Another sweet victory in Wales as Edinburgh finally get off the mark

Jaco van der Walt's kicking was key in Edinburgh's win over Scarlets.

A season which started with derbies and knockout games had not got going for Edinburgh, so even a narrow 6-3 victory against 14 men and a team missing many players was most welcome.

Replacement tighthead WP Nel, who had been with Scotland all week, was man-of-the-match, which rather summed up proceedings.

“I’m delighted with the win,” said coach Richard Cockerill. “We needed it, it was long overdue and I thought we did some really good things.

“It was always going to be a really tight game because of the weather conditions, a score either way. Just before half-time we could have scored and we didn’t, they had their chances towards the end.

“We had forward dominance, especially at scrum time, from the start, but the boys found a way to win, they worked hard and it’s these nutty, gritty wins which galvanise the team.”

Edinburgh’s continuity was hardly helped by three substitutes being needed in the first 16 minutes, while playing into the wind made even 25 yard penalties too tricky to take the shot at goal.

Edinburgh had more of the pressure, though it took 35 minutes for that to bring any sort of try-scoring chance. Predictably it came through the forwards, drive after drive on the Scarlets line which eventually saw Nel close to the line.

The lack of crowd meant Edinburgh’s vociferous coach Cockerill could be heard all round the ground as he counted up the penalties without a yellow card or penalty try. Once he had counted up to six, with half-time just seconds away, Edinburgh decided to come away with something from that period of pressure and outside half Jaco van der Walt kicked the three points from in front of the posts.

Edinburgh’s South African contingent in the front row were playing a crucial part, but the go-forward from back rowers Magnus Bradbury and Nick Haining was also vital.

It was the Scarlets turn to win a scrum penalty and Angus O’Brien slotted an effort from 35 metres to level the scores.

The rain returned and Edinburgh started getting the scrum penalties going their way again. The Scarlets brought on replacement tighthead Werner Kruger but after one collapsed scrum he was on his way back off the pitch, yellow carded for his team’s consistent infringements.

Worse was to follow for the home team. Edinburgh wing George Taylor was high tackled by Scarlets lock Josh Helps, who led with his head for good measure. After review there was little choice but to award the red card and the lock had to leave the pitch for good. Taylor was also substituted because of the clash of heads.

Van der Walt had put his team back ahead with a penalty before Edinburgh survived a siege on their line, while a Henry Pyrgos interception stopped another promising attack. The final whistle was greeted with relief.