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'There is a perception about Edinburgh that the team has a soft underbelly'

The Edinburgh team that faces the Sharks last month in South Africa (Photo by Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt said he was proud of the way his players bounced back from the heavy loss to the Lions to beat the Stormers 38-7.

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They were thumped 55-21 in Johannesburg last week after trailing by a league record margin of 48-0 at half-time.

Everitt revealed his players had taken the criticism aimed at them following that game personally, while he admitted it hadn’t been an easy week for him.

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Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson speaks about another disheartening URC tour

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    Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson speaks about another disheartening URC tour

    But he was a happy man following the five-try bonus point victory over the side from Cape Town.

    “There is a perception about Edinburgh Rugby that the team has a soft underbelly,” said the South African.

    Fixture
    United Rugby Championship
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    “The character of the team was questioned last week, the work-rate, the effort and the passion.

    “The guys took those comments personally and certainly bounced back with vigour. I am sure they made the supporters proud.”

    As for the flak that was fired in his direction after the Lions game, he said: “It comes with the territory. For me, it was about taking responsibility for our actions last week, leading the way forward and getting the team up to put in a good performance.

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    “It wasn’t easy for me personally, but I enjoy the challenge, otherwise I wouldn’t be in this job.

    “I am really proud of how the guys responded. I am a happy man.

    “Had we lost again, then you suddenly start doubting what you are doing. We can take confidence out of the fact that when we manage the game properly, we perform well. It was a great victory and good for the team.

    “The first three weeks have been tough for us, so hats off to the leadership group for pulling it together and getting the guys back on track. I am very happy to get the win. It was a really good performance.”

    Skipper Grant Gilchrist said: “A lot of questions were asked of us after last week and rightly so. It wasn’t acceptable.

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    “Every time we wear this jersey, we wear it with pride, we didn’t do that last week. Our character was questioned. We had to show who we are as people and what this club stands for.

    “For our fans who stuck with us and supported us, all I can say is thank you. They showed a lot of faith in us, turning out in their numbers and cheering us on. I hope they went home happy.

    “We build from here, our season starts here.”

    The Player of the Match award went to two-try flanker Ben Muncaster, who said: “We needed that after three losses in a row. Actions speak louder than words and I think we did that.”

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    TWAS 37 minutes ago
    How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

    I’m sorry but this just seems like incredibly selective analysis attempting to blame all team failures on JAS.


    Looking through the examples:


    Example 1 - long place by JAS, all support overruns the ruck. Pilfer also achieved by a player resting his arms on JAS - so should be a penalty for of his feet anyway. No failure by JAS there failing to secure the ball. By his team mates, yes.


    Example 2 - a knock on punched out by the first defender who’s tackle he initially beat, from behind. An error by JAS absolutely. But every player makes the odd handling error.


    Example 3 - JAS just beaten to the ruck because defender shoots to make a good tackle He passes and immediately follows. Potentially should have been a penalty to Aus because the tackler had not released and swung around into JAS’s path preventing him securing the ball, and had not released when the jackal went for the pilfer. Tackler prevented a clean release by Potter and if there was any failure, it was the ball carrier who got into a horrible position.


    I am struggling how you try and blame 1 on JAS and not support, but then blame JAS when the tackler fails to make a good placement.


    Example 4 - JAS flies into this ruck out of nowhere, seemingly runs past the 12 to get there. Also did you miss McReight and Williams just jogging and letting JAS run past them? Anyway he busts a get to get there but was beaten to the contest. Any failure here is on the supporting players, McReight and Williams and JAS showed great instinct to charge in to try and secure.


    Example 5 - JAS is following the lead of players inside him. How this is his fault I don’t know what you are thinking


    Example 6 - Gleeson misses a tackle so JAS has to drift in off his man to take the ball carrier, leaving a larger overlap when he offloads. Failure by Gleeson not JAS


    Examples 7 and 8 - Wallabies defensive line isn’t aggressive. But noting to do with JAS. Fisher has actually said he is not coaching a fast line speed. To try and blame JAS is again selective.


    Seems like an agenda in this rather than the genuine, quality analysis I’ve come to expect from the author.

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