Edinburgh into Euro rugby knockout stage

Edinburgh became only the second Scottish club to reach the knockout stages of rugby’s European Cup on Sunday as they beat London Irish 34-11 to not only make the last eight but also top Pool Two having claimed a bonus point.

Edinburgh’s feat matched that of their predecessors eight years ago and earned them a home tie in April against four-time winners Toulouse.

Cardiff also joined them from Pool Two after edging Racing-Metro 36-30 but fell one short of the four tries which would have given them a bonus point and top spot rather than one of the two best runners-up spots which sees them travel to holders Leinster.

Earlier Saracens had ensured there was one English club in the last eight as they came away with an unconvincing 26-20 win in Italy over Treviso.

Edinburgh had gone behind to an early penalty but hit back in style with a try from their classy Dutch-born wing Tim Visser which was converted by Greg Laidlaw who added two penalties.

Edinburgh looked to have wrapped up their place in the last eight when Jim Thompson – who had replaced the injured Chris Paterson in the starting line-up – scored their second try in the 36th minute which Laidlaw converted for a 20-6 half-time lead.

London Irish showed a bit more bite in the second-half and Jonathan Joseph scored a superb individual try to cast some doubt into the minds of the hosts.

However, they set aside any possibility of throwing away their place in the last eight when man of the match Fijian Netani Talei touched down for their third try and then Lee Jones added a fourth to get them a bonus point.

In Cardiff, the Blues scored the first try of the match in the seventh minute as scrum-half Lloyd Williams charged down Springbok World Cup winning centre Francois Steyn’s kick inside his 22 and touched down – Leigh Halfpenny converted to make it 7-3.

However, Racing-Metro kicker Jonathan Wisniewski reduced the deficit to a point with his second penalty but Halfpenny edged the hosts further ahead with a penalty of his own.

Steyn, though, redeemed himself when he played a big part in Racing’s first try which saw Josh Matavesi go over in the right hand corner but Sebastien Descons was unable to convert though he added a penalty shortly afterwards to make it 14-10.

Halfpenny reduced the deficit to a point with a penalty in the 26th minute and the Blues were back in front when Alex Cuthbert ran in their second try – set up and converted by Halfpenny.

It was thrilling stuff as Racing stormed back with a piercing run from Fabrice Estebanez cutting through the hosts’ defence and from the resulting ball veteran Sireli Bobo forcing his way over – Descons converted for 21-20.

Halfpenny restored the hosts’ lead with a penalty but Steyn landed one of his trademark long distance penalties on the stroke of half-time to leave Cardiff struggling to make the last eight.

Whatever was said at half-time worked instant magic for Cardiff as Cuthbert seized on a loose ball after Matavesi made a complete hash of collecting a Dan Parks up and under and he touched down in the right hand corner.

Halfpenny converted brilliantly to see them lead 30-24.

Descons and Halfpenny exchanged penalties and then Steyn landed a penalty from over 50 metres out to see the visitors trail by just three points going into the last 20 minutes.

Halfpenny, though, added yet another three points to give them the breathing space they needed.