Duhan van der Merwe scores on return but Edinburgh Rugby's second-half slump is costly

This was Edinburgh’s first loss at Hive Stadium this season and such an outcome seemed unlikely when they went in at half-time 17-5 ahead. But they failed to score a point in the second half and conceded two converted tries to slip to their sixth defeat in nine games in the URC.

Sean Everitt, their head coach, had rested a handful of his best players for last week’s Champions Cup tie against Bath, with Pierre Schoeman, Magnus Bradbury, Liam McConnell and Wes Goosen all held back for the Bulls match. Edinburgh were hammered at the Rec but still squeezed through to the last 16 in Europe.

But Everitt’s gamble didn’t pay off and the presence of the quartet along with the return from injury of Duhan van der Merwe, Grant Gilchrist and D’arcy Rae couldn’t prevent Edinburgh going down to the South African side.

Frustration for Everitt

“It was very frustrating,” Everitt said afterwards. “I think we were in total control of that game. In the second half we came out, and if you want a quick review of the game, you’ve got to look at three things: set piece, territory and defence.

“I thought we defended well. We didn’t have the territory - they just dominated us in the collisions.”

Regarding their hopes of making the play-offs, he added: “It’s tough. We’ve got a big assignment next week against Leinster away and it’s about us picking ourselves up as quickly as possible.”

Van der Merwe, Rae and Schoeman all scored first-half tries for the home side but they struggled to get out of their own half in the second period and the Bulls recorded a rare victory on Scottish soil.

There was a concern before kick-off when Ewan Ashman had to pull out with a neck injury but Everitt said later they were not overly concerned and that the Scotland hooker would be fit for the Six Nations. His place in the Edinburgh side was taken by Harri Morris, with Jerry Blyth-Lafferty coming on to the bench.

Edinburgh made a bright start. Van der Merwe, who has been out with hips and calf injuries, took just six minutes to make his mark. Harry Paterson provided the offload and van der Merwe had enough strength to get over the line despite the attentions of two Bulls defenders. It was his first Edinburgh try in over three months and a timely reminder of his capabilities in front of the watching Gregor Townsend.

The big winger looked like he might be in again a couple of minutes later after more good work by Paterson, this time under the high ball, but van der Merwe was tap-tackled in full flow.

Schoeman back with a bang

The Bulls have struggled for consistency this season but impressed in France last week while beating Pau in the Champions Cup and they responded well to going behind at the Hive. They were back on terms in the 12th minute, Marcell Coetzee scoring from a lineout maul.

Schoeman, one of those who had been rested for the Bath match, restored Edinburgh’s lead five minutes later. The home side had been battering on the door for a while before the prop spotted a gap and went over, becoming the second ex-Bull to score against the South African visitors.

Edinburgh were playing well both sides of the ball and Freddy Douglas, their turnover king, made a great steal on his own 22. A minute later Darcy Graham went cutting through the Bulls defence after a cute offload from Gilchrist, taking Edinburgh deep into the Bulls 22.

The third Edinburgh try followed soon after. Ben Vellacott went close with a chip and chase down the blindside but the ball bounced over the diminutive scrum-half. Edinburgh maintained the pressure and Rae forced his way over from close range. Ross Thompson, who had been off target with his first two conversion attempts, landed this one and the home side went in at half-time 17-5 ahead.

The Bulls cut the Edinburgh lead to five points with a converted try three minutes into the second half. Again, it came from a lineout drive and this time it was Johan Grobbelaar who applied the finish. Handre Pollard converted.

The home side were having to defend deep. Sebastian de Klerk chased his own chip and looked like he might score in the corner but van der Merwe did enough to stop him, hacking the ball dead. Edinburgh went on to win a scrum penalty but the Bulls continued to attack.

De Klerk’s game ended shortly after when the centre had to be taken off on a stretcher after a lengthy period of treatment. The centre went down heavily in the Edinburgh 22, seeming to slip as he was caught accidentally by Paterson.

Edinburgh’s self-inflicted wound

The Bulls continued to attack, bolstered by some serious firepower off the bench, and they took the lead for the first time with 10 minutes remaining. It was a self-inflicted wound from an Edinburgh point of view. They were penalised at a lineout close to their own line for closing the gap and from the subsequent free-kick Marco van Staden surged through to score. There was some doubt as to whether he had grounded the ball but referee Gianluca Gnecchi awarded the try and stuck with his on-field decision after viewing the replay.

The try brought the visitors level at 17-17 and Pollard landed the crucial conversion to nudge the Bulls 19-17 ahead.

Edinburgh tried to rescue the game but were undone by their own lack of accuracy. Charlie Shiel kicked the ball out on the full and then Thompson was too heavy with his touch as he tried to thread through a grubber. The final chance went when they conceded a scrum penalty in the final minute.

Teams and scorers at Hive Stadium

Scorers: Edinburgh: Tries: van der Merwe, Schoeman, Rae. Cons: Thompson. Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Coetzee, Grobbelaar, van Staden. Cons: Pollard 2.

Edinburgh: H Paterson; D Graham, W Goosen, J Lang, D van der Merwe; R Thompson (C Scott 18-31), B Vellacott (C Shiel 60); P Schoeman (Venter 57), H Morris, D Rae (P Hill 34), G Young (C Hunter-Hill 54), G Gilchrist, L McConnell (B Muncaster h-t), F Douglas, M Bradbury. Replacements not used: J Blyth-Lafferty, P O’Conor.

Vodacom Bulls: W le Roux; C Jooste (S Jacobs 42), S de Klerk (H Vorster 57), D Kriel, K-L Arendse; H Pollard, Z Burger (E Papier 70); J-H Wessels (A Tshakweni 64), J Grobbelaar, W Louw (M Smith 57), R Vermaak (R Ludwig 76), R Nortje, M Coetzee (N Carr 57), M Gumede (M van Staden 57), J Rudolph.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR).

Attendance: 6,648.