Everitt focussed on winning performance as Edinburgh challenge for knockouts

• 16 Jan 2025
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Head Coach Sean Everitt wants his side to focus on a winning performance as Edinburgh Rugby face Black Lion in Round 4 of the EPCR Challenge Cup this Sunday.

Any win against the Georgians will see the capital outfit finish top of Pool 3 with a guaranteed home Round of 16 clash in the knockouts.

“It’s the same story as last week. We want to do as well as we can in a competition and be one of the top seeds. So for us this weekend, we know what the challenge that Black Lion are going to bring,” said Everitt.

“I think it’s important for us to focus on ourselves and our performance so that we can get a result. Five points will go a long way in getting us as a top seed. There’s obviously other games that need to be played, so it’s not totally in our control.

“But if we get five points, then it’s the best that we could have done in the comp so far. Hopefully some of the results go our way and we can finish as a top seed.”

Edinburgh will be looking to build on last weekend’s impressive bonus-point win in Vannes which saw the capital side showcase grit and resolve and to come from behind to secure five points on the road – the team’s first away win this season.

That victory follows on from last month’s intercity victory over reigning URC Champions Glasgow Warriors, with momentum now building for the capital side with Black Lion, and then Scarlets up next this month ahead of the Six Nations.

“There will be a chance this weekend to go three wins in a row, which will be the first time this season we’ve done that. It would be good to keep that momentum.

“We actually looked back, it was last year this time that we went three in a row. So for us it’s about the consistency and that’s why I said it’s about us and our performance.

“We had a tough game away on Saturday, which was good for us, and Black Lion bring the same threat as what Vannes do. So we’ve had a good rehearsal, now we’ve got to put in a good performance at home in front of our supporters.”