Edinburgh snatch victory in titanic 11-try tussle

Edinburgh 48 - 47 Racing Metro

EDINBURGH pulled off the most stunning victory ever witnessed by a Scottish side, possibly any side, in the Heineken Cup last night when they scored three tries in the final 13 minutes to emerge the victors from a scarcely believable 11-try affair that leaves them two wins from two.

Michael Bradley’s team led 17-3 after just seven minutes, but went into the half-time interval 31-20 behind, and their challenge stiffened as Racing Metro stole into a 44-20 lead in the 53rd minute. The excitement generated by a 5,000 crowd suddenly left Murrayfield, the cold began to bite and five points appeared to be heading across the Channel.

But, with Allan Jacobsen providing a stirring lead up front, Tim Visser rattling the French defence with every run and Greig Laidlaw kicking every goal chance, Edinburgh produced the most incredulous fightback.

There were just 35 seconds on the lock when Visser opened the scoring, winning the race to his own chip ahead, and while Laidlaw scored again from another Visser chip-and chase, Edinburgh were becoming sucked into a game of sevens that the powerful Racing pack and superbly quick and skilful back line always seemed destined to win.

They bounced back into the match with two tries in three minutes with right wing Julien Saubade released by talented young centre Henry Chavency on the 22, and then Juan Imhoff finished off a carbon copy attack which had again exposed poor Edinburgh defence.

Wisniewski’s conversion this time levelled the scores and with 15 minutes gone the game was back as it had begun, only with the question over how tight this crucial Heineken Cup encounter might prove blown sky high.

The Racing pack were in command, but there was nothing tight about their approach, full-back Wisniewski going for a drop-goal that just faded wide.

Edinburgh lost Scott to a hip injury, James King coming on, and he was still taking his seat when Racing scored again. Their forwards tried to punch holes from a driven lineout and pick-and-drives, but found Edinburgh’s defence solid, and so attacked wide across the 22 and discovered acres of space for Wisniewski to exploit an overlap and touch down, and convert from the left touchline.

As Edinburgh struggled to get their hands on the ball, Racing continued to attack with blistering pace, each pass along the back line increasing the momentum and asking searching and physical questions of the home defence.

They were up to the challenge until the half-hour mark when Laidlaw slipped off a tackle on Chavancy, the centre having already breezed through a crowd of defenders, and he duly claimed the bonus point with still ten minutes of the first half left.

Edinburgh continued to run from anywhere, Visser always dangerous and Lee Jones carving a superb arc on the right, and they finished the half with another three points from a Laidlaw penalty in midfield.

The half-time whistle brought audible sighs of relief from supporters, delighted at having an opportunity to catch their breath and try to comprehend the 31-20 half-time scoreline.

What would Michael Bradley, the Edinburgh coach, say to his charges at half-time? A 17-3 lead wiped out in minutes and an 11-point deficit to overhaul in the second half. One move Bradley made was to replace 19-year-old stand-off Leonard with Laidlaw and send on Mike Blair at scrum-half.

The opening seconds were not promising as Talei handed over ball from the kick-off within two minutes and Racing increased the difference to 14 points from Wisniewski’s precise right boot and then a loose ball from a big tackle on King was hacked downfield, and bounced back high for an easy try for Chavancy.

At 41-20 down, the great excitement of the first quarter had evaporated and the cold, cauldron-like atmosphere returned to Murrayfield.

After another Wisniewski penalty took the score to 44-20, Edinburgh enjoyed a five-minute period in the ascendency, sparked by an Allan Jacobsen burst that had Racing hastily back-peddling to subdue replacement Tom Brown. Visser was well tackled by Saubade on another break, but while Edinburgh forced some good pressure on the Racing 22 they were steadily beaten back by the physicality of the French defence.

Edinburgh did eventually find a way through again, Talei making the initial break on the Racing ten-metre line, Blair and Jacobsen taking it on, and then McInally giving the final pass to the Fijian back row when the ball came wide right for a well-worked score.

Wisniewski punished Edinburgh’s failure to gather the restart with another penalty, but then the home side exploded back into life. Tom Brown finished a fine attack in the left-hand corner, and after Chabal’s replacement Jone Quvo Nailiko was yellow-carded with 11 minutes remaining, Roddy Grant burst clear for a try with seven minutes left on the clock. Laidlaw converted to cut the deficit to six points and Edinburgh then proceeded to dominate possession, work themselves downfield and Visser, of course,

Laidlaw showed nerves of steel to convert from close to the left touchline, Murrayfield silent, and then they held out in a nervy last three minutes which finished with Racing attacking inside the home 22 and Juan Martin Hernandez skewing a last-gasp drop-goal effort from right in front of the posts. Incroyable!