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BBC News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Defensive discipline & accuracy form base for crucial Edinburgh win'
Edinburgh's win over Connacht on Saturday was founded in defence. Connacht had more territory and Edinburgh made more than twice the number of tackles. Nine of the top ten tacklers in the game were in orange, with Hamish Watson - who had an excellent match on both sides of the ball - topping the was also founded on discipline and accuracy. Edinburgh conceded just eight penalties in the 80 minutes, while our lineout functioned almost flawlessly. It seemed to me that there was less dancing in and out of the line prior to the throws in Galway so perhaps simplicity is best in this area.A word for fly-half Ross Thompson, who had an excellent game. His kicking was flawless, defensively he was solid and played a part in Hamish Watson's were a couple of areas of concern though. We conceded a try almost straight from the second-half restart. In our past 10 games we've given up eight tries in the period between 40 and 50 minutes - it's where we are most likely to be lineout looked a little more secure but our maul was repeatedly disrupted and of the eight penalties we conceded, half of them came from interference with the jumper in the air. It happens, but when you realise that it's something the referee is hot on, do you not adapt?Charlie Shiel's brilliant and unexpected run from his own half secured a bonus-point try, with Ben Healy's conversion and subsequent penalty meant a nervous game went Edinburgh's resulting five points mean at the very least we go into the final game of the regular season with a chance of knockout rugby.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Connacht 21-31 Edinburgh: Three things we learned
Mentality monsters required for play-off pushEdinburgh shouldn't be in this position, fretting over the results of others and glancing anxiously at the URC table as the final round clatters down the have spilled too many cheap points and bungled too many winnable games. The draw in Parma against Zebre. The home defeat by the same opposition. The late sickening in Treviso. The gut-wrencher against the Sharks which should have been a bonus-point win, even allowing for the quality of opposition. Poor showings against toiling Welsh all their caps and all their pedigree and all the money spent assembling this squad, you can't hang your hat on night in a sun-baked Dexcom looked to be following the same pull-your-hair-out routine. A 14-0 half-time lead evaporated in 13 minutes after the break. At 21-21, Connacht had the momentum and the hunger heading into the final Edinburgh found themselves again. A truer reflection of the sum of their parts and the character which should be their baseline. Mighty defence, breakdown snarl, and a sublime breakaway score from Charlie the end, they got what they needed. But they'll need more. Maximum points when Ulster visit the Hive on Friday is effectively non-negotiable. They'll be praying Cardiff and Scarlets falter in South Africa, while Munster and Benetton, who occupy the final two spots in the top eight, meet in Limerick where something else will far from a done deal, to reach the URC knockouts for three straight years would be a gross underachievement for this talented playing group and raise more uncomfortable questions for those coaching mentality has long been suspect. It's time for them to show us what they're really made half-backs still have a part to playEdinburgh are not recruiting in either half-back position this summer, opting to trust what they have and supplement the senior pros with academy Price is bound for France with no replacement sought for the 2021 Lion. That might present more opportunities for Shiel, once a highly-rated youngster who has faded to the periphery of the Edinburgh squad. He's 27 now, yet started a meagre 22 professional matches. Sure, rugby's a 23-man game, but no player wants to spend all their days warming the bench. Shiel's keen vision and searing finish was a reminder of his Thompson is the front-line 10 and Sean Everitt is a great admirer of Cammy Scott, the coming man in the pivot position, who will begin to see more game does that leave Ben Healy? The Tipperary man was Everitt's go-to fly-half last season and Finn Russell's deputy with Scotland. He went to the Rugby World Cup, played all but 20 minutes of URC rugby and became the focal point of Edinburgh's game. Healy's fall since has been brutal. Reduced to a spectator for chunks of the campaign, out of the matchday 23 altogether and playing A games to stay sharp. This time last year, he'd played 1,356 minutes of URC rugby. To date, he's managed only of those came off the bench on Saturday night, slotting the penalty which finally took the match beyond and Healy were unlikely heroes. Each will be determined to play more central roles next plenty life left in WatsonAt 33, Hamish Watson is no longer the untameable, undroppable berserker of Edinburgh's back-row. He's been out of the Test picture for a while now and his latest contract - a one-year deal agreed recently - is expected to be his last at the men are coming for his crown. Ben Muncaster has had a terrific season. Luke Crosbie's injury toils continue, but he is a warrior and seasoned international. Freddy Douglas could be a generational player in the number seven jersey that Watson has owned for an warhorse, though, still has the beastly power-weight ratio which earned him a spot on the last Lions tour. Nobody in Galway topped his haul of 17 tackles. He seized a crucial breakdown pilfer, ran for 49m and contributed one of Edinburgh's four knows he may see less action next season. His top-dog status is in jeopardy when all his rivals are fit and motoring. But there'll be no going quietly into that long night.
