Edinburgh kept alive their faint hopes of a place in the top flight of the new-look European competition with their first away victory in this season's RaboDirect PRO12, beating Newport Gwent Dragons 23-19.
On a day when three outside halves announced they would be leaving Edinburgh at the end of the season, the coach Alan Solomons was coy when asked whether Scotland No.10 Ruaridh Jackson might arrive in the summer from Glasgow - saying only: "We will not be without an outside half next season, don't you worry."
A move for Jackson may be the logical step for Scottish rugby, given Glasgow's rich reserves in the position. Thanks to last night's result there is still a chance that whoever Edinburgh sign will be playing against Europe's elite next season.
This victory - achieved with the Scottish side down to 14 men following a yellow card to Izak van der Westhuizen - puts Solomons' side seven points behind Scarlets with a game in hand, but they have tougher run-in including matches against play-off chasing Glasgow, Munster and Leinster, while the Welsh side will likely have a more comfortable time against teams below them in the league.
"We know it will be tough. We are still in with a chance and that is what it is all about. Winning away is a sign this side is beginning to form and losing a man made it particularly difficult. We have a tough run-in but this team is getting together nicely. They play for each other, there is a great vibe in the team.
"It was an exciting finish and a tremendous win. You have to remember there was a lot of presure on us coming into the game and this was a lot about character and we were tremendous. We had to play the last nine minutes with 14 men but I thought we deserved to win."
Reflecting on the news that he would be without three outside halves, including Scotland prospect Harry Leonard, at the end of the season, Solomons was sanguine.
"We will see how things pan out. "Piers Francis and Gregor Hunter have played no rugby at all this season because of injury. Harry is a young boy of 21 and he needs to be in a club where he is the stand out No.1 and playing every single week. It is good career move for him, he is a good kid and this will be positive for him. We wait to see how things unfold.Greig Tonks can play there but we will be covered at outside half."
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