Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Edinburgh 16-16 Bordeaux: Visitors strike late on in Challenge Cup stalemate

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Friday, 22 November 2019 13:34

Edinburgh were pegged back late on as Bordeaux snatched a draw that may prove crucial in Challenge Cup Pool 3.

Both sides had opened their campaign with victories last week and they were evenly matched at Murrayfield.

Blair Kinghorn's try was the highlight of a stuffy first-half, with Jaco van der Walt's boot helping the home side into a 13-6 half-time lead.

Semi Radrada responded after the break and Matthieu Jalibert's late penalty snatched a draw for the French side.

Edinburgh's second-string did the job in the pool opener away to Agen last week by delivering maximum points, but the home side's team selection gave credence to the idea this was a proper European night in Edinburgh.

Richard Cockerill made 13 changes, recalling a host of front-liners, including talismanic number eight Bill Mata for his first appearance of the season.

Bordeaux arrived off the back off an excellent start to their domestic league season, sitting second in the Top 14 after six wins and a draw from their nine games.

Both packs looked strong, there were threats galore in both back-lines and yet the opening half-hour was lacking in much meaningful action at either try-line.

Two Van der Walt penalties either side of a three-pointer from Bordeaux fly-half Jalibert established a 6-3 lead for the home side, but this was a match in dire need of a try and, when it arrived, it was a beauty.

From turnover ball, Edinburgh launched a counter-attack. Grant Gilchrist recognised the overlap out wide and shipped the ball to Van der Walt. Matt Scott straightened the running line and put Kinghorn into space and the full-back showed great gas to outstrip the cover defence and slide over in the corner.

Some Edinburgh ill-discipline at the breakdown allowed Jalibert to reduce the arrears, but the boot of Van der Walt re-established the 10-point lead early in the second half.

Just when the home side looked to be getting a grip on things, Bordeaux struck with a scintillating try.

Edinburgh lost the ball in contact and a succession of quick offloads took the visitors into the danger area. Replacement prop Ravai Kovekalou sliced through the midfield defence in a fashion Semi Radrada would be proud of before the electric Fijian centre himself took over and danced away from a couple of tackles on his way to the line.

After the stodginess of the first half, the game was now breaking up and that seemed to play into the hands of the French side, with Radrada and Santiago Cordero starting to find holes.

Jalibert pinged a long-range penalty over to level things up at 16-16 in the dying minutes. Neither side could fashion an opportunity to win it in the final moments and Bordeaux may well be the more satisfied with the result given the teams are due to meet in France later in the pool.

Edinburgh: Kinghorn, Sau, Bennett, Scott, Van der Merwe, Van der Walt, Pyrgos; Schoeman, Willemse, Ceccarelli, Toolis, Gilchrist, Bradbury, Crosbie, Mata.

Replacements: Fenton, Bhatti, Berghan, Douglas, Barclay, Shiel, Hickey, Taylor.

Bordeaux: Buros, Cordero, Radradra, Seuteni, Connor, Jalibert, Lucu; Paiva, Pelissie, Kaulashvili, Douglas, Flanquart, Gorgadze, Woki, Higginbotham.

Replacements: Kovekalou, El Fakir, Marais, Tauleigne, Gimbert, Botica, Tamanivalu.

'We've got to be smarter' - reaction

Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill told BBC Sportsound: "Even though it is the second tier of Europe, they are a good side.

"I am disappointed we did not win the game and we had enough of the game to do that.

"We need to learn to make the right decisions at the right time and good sides always get the chance to score and they did that.

"It is small margins, we were as good as they were and should have won the game. We've got to be smarter and learn our lessons quickly."

Read 316 times

Soccer

Germany set NL record with 7-0 rout of Bosnia

Germany set NL record with 7-0 rout of Bosnia

Germany dismantled visitors Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-0 on Saturday with a statement win and two goal...

Ronaldo makes retirement hint after record win

Ronaldo makes retirement hint after record win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo discussed the timeline around his potential retir...

Ream: 'Easy' to have Weah back after Copa red

Ream: 'Easy' to have Weah back after Copa red

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsST. LOUIS -- U.S. men's national team defender Tim Ream said that i...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Wembanyama (knee) misses Spurs' loss to Mavs

Wembanyama (knee) misses Spurs' loss to Mavs

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDALLAS -- San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama missed Saturda...

Rivers laments refs 'blowing call' in Bucks' loss

Rivers laments refs 'blowing call' in Bucks' loss

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers criticized referees f...

Baseball

Ex-Reds manager Bell joins Blue Jays' front office

Ex-Reds manager Bell joins Blue Jays' front office

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays hired former Cincinnati Reds manag...

Ferrara, who won 2 titles with Dodgers, dies at 84

Ferrara, who won 2 titles with Dodgers, dies at 84

EmailPrintFormer outfielder Al "The Bull" Ferrara died Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced. He...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated