Edinburgh 14 - 15 Ospreys: Edinburgh sunk by brilliant solo try

Published on Friday 10 February 2012 22:12

EDINBURGH came agonisingly close to beating their Welsh opponents at Murrayfield last night, eventually losing by the odd point in 29. They had the platform and the chances to win but didn’t take them – where have we heard that recently?

They should take a lesson in finishing from Hanno Dirksen, the Welsh wing, who won the match with a fantastic solo try after 55 minutes.

Both sides had an unfamiliar look about them, with Edinburgh having nine recognised first XV players on international duty, while the visitors were even more bereft, though they had Duncan Jones back at prop and Alun Wyn Jones on the bench after a long injury-enforced absence.

Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley had challenged his squad of mainly unheralded players to show what they could do, and on a lovely evening for rugby they demonstrated that they have clearly immersed themselves in the rucking drills and swift ball movement that has made Edinburgh so successful this season.

Ospreys made the better start but their attacks foundered on a rip-snorting defence. When Edinburgh put together their first serious foray after ten minutes, Ospreys went offside but Godman failed with the penalty attempt from 25 metres.

More Welsh indiscipline gave Godman a second attempt at goal four minutes later and, despite it being a longer kick from all of 42 metres, the stand-off kicked the goal quite sweetly.

Edinburgh had the bit between their collective teeth now, and some quality rucking took them deep into the Ospreys’ 22 after 18 minutes. Chris Paterson almost slithered through, but made the ball available when tackled under the posts. Swift ball along the line saw Godman flick a lovely pass to outside centre Dougie Fife and the debutant made no mistake from a few feet out, the conversion being missed by Godman.

Fife went on to have a good game in both defence and attack where he seems a slippery customer. Ospreys were keen to get a score on their side of the board and after 22 minutes they advanced down their right wing to set up Daniel Biggar for a fine drop goal from 25 metres out.

The Welsh side were encouraged by their first points and instead of a kickable penalty in the 26th minute, they opted for a lineout and got their reward as a straight maul blasted the Edinburgh defence apart, allowing Richard Hibbard to dot down the equalising try. Edinburgh then strung together some slick moves but that old Scottish failing of not capitalising on scoring positions surfaced, as it had done during Glasgow’s win over Scarlets the previous evening.

Still, the home crowd enjoyed the sight of big No 8 Netani Talei and winger Tim Visser flattening opponents with thunderous hand-offs. As half-time approached, Edinburgh’s practised rucking took them into their opponents’ half where scrum-half Kahn Fotualii rather lost the plot at a ruck, allowing Godman to kick the three-point score from in front of the posts.

In the third quarter, Edinburgh’s progress upfield was let down by occasional indiscipline, but there was no doubting the firmness of their defence as they held the visitors at bay.

When it came Edinburgh’s turn to attack, another offside offence gave Godman the penalty chance he gratefully accepted to put Edinburgh 14-8 up.

Ospreys were able to bring on Welsh squad member Ryan Bevington and multi-capped Alun Wyn Jones, before Bradley sent on Argentina’s prop forward Ulises Gamboa for his Edinburgh debut.

Edinburgh’s lead was almost immediately turned into a 14-15 deficit by a magnificent solo try from Ospreys’ right wing Hanno Dirksen. He collected the ball on his own 22, evaded Paterson and Visser, chipped over Godman and sprinted clear to score beside the posts, Hibbard converting.

It was exhilarating stuff by Walker, and Ospreys must have begun to think it was their night when Godman missed an easy penalty, but at this stage Ospreys had the better of possession and position.

As they have done all season, however, Edinburgh raised their game under pressure and Tom Brown, the excellent Fife, Visser and Godman all had ago at Ospreys’ admittedly well-drilled defence. With ten minutes left, referee Leo Colgan awarded a penalty after Ospreys collapsed the scrum when he might well have awarded a penalty try. Captain Roddy Grant called another scrum, the home pack pushed too soon and the chance was gone.

Scorers: Edinburgh – Try: Fife. Pens: Godman 3. Ospreys – Tries: Hibbard, Dirksen. Con: Biggar. Drop goal: Biggar.

Edinburgh: Paterson; Brown, Fife, Houston, Visser; Godman, Leck;Traynor, Walker, Gilding, Gilchrist, Cox, McInally, Grant, Talei. Replacements: Gamboa (for Gilding, 51) Losada (for Gilchrist, 60),Kelly (for Walker, 64), Hislop (for Traynor, 78) Not used: MacDonald, Black, Hunter, S. Visser.

Ospreys: Fussell; Walker, Isaacs, Bishop, Dirksen; Biggar, Fotualii; DJones, Hibbard, Rees, Gough, King, Smith, Lewis, Thomas. Replacements: Bevington (for D Jones, 50), A Wyn Jones (for Gough, 50),Webb (for Fotualii, 54), Bearman (for King, 64), Parker (for Isaacs,65). Not used: Baldwin, Morgan, Taylor.

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Venachar

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 12:20 AM

Traynor and Gilding have been absolutely gash this season. Taking that penalty as a scrum was madness. As for those saying Phil has to go they should have a look at the U20's match, Leonard was hardly inspiring.

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Turbrech

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 10:48 PM

Best comedy moment of the season, in a terribly depressing sort of way. 2 scrums take 4 minutes to achieve a stable scrum. Edinburgh awarded a penalty and somehow believe they have dominance and go for a scrum again. Inevitably free kick awarded against them; best attacking position of second half lost and match slips away. Roddy Grant had his problems. Kicker was below 50% lineout had more success on opposition ball than their own, but a tap penalty was still a safer option than a scrum. Sad but stupid.

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Rabigyin

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 04:02 PM

What can I say? Self inflicted? Probably taking the scrum option instead of kicking the three points sums it up. What do Edinburgh do? Give away a penalty, sorry, free kick at the scrum.

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7

mcgibbj

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:15 PM

So so depressing to watch - Bradley please sort it - why persist with #jokeat10 when you can blood young players. Lots of encouragement in the pack, good performances at 9 and the wingers and good debut at 13...so why waste it with guys at 10 and 15 who can't kick, tackle or pass. Really don't want to remember mossy missing tackles like that it was not a great try it was shocking first up tackling. Tactically awful opting to scrum again with a penalty to win the game...also if Patterson can't kick why wasn't Godman replaced to bring on someone who can!?

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6

Sevendirtywords

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 11:28 AM

Another misleading Scotsman headline. Should be Edinburgh sunk by own failings! Seriously, Phil has to go. We could have had young Hunter adding to his early season experience and developing as a real option at 10. Instead we're stuck with WCP.

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5

Jambo 25

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 11:15 AM

Exactly the same as Scotland last week. Edinburgh were about 15 points better than the Ospreys. Godman was god awful. 10-12 relatively easy points passed up. Edinburgh refusing an easy penalty as they obviously had no faith in Godman's kicking ability. If Paterson doesn't act as a reliable kicking machine why is he there? He did nothing else all night. He produced nothing in attack and his defense was deplorable. Pretty much the same as in the 1872 Cup Games.

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4

raithrover

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 07:53 AM

Sorry Chris. Time is up. We can see this game after game now. Hand the jersey over to young Brown and retire.

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3

leemagee

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 07:32 AM

Godman missing easy kicks and he had a look in at a 6 nations birth 2 weeks ago...worrying!! We get a penalty in the dying minutes and opt for a scrum when 3 points give us the win...just highlights the confidence that the players have in his kicking abilities! Is Paterson so injured that he couldn't kick the goal? If yes, he shouldn't be on the park!! Frustrating that we can beat big teams but get tripped up at every attempt in the league.

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grantbill

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:19 AM

Lord. Just home from the pub are you?

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The Lord

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:26 PM

yet another close defeat hard luck lads pity you are CRP nearly rans. Oh Visser doesn't tackle now THERE'S a surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And he will be in the Scotland team soon. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha wet ma clogs

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