Magnus Bradbury powered over the whitewash for two of Edinburgh’s seven tries against Ulster on Friday night. Image: © Craig Watson –
www.craigwatson.co.uk 
AS he spoke to the press after Edinburgh’s emphatic and uncompromising win over Ulster at Hive Stadium on Friday night, Magnus Bradbury carried the demeanour of a man pleased to have won that battle but cognisant of the fact that there is still a long way to go in the war,
With qualification to this season’s URC play-offs and next season’s Champions Cup secured thanks to that bonus-point victory in the final home game of the season, the powerhouse No 8 – who had just scored two of his team’s seven tries in a player-of-the-match performance – paused briefly to savour the moment, but was soon looking ahead again … and not just at his team’s league quarter-final in a fortnight’s time, but also towards further progress beyond the summer.
Something has clicked these last two months at the capital club. The catalyst was undoubtedly that awful defeat to Zebre at home on 14th February, and while this recent progress has been very much a player-driven phenomenon, credit is also due to head coach Sean Everitt and his management team for laying out the game-plan and facilitating the environment for the side to grow in belief and conviction.
URC: Edinburgh book their place in play-offs with big home win over Ulster
Louise Dalgliesh names Scotland Women U20s squad for Six Nations Series
Glasgow Warriors announce the recruitment of Charlie Savala
The team are playing with accuracy and courage, the work-rate is terrific, and while they are still a long way from the finished article, they have shown in valiant defeats to Sharks and Bath that they are now hard to beat.
A sold-out Hive Stadium bounced to the rhythm of the home team’s high-tempo rugby on Friday night, with Bradbury as a stand-in captain leading the charge as part of an all-action back-row unit which also featured big performances from Ben Muncaster, Hamish Watson and departing Jamie Ritchie off the bench, while the half-backs pulled the strings expertly, and Darcy Graham stole the show with a hat-trick of tries which further fanned the flames of confusion around his recent Lions snub.
Chat of a coaching clear-out this summer has subsided, much to relief of the Murrayfield beancounters who can ill afford to be paying off contracts and going through costly recruitment processes at a time when Scottish Rugby is looking to turnaround £10m+ deficits in the last two years – but Bradbury has been around the block enough times to know that the pendulum can swing back the way it came very quickly if momentum is not maintained.
He was punchy but not unpleasant as he assessed his team’s recent upturn in fortunes and discussed what lies ahead for a club desperate to shed its reputation as chronic underachievers.
“We talked about a fast start – last game at home, great night for it – and contrary to what we’ve done before, we kept the foot on the throat,” said Bradbury.
“Ulster came back with that penalty try and then they scored next, but after that we worked on our communication and buying into the words that we were saying. We delivered on it. The boys did their jobs, we all did our jobs, and that’s what happens when you get it right.”
Then, when it was suggested that Edinburgh have everything to gain and nothing to lose in the play-offs given that they will be written off by everyone outside of the camp regardless of whether they end up facing Leinster in Dublin or Bulls in Pretoria [they’ll know which one by about 8.30pm on Saturday night], he retorted: “It’s not a shot to nothing, it’s where we want to be as a team, and we know we can beat any team if we’re on it.
“We’ll take it as it comes. See what that looks like, have a couple of days off now, and then come back in Thursday.”
Bradbury also pushed back when asked if he and his team-mates feel a sense of vindication at making it into the top eight after under-performing so frustratingly at the start of the season.
“I wouldn’t say under-performed, no. I think any club when you get a new coach, you have to go through that transition period. So under-performance is the wrong word for me,” he said.
“I think where we’re at now is great. We’ve had a huge mentality shift over the Six Nations with stuff I’ve already spoken to you guys [the press] about before. It’s about putting that onto the pitch next game and then not looking too far ahead. But it’s exciting to see what we can do with a decent pre-season as well. Build on the strengths we’ve built through mid-season and see where that takes us.”
“[We’re] back in the Champions Cup as well next year – top-flight rugby. How good is that going to be?”
As keen as Bradbury is to keep the ball rolling, he stresses it is important that the team now have a break before coming back together for one final push through to the end of the 2024-26 campaign.
“People think about it and obviously you guys think about it from a ‘how do you keep momentum going’ standpoint, but you need to think physically and mentally. We’ve had a huge, huge past eight weeks. We’ve had South African teams, we’ve had play-off rugby, we’ve had a huge emotional toll and physically as well.
“So resting the mind is as important as resting the body for me. And that’s what we’re going to do in the next couple of days. I think it’s Monday and Tuesday we’ve got off … so rest up, saunas, keep off the beers, come back in.
“After that Connacht game last week, everyone’s thoughts were on this game. I