Scotsman
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Charlie Shiel modest over 'worldy' try as Edinburgh hero reflects on moment that kept season alive
Stunning solo try secured huge win over Connacht Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Before Saturday night's match in Galway the United Rugby Championship's super-computer gave Edinburgh only a 19 per cent chance of making the play-offs and predicted Connacht would win the game by a single point. As it turned out, the visitors prevailed 31-21 and picked up a bonus point into the bargain thanks to Charlie Shiel's stunning late try, their fourth on an evening that must have shredded the nerves of the Edinburgh coaching staff. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The capital side remain outside the top eight but know that if they can produce another bonus-point victory in their final league match at home to Ulster on Friday then the odds on their making the play-offs will be cut drastically. As Shiel said later, they've kept their season alive. Charlie Shiel on the ball for Edinburgh during their 54-45 friendly loss to London's Saracens at home at the capital's Hive Stadium in March (Photo by Ewan Bootman/SNS Group/Edinburgh) It was an away victory to savour for Sean Everitt and his squad who scored first-half tries through Pierre Schoeman and Hamish Watson but had to show character and composure as they saw their 14-0 half-time lead wiped out by two converted scores from Connacht winger Finn Treacy. Ben Muncaster's try midway through the second half put them 21-14 ahead but the hosts drew level again through Shayne Bolton. There were only seven minutes remaining when Shiel shaped to kick then streaked away from deep in his own half for a solo try his team-mate Ross Thompson later described as 'a worldy'. The replacement scrum-half showed speed of thought as well as fleet of foot to catch Connacht on their heels. 'We'd spoken all week about keeping our season alive,' said Shiel. 'I feel like we've always had in our DNA - and it's been growing throughout the season - that ability to see big spaces from everywhere and attack them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Coming on as a nine, you always need to be sharp and aware. So that is one thing I'll always look out for as a nine, those little gaps around the breakdown. It's bread and butter, really.' Edinburgh still in the fight The match-winner was being unduly modest because this was a special try by a player who graduated from Edinburgh's academy in 2018. He has a long association with the club and believes they are showing more grit now as they bid to make the URC play-offs for the first time since 2022. 'I feel like we've been hard done by in the past,' said Shiel. 'The 'soft underbelly of Edinburgh' has been spoken about a little bit. But at the start of the year, Sean and us as a playing group challenged each other as to how much do you want to play for each other, but also the community of Edinburgh. 'I think we're starting to see that fight for each other and for the club and for the city of Edinburgh in every game now. It's second nature almost, coming into these next few games as well.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There are three play-off spots remaining and five clubs chasing them with Edinburgh likely to require maximum points against Ulster on Friday and favourable results elsewhere to ensure they finish in the top eight. Ulster are now out of the running as Benetton, Munster, Cardiff and the Scarlets vie with Edinburgh.
Scotsman
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Rugby keep URC play-off hopes alive with moment of individual brilliance
Shiel is the saviour with second-half try at Connacht Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A moment of individual brilliance from Charlie Shiel helped give Edinburgh a fighting chance of making the play-offs in the United Rugby Championship. The replacement scrum-half ran in the winning try from deep in his own half as the visitors beat Connacht 31-21 in Galway. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edinburgh remain outside the top eight with one round of fixtures remaining but the bonus-point victory at the Dexcom Stadium means Sean Everitt's side can go into their final league match - at home to Ulster on Friday - knowing another five-point win could open the door to the play-offs for them for the first time in three years. With play-offs rivals Munster and Benetton due to play each other, Edinburgh can benefit regardless of the result in Cork. Charlie Shiel was the hero for Edinburgh Rugby against Connacht. | SNS Group Connacht knew before kick-off that their hopes of making the top eight had gone and the Lions, Ulster and the Ospreys also dropped out of the reckoning on what has been a pivotal weekend. 'It's all in our hands now," said Everitt. 'This is a fantastic win away from home because this is not an easy place to come to. Charlie provided that special moment, which was great for us. But it wasn't a one-man effort, it was a squad of 23 that won the game. 'The guys will be happy tonight, but it's a short turnaround and a massive game against Ulster next week. Another five points is a must for us.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How Connacht v Edinburgh unfolded Pierre Schoeman got the ball rolling for the visitors, crashing over after Ali Price had teed him up as Edinburgh capitalised on a string of lineout infringements by Connacht. Thompson converted and it was the perfect start. But Connacht hit back and captain Cian Prendergast crossed for a try only for referee Ben Breakspear to chalk it off after a replay showed No 8 Sean Jansen in an offside position obstructing an Edinburgh defender. Edinburgh made the most of the let off and scored a brilliant try through Hamish Watson. The backs worked it out wide, with particular kudos to Jack Brown for his delayed pass. Watson, flying down the left wing, still had plenty to do but had too much pace for Connacht and dummied Santiago Cordero before scoring in the corner. It was splendid stuff and Thompson added the extras to make it 14-0. Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt. | SNS Group Edinburgh's lead was halved at the start of the second half as winger Finn Treacy finished off a slick move and Hanrahan landed the conversion. There had been a distinct shift in momentum and Connacht soon drew level. It was Treacy again who did the damage, taking a no-look pass from scrum-half Ben Murphy to score his second. Hanrahan converted. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Worse was to follow for Edinburgh as they lost Mosese Tuipulotu to injury. The centre had been tackled by the combined efforts of Hanrahan and Bundee Aki and Breakspear had a look at it before deciding there was no foul play. Tuipulotu had treatment on his knee and was clearly in a lot of pain as he was wheeled off on a stretcher. He was replaced by academy player Findlay Thomson, a late replacement on the bench for James Lang. Ross Thompson kicked points for Edinburgh. | SNS Group Edinburgh needed to wrest back control and Muncaster restored their lead at the halfway point of the second half. Marshall Sykes won a lineout and although the maul was a little messy, Ewan Ashman got to within a yard of the line before Muncaster bulldozed his way over. Thompson's conversion made it 21-14 but Edinburgh's lead lasted only five minutes. Cordero found Shayne Bolton with a looped pass and the Connacht winger scored in the corner. It was a tough conversion but Hanrahan landed it to tie things up at 21-21. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Connacht 21-31 Edinburgh: Reaction
Player of the match Ross Thompson tells Premier Sports: "There definitely was pressure."We knew we had to come here and get five points - we're really chuffed with the result."They were always going to have a purple patch. It was squeaky bum time there, but [Charlie Shiel] came on and scored a worldie."
