High-flying Edinburgh reaping rewards of new approach

Planet Rugby

Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair hailed his side’s improving attack after they beat Cardiff 34-10 to go top of the United Rugby Championship standings.

The Scottish side are reaping the rewards of their backs being given licence to chance their arm, with their season getting better and better under coach Blair.

With Leinster not in action this weekend, this is the first time Edinburgh have gone top of a combined table since they won the first three games of 2009/10.

Started hot

The try bonus point was secured in the opening half when each of Blair’s wings and centres crossed.

James Lang got his first try for Edinburgh and fellow centre Mark Bennett notched his second try of the game in the second half. Wings Ramiro Moyano and Emiliano Boffelli both crossed and delivered some virtuoso moments.

“We are trying to develop within our attack the ability to play in a number of different ways,” Blair told BBC Radio Scotland after the home victory.

“We don’t want to strait-jacket them to just play in a particular way, to just play blindside or just play wide. We are trying to give them the opportunity to play heads-up rugby and make decisions on the back of it.”

The win was built on solid defending though with loose forward Magnus Bradbury winning the player of the match award, and Blair stressed there was also plenty of preparation behind the performance.

“There were some real stand-out performances and a lot of that is hard work – the hard work the forwards are doing to generate that quick ball but also the work the guys are doing in training,” he said.

“There were scenarios within that game that were straight off the training pitch.”

Glasgow target Champions Cup double over Exeter

Glasgow Warriors head coach Danny Wilson is already looking towards their Champions Cup clash with Exeter Chiefs following their dominant victory over the Ospreys.

The Scottish outfit ran out comfortable winners at Scotstoun on Saturday, securing a 38-19 triumph over the Welsh region – their fifth success in the United Rugby Championship this season.

They are finding their form after a difficult first season under Wilson and will look to take that momentum into next week’s clash with the 2020 European winners.