Cochrane praises ‘perfect’ game

Editor

Edinburgh hooker Neil Cochrane says their game against Timisoara Saracens couldn’t have gone any better.

Adding to an already momentious occasion both personally and for the club as the hooker captained the Scottish side, Cochrane scored a try-double and was presented with the Man of the Match accolade at the close of the game.

Edinburgh scored seven tries on their way to a 49-3 triumph over the Romanian outfit in their final pool game of the Challenge Cup, a win which secured them number three seeding going into the knockout stages of the competition.

Speaking after the match, Cochrane said:

“We’re delighted, it couldn’t have gone any better. It was a fantastic start to life in our new home,” Cochrane told the Edingburgh website.

“There was a lot of expectation and I think we did a thoroughly professional job in coming here and putting nearly 50 points on what was a fairly physical side.

“We knew what to expect and we knew what was on the line – a home quarter-final.

“We’d spoken about getting five points all week and that it wouldn’t just come easy to us.

“We had to play to the right structure and play in the right areas, and I think we did that as we were clinical and notched up four tries in the first-half.”

Cochrane praised the support and was extremely enthused by the sell-out crowd and the atmosphere generated in the side’s new surroundings.

He continued: “It’s fantastic that we can move to a venue like this. Just looking around, it’s a great ground, the temporary stands look fantastic, and where we’ve maybe struggled at Murrayfield with the supporters being far away from the pitch, here they’re on top of you.

“What an atmosphere and it makes such a big difference to the team and gives us a real lift. The fans are a very important part of this team.

“The younger guys are enthusiastic no matter where they play, however they’re absolutely buzzing to be playing here.

“Just sitting on the bench at the end of the game with Blair [Kinghorn], Murray [McCallum] and Jack [Cosgrove], those guys absolutely loved being at Myreside for the first time and are certainly looking forward to future games.”

“If we can get a bigger crowd for a quarter-final, that would be fantastic.”