Everitt: We can’t underestimate the magnitude of this win
Edinburgh Rugby will either host Zebre Parma or travel to face Hollywoodbets Sharks in the EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals next weekend (w/o 12 April) after beating Bayonne in last night’s Round of 16 clash at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
The two potential opponents are sides Edinburgh know well from URC competition, having beaten Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in February, before falling short against the Sharks at Kings Park last weekend.
And although the capital side would undoubtedly prefer to remain on Scottish soil for the last-eight encounter, Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt says his squad have the belief to win back out in Durban, if it is the Sharks who come out on top in this afternoon’s Round of 16 match-up (7 April, kick-off 3pm BST.
“Zebre certainly would help from a travel point of view [but] after doing a review of the Durban game – looking at the opportunities we created there and maybe some of the soft moments that we gave the Sharks – the players will have belief that they can go there and win,” he said.
Edinburgh booked their place in the last-eight of Europe last night after claiming a convincing five-try victory against French Top 14 side Bayonne.
Hamish Watson, Matt Currie, Duhan van der Merwe and a brace from Ben Vellacott gave the hosts a much needed victory after back-to-back losses in South Africa.
“This convincing win against a good team helps as well. c even though it’s at home,” Everitt added.
“We made hard work of it in the first half. We did everything right – we had 75 percent territory in the first half – but only finished one out of six opportunities. That’s something that has been plaguing us for some time.
“We had a good chat at half-time, came out, and Matt Currie had a good carry through the midfield to score.
“Then we scored another two in quick succession, which put us away. So I think we’ll take a lot of confidence out of that, because it’s an area that we have been working on. But I’m just really pleased that the guys got through.”