Stuart McAllister
With the United Rugby Championship i n danger of more Covid-variant induced chaos, there was a bit of calm before the storm in this bonus-point win for Edinburgh.
The key to it was the way they played into the wind in the first half, managing to turn at half time with a slender three-point lead, but one they could easily defend with the conditions in their favour.
It meant that any time the Dragons made any mistake in their attacks second half, Edinburgh could just pin them back with one well-placed boot to ball.
It also meant they could take penalty kicks at goal to gradually extend their lead, whereas the intent first half was to go for broke and aim for tries.
They threw those shackles off in the final minutes and were rewarded with the fourth try for a bonus point as right- wing Damien Hoyland found his way through a crowded defence with the clock showing 79 minutes gone.
“We said it was going to be a big week for us, a few guys who hadn’t played a huge amount of rugby for us or who had been away in the Autumn with Scotland,” explained head coach Mike Blair.
“There was a huge amount of intent and effort and physicality, then when you get those bits we had the skill levels to stress opposition as well.
“I think you have got to look to hold on to ball and play with tempo into the wind. The kicks almost end up behind you, so if things slow up you don’t want to keep flogging a dead horse and you have to kick.
“Whilst you have momentum, holding on to the ball, you are putting the opposition under pressure and I thought the half backs did that really well.
“We are developing. We are building in the right direction. There is a long way for us to go but I believe the strength in the squad means we can do that while winning games.”
Key to that was strength at the breakdown to preserve both possession and the speed of ball and Edinburgh were accurate in that area in the first 20 minutes.
They also needed a solid set-piece and they had that platform without dominating, while the back row were strong – Luke Crosbie was the official man-of-the-match but it could have been Magnus Bradbury or Nick Haining just as easily.
Edinburgh’s sense of adventure paid off early with Argentinian full-back Emiliano Boffelli, making his debut for the capital side, finishing off with a run-and-kick chase after flanker Haining made the initial break.
Better was to follow as left-wing Ramiro Moyano finished off a multi-phase move going over in the corner as Edinburgh raced out of the blocks.
The Dragons entered the spirit of the game and enjoyed a couple of breaks of their own, back rower Harrison Keddie setting up a try for Sam Davies and then Davies sending out a long pass for Jonah Holmes in plenty enough space to score.
A turnover for Edinburgh meant another attack from within their own half, a loose kick and some go forward from Haining and Moyano was sprinting after the ball for his second.
The Dragons had a kick to level things at half time, but chose instead to go for the corner and the visiting forwards were able to force a penalty of their own to close out of the half ahead.
The second half was a much calmer affair. The Dragons threw everything at Edinburgh but the defence held firm and the wind made it easy to return to Dragons territory.
Blair Kinghorn added two penalties to put his side more than one score ahead and set up the final flourish.
Job done in South Wales while waiting to see what will happen in South Africa.
Scorers, Dragons – Tries: S Davies, Holmes. Cons: S Davies 2.
Edinburgh – Tries: Boffelli, Moyano 2, Hoyland. Cons: Kinghorn 2. Pens: Kinghorn 2.
Dragons: J Williams; J Holmes, J Dixon (A Owen 36), J Roberts, R Dyer (J Olowofela 68); S Davies, G Bertranou; G Bateman, T Davies, C Coleman (L Brown 40), B Carter J Davies 68, J Maksaymiw, H Keddie (Capt), T Basham (H Taylor 2), O Griffiths.
Edinburgh: E Boffelli; D Hoyland, M Currie, J Lang (C Hutchison 38), R Moyano (C Savala 73); B Kinghorn, B Vellacott (Capt, H Pyrgos 70); B Venter (H Copurtney 73), A McBurney (D Cherry 50), WP Nel, M Sykes, J Hodgson, N Haining, L Crosbie, M Bradbury (B Muncaster 60).
Referee: M Adamson (SRU).
Attendance 5,552.
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