Edinburgh v Sharks: Five takeaways as ‘moment of magic’ helps Scots to ‘rare feat’ and ends injury-hit South Africans’ hopes
Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham scored a wonderful try.
Following a 33-28 victory for Edinburgh over the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship, here’s our five takeaways from the Hive Stadium clash.
The top line
Edinburgh achieved a rare feat of claiming back-to-back wins in the URC as a purple patch on the hour mark helped them defeat the visitors in a bonus point success.
Crossings from Ewan Ashman, Glen Young, Mosese Tuipulotu, Hector Patterson and Darcy Graham were added to by two conversions each from Cammy Scott and Ross Thompson as Edinburgh got the better of the South African outfit, whose faint play-off hopes were ended by a growing in confidence Scottish side that is eager to rebuild for 2026/27.
The defeat, albeit with a try and losing bonus point, leaves the Sharks nine points adrift of the eighth-placed Bulls, who are still to play this weekend, with two games remaining. Edwill van der Merwe, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Koch and Vincent Tshituka got their tries, but a ninth URC defeat of the campaign has ended their slim play-off hopes.
Moment of magic
Games are often won on moments of magic, and this was certainly one of those nights as Scotland wing Graham produced an incredible piece of skill to score a key try.
With Edinburgh leading 26-21 on 63 minutes after a couple of quick-fire tries from Tuipulotu and Patterson, the next score was always going to be crucial, and luckily for the hosts, they had Graham on song, as his double chip ahead and support line on the shoulder of Piers O’Conor saw him finish a remarkable, game-winning try to send the crowd wild.
The skill involved in the try cannot be understated, and Graham was beaming as he ran in and celebrated on 69 minutes. A special talent who produced an epic moment.
Ashman fires
Voted the Player of the Match after a typically all-action performance, first at the coalface and then on the flank once Dylan Richardson was introduced on 51 minutes.
While Ashman had his struggles at the lineout and in the middle of a backtracking scrum (more on that later), his destructive and energetic contribution around the field once again caught the eye as he finished with 26 metres, three defenders beaten, two turnovers, 15 tackles, one try and a pivotal try-assist for his young scrum-half after the hour mark.
It was the last act that was most influential as he charged down a Sharks box-kick, regathered and then found Patterson who finished it off. Some shift from Ashman.
Injury concern for Sharks
The Sharks’ injury list has increased by two this evening after Jaden Hendrikse and Siya Masuku were casualties in the opening half at Hive Stadium. Hendrikse appeared to take a heavy contact to the head when attempting to tackle Edinburgh wing Malelili Satala, whilst Masuku had to create a makeshift sling for his arm as he departed the action.
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It never rains, it pours for the Durbanites as this backline pair follow Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Bryce Calvert, Coetzee le Roux, Eben Etzebeth, Ethan Bester, Ethan Hooker, Francois Venter, Grant Williams, Hakeem Kunene, Jaco Williams, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Le Roux Malan, Luan Giliomee, Marvin Orie, Matt Romao, Ruan Dreyer, Simphiwe Matanzima, Tom Dyer, Trevor Nyakane and Yaw Penxe to the treatment table, compounding what has been an awful streak of luck for JP Pietersen’s charges.
Set-piece dominance
As expected, the Sharks turned the screw at scrum time as Edinburgh had little answer to the power the visitors brought from their starters and also a monster bench.
It will therefore be hugely frustrating for Pietersen that his players could not utilise this dominance and turn it into what would have been a crucial victory on the road.
Credit must go to those up front, and of course, the further injection of power Vincent Koch and Ox Nche provide off the bench. But, they fell short in other areas tonight.
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