Blair: “When we’re switched on we can beat any team in Europe.”

• 23 Jan 2023
• Reactions

Get reaction from Head Coach Mike Blair as he spoke with media following Edinburgh's home Heineken Champions Cup victory against Saracens.

On the last play and choosing to ‘take the win’

“We wanted the players to kick it out. We (coaches) made that call. You don’t always get these things right but our view ws that we had a yellow card, we were playing into a stiff breeze and we hd no momentum in our attack.

“We felt Saracens had the momentum in the last 10 minutes. The decision was we had won three of our four Champioms Cup games and beating Saracens, who had only lost one of their last 16 games, would give us a boost.

“We would have loved a home game, but we felt the odds were stacked against us. We cashed in. We were aware of the situation and we were comfortable taking the win.

“I don’t want to seem that I’m pessimistic, but I did feel the momentum was with them in the last 10 minutes because we had the yellow card. Saracens were going really hard at us in the breakdown and it I just felt the odds were stacked against us.”

On facing Leicester Tigers in the Round of 16

“Leicester are a brilliant team. Playing a European tie, a knockout game, at Leicester is brilliant for the club.”

On not taking points when Saracens were down to 13

“There is still a huge amount to learn. I thought we showed good intent there.

“We had intent but didn’t have that accuracy in that period and it could have been crucial.”

On the team’s tough run of fixtures

“This period of 10 games has been brutal. With the injuries we’ve had and the fixture list and six-day turnarounds, this has been a really difficult period for the club.

“We’ve come out with three wins in the Champions Cup, which is great. Yes, we could have done better in other bits, but this is a great example that when we are switched on we can beat any team in Europe.”

On WP Nel’s 80 minute performance

“We felt there was an opportunity to take him off around 75 minutes.

“WP will not be thanking me in the changing room.”