First defeat for capital club this season and French side storm capital
Edinburgh’s winning start to the season came to an end at the hands of a Toulon side inspired by full-back Melvyn Jaminet, who scored 22 points in their 27-17 victory at Hive Stadium.
The capital side sit top of the United Rugby Championship after three victories on the bounce but they weren’t able to replicate their league form in Friday night’s European Challenge Cup tie.
They never managed to get their noses in front in the Pool 3 opener against opponents who have endured a tough start to their domestic campaign in France. However, their European pedigree has never been in question and in Jaminet they had the match-winner. He scored two tries, converted them both and also landed a couple of penalties in a performance laced with quality.
Edinburgh tried manfully to stay in touch, and managed to do so through tries from Ewan Ashman and Geordie Gwynn, but they could never quite catch the visitors, for whom Ben White enjoyed a notable performance.
The match marked the 30th anniversary of Edinburgh’s first ever European game and the players from that match against Bath were presented at half-time. Sadly, not all were there and the loss in recent times of Scott Hastings, Ally Donaldson and Graham Dall was recognised, with their numbers stitched into the Edinburgh jerseys.
Darcy Graham, a modern Edinburgh hero, made a welcome return from an arm injury and looked lively enough before making way for Gwynn after an hour
There was a sombre prelude to the game when a moment’s silence was observed in memory of Hyron Andrews, the South African player whose death was announced shortly before kick-off. Andrews, who played for the Johannesburg-based Lions, died after a fall at the team hotel in France on the eve of their Champions Cup match against La Rochelle.
Edinburgh are due to host the Lions next week but the immediate focus was on Europe. When Edinburgh beat Toulon last season the game was played in wild conditions. This time around, it was relatively benign and it seemed to suit the visitors more. They dominated possession in the opening quarter but the only points they had to show for it were from a close range penalty by Jaminet, Toulon’s classy full-back.
Apete Narogo, their young Fijian winger, thought he had scored the first try of the night when he eluded the tackle attempts of Malelili Satala, Piers O’Conor and Magnus Bradbury but he knocked on as he attempted to ground the ball.
Edinburgh were enjoying dominance in the scrum but the lineout was proving less successful as Ashman struggled to find his range. Toulon were looking sharper and Graham had to look lively to stop White in his tracks after a quick lineout.
It was Graham’s first game back following a bicep injury and he came through that particular test unscathed, good news for Edinburgh and Gregor Townsend who will name his Scotland Nations Championship squad on Tuesday.
Edinburgh were finally able to offer something in an attacking sense when O’Conor produced a lovely dummy to get them motoring. They managed to work the ball wide, with Graham playing in Bradbury who stopped just short.
The move lifted the home support and led to a purple patch for the hosts but they couldn’t force their way over and Toulon were able to clear. They then doubled their lead with a monster penalty from Jaminet who cleared the crossbar easily from two metres inside his own half.
But Edinburgh came back well. Graham, coming into the game more and more, embarked on a fine run and the impressive Hector Patterson then kicked to the corner. Ashman stole the lineout and Tom Currie looked like he would go over but was turned over on the line.
Edinburgh finally got their first points on the board in the 38th minute through a James Grayson penalty and went in at the break 6-3 down.
After a try-less first 40, we got two in the opening five minutes of the second half. First blood went to Toulon and it was that man Jaminet again. There seemed little danger, with Edinburgh on the attack but they were turned over and Toulon worked the ball wide and their full-back did the rest. Taking the ball at halfway, he chipped it over O’Conor, collected and then outpaced Mosese Tuipulotu for a great score. His conversion from close to the touchline was the icing on the cake.
Edinburgh needed a swift response and they got one thanks to Ashman. They hooker took a quick lineout, short to Tom Currie who hared off down the left flank before passing back to Ashman who ran in the try. Grayson’s conversion cut Toulon’s lead to 13-10 but the French side continued to look dangerous and almost punished a piece of Edinburgh sloppiness.
A misplaced pass allowed Toulon to counter and Jaminet kicked ahead. Setariki Tuicuvu led the chase and really should have scored but couldn’t get the final touch under pressure from Patterson.
The Toulon winger bounced back three minutes later, making no mistake from close range after a cleverly-delayed pass from White following a lineout drive. Jaminet converted to extend the visitors’ lead to 20-10.
Graham took his leave soon after, replaced by Gwynn, and the summer signing didn’t take long to make an impact. When Matéo Garcia’s pass went to ground, Gwynn grabbed it and pinned his ears back. No-one was going to catch him and Grayson added the extra to bring the hosts back to within three points.
Toulon kept coming, though, and Jaminet bagged his second try of the night to reopen the visitors’ 10-point advantage. The big men did the hard yards, battering away at the Edinburgh line, and as space opened up out wide, Jaminet was there to finish. And convert.
Worse was to follow for Everitt’s side who had O’Conor yellow-carded for an upright tackle on Jérémy Sinzelle which was far too high and made contact with the centre’s head. There was no way back for the hosts.