS
  4. Boyle wants to build momentumpublished at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    FT: Edinburgh 31-23 Bulls

    Player of the match Connor Boyle tells Viaplay: "It's always sore playing South African teams - my shoulder is hanging on at the moment! We knew they were going to bring physicality all week. That was our message all week - be physical.

    "After the first ten minutes, we stepped up a bit, managed to dominate the maul and from there, built a platform in the game.

    "The team message all week was 'stop their momentum'. They always play on the gain line. For us, it was stop them first and then carry in attack. We managed to do that well, fronted up in defence in the first half and got some tries in the second half.

    "I don't know if we're clicking yet - we made that pretty hard for ourselves at the end. For us, it's about playing in the right areas and we're doing that better this year. We've got a strong half-back partnership. Charlie, Ali, Ben and Ben Healy as well. It makes a difference, putting pressure on them. It's nice to see, for us as a forward pack. They kick the ball, we chase after it and that's where we come alive.

    "I don't think about the bonus point when I'm on the pitch - I've got people around me to do that for me. It's nice to see, but it's just about building momentum from here and seeing how far we can go."

    Connor BoyleImage source, SNS
  5. Full-time Edinburgh 31-23 Bullspublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 17 November 2023

    We're all in a trance here. That was as mad a game of rugby as I've watched in a long time (since the World Cup quarter-finals, anyway).

    Edinburgh were behind at the break, but the first ten minutes after the break saw the Bulls go down to 13 men and the hosts put them to the sword with two tries.

    Then, just when we thought the Bulls were down and out, they went on parade and brought it within five points.

    But Edinburgh - at risk of collapsing - held up. They turned the ball over and got it down into Bulls' territory. And just for good measure, they snatched that bonus point away from the Bulls with the last kick of the game.

    Sean Everitt's side beat the league leaders. And how.

    Bill Mata scores Edinburgh's final tryImage source, SNS
  6. Healy strikes the penalty!published at 80 mins

    Edinburgh 31-23 Bulls

    Ben Healy will take the penalty from the touchline. If he lands it, the Bulls will be denied a losing bonus point.

    The clock ticks red meanwhile, and Edinburgh have the W.

    The ball smacks the post - AGAIN! - but this time it drops over!

  7. Sin-bin - Sergeal Petersen (Bulls)published at 79 mins

    Edinburgh 28-23 Bulls

    Oh. My. God. I have no idea how to describe the final few phases of play. I'll do my best...

    Jamie Ritchie puts in a huge hit that results in an Edinburgh turnover. They go wide and Sergeal Petersen seems to deliberately knock down the James Lang pass.

    Blair Kinghorn then throws the ball across the field American Football style, in a Patrick Mahomes-esque fashion.

    The advantage is coming, and Petersen is off to the bin.

  8. Game-winning moments?published at 77 mins

    Edinburgh 28-23 Bulls

    Big moment! Grant Gilchrist, the co-captain, steals the Bulls' throw.

    The ball is kicked back to the Bulls, who then throw it away and again, Gilchrist steals.

    Edinburgh shovel it wide, under pressure, and Blair Kinghorn banana kicks the ball up the pitch. That is a huge kick when under pressure.

  9. Bulls closing inpublished at 75 mins

    Edinburgh 28-23 Bulls

    Kevin Millar, @topofthemoonGW

    Jaco van der Walt has a conversion and a penalty to his name so far, his first points at the Hive Stadium since April 2022.

    Could the former Edinburgh man end up being the match winner late on?

    Jaco van der WaltImage source, SNS
  10. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Edinburgh 28-23 Bulls

    Another Edinburgh penalty, as Connor Boyle comes into the maul from the side. The Bulls creep forward again, this time into the corner.

  11. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Edinburgh 28-23 Bulls

    From the restart, Jamie Ritchie concedes a penalty at the breakdown. This isn't the control that Edinburgh need. They've allowed the Bulls to kick into their half.

    Will Van der Walt come back to bite the hand that fed him?

  12. Penaltypublished at 73 mins

    Edinburgh 28-23 Bulls

    Here is the man to haunt Edinburgh - Jaco van der Walt. It's an easy kick, and he makes it a five-point game.

    Meanwhile, 14 play 14. This is anyone's game.

  13. Sin-bin - Bill Mata (Edinburgh)published at 72 mins

    Edinburgh 28-20 Bulls

    Edinburgh are at risk of imploding here.

    Bill Mata has hit Stedman Gans very high, on the Edinburgh 22m line. It looked very nasty, and I think he might be in a bit of trouble here. It's shoulder on chin, head on head. He's upright in the tackle.

    The hosts will finish with 14, but what colour is the card? Just yellow. Hmm.

  14. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Edinburgh 28-20 Bulls

    Chris Paterson
    Former Scotland international on Viaplay

    Petersen is lucky to still be on, but Edinburgh have to be calm here, and keep composed. They need control.

    Bulls want it to be scrappy, they want to force mistakes.

  15. Controversial decision incomingpublished at 69 mins

    Edinburgh 28-20 Bulls

    Sergeal Petersen - that is daft. Ben Healy is high in the air and Petersen tackles his legs, with Healy landing awkwardly on his back.

    Hang on - only a yellow? That is a very surprising decision.

  16. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Edinburgh 28-20 Bulls

    Now then! Mark Bennett kicks through and Duhan van der Merwe gets there, and somehow picks up.

    He looks to give the pass but his supporting runner is taken out.

    Is there a foul there? Play rages on and the Bulls hare up the pitch... eventually, Dave Cherry drops on the loose ball.

    I'd like another look at that.

  17. converted try

    Converted try Edinburgh 28-20 Bullspublished at 67 mins

    Elrigh Louw

    Edinburgh concede a rare second-half penalty and allow the Bulls a chance to score. They go for the throw, and then win another penalty.

    Touch-and-go this time, and Elrigh Louw runs between Boan Venter and Connor Boyle, scoring from the first phase. That's a coach-killer.

    It looked like this game was only going one way. Now? I'm not so sure.

  18. Big night for Ashmanpublished at 64 mins

    Edinburgh 21-13

    Kevin Millar, @topofthemoonGW

    They're not Johnny Matthews numbers (yet) but Ewan Ashman has three scored tries in his first four appearances for Edinburgh.

    The Scotland hooker has been replaced by Dave Cherry after a fine night's work.

    Ewan Ashman scoresImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Can you spot Ewan Ashman among the bodies?

  19. converted try

    Converted try - Edinburgh 28-13 Bullspublished at 64 mins

    Viliame Mata

    Edinburgh come forward in waves of attack. They're after their first bonus point score of the season...

    And they've got it! They wore the Bulls defence down - although it took some doing - and eventually worked the space for Mata to crash through a soft shoulder.

    It's right under the sticks and Healy nails this.

  20. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Edinburgh 21-13 Bulls

    This game has been absolutely relentless. Another long old phase of play comes to an end with possession changing hands a few times.

    It ends when Ali Price dinks it over the top into the Bulls 22m and it's out for a throw. They try to run it out behind their own line and Embrose Papier just about gets away with it.

    My goodness.