Edinburgh Rugby hosted Leinster Rugby in the first match of the 2024/5 United Rugby Championship. Despite Leinster's "dominance" they could only manage a 33-24 win with both teams earning a four-try bonus point while a last-minute try earned Edinburgh a second bonus point for losing with seven or less.
Leinster "dominated" the start and end of the first half, however, Edinburgh defended like demons and pounced whenever there was an opportunity. Leinster dominated the statistics enjoying 66% territorial advantage and 54% of the possession, and although Edinburg might be "lucky" to go into the second half all level on 12-12, the match was definately not won yet.
Edinburgh clawed their way back in the fourth quarter of the match on the back of their dominance of the Leinster's scrum which conceded several penalties under pressure from the Edinburgh scrum.
Leinster started like a house on fire and dominated the opening collisions of the match, with sometimes only the desperate defence of the hosts that kept Leinster from scoring.
However, Edinburgh's Pierre Schoeman scored the opening try of the season following Edinburgh setting up camp in Leinster red Zone for three minutes. Schoeman bulldozed his way following several pick-and-drives to put Edinburgh in the lead 07-00 after eleven minutes of play.
A confident response by Leinster led to an easy try in the corner when space was created with great handling for winger Tommy O’Brien just two minutes following the first try by Edinburgh.
Leinster continued to increase their dominance, and when a poor box kick by the hosts was controlled by Charlie Tector, who ran thirty meters to score Leinster's second try, extending the visitors' lead to 12-07 and thirteen minutes to play in the first half.
Not to be outdone, Edinburgh struck back almost immediately when winger Duhan van der Merwe was not left much to do. Van der Merwe scored in the corner to level the scores at 12-12.
Edinburgh struck after just three minutes of play in the second half when hooker Dave Cherry scored from the back of a lineout-maul. However, three minutes later Leinster's quick hands created space for winger Jordan Larmour to score in the corner and level the scores at 19-19.
Ten minutes later Jamison Gibson-Park showed some brilliance dancing his way past several defenders to score Leinster's bonus-point try. Leinster led 26-19 with twenty-five minutes to play in the second half.
Captain Jack Conan scored Leinster's fifth try whereafter Edinburgh clawed their way back into the match and following ten minutes of Edeinburg setting up camp in Leinster's 22m Duhan van der Merwe scored his second try to reduce Leinster's lead to 33-24 with fourteen minutes to play.
With time up on the clock Matt Scott scored Edinburgh's fifth try earning them two bonus points although losing 31-33.
Scorers:
Edinburgh Rugby: Tries: Pierre Schoeman, Duhan van der Merwe (2), Dave Cherry, Matt Scott. Conversions: Ross Thompson (2), Ben Healy.
Leinster Rugby: Tries: Tommy O’Brien, Charlie Tector, Jordan Larmour, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (4).
Teams:
Edinburgh Rugby: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mosese Tuipulotu, 12 Matt Currie, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ben Muncaster, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (c), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Matt Scott.
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Michael Milne. Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 James Culhane, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Rob Russell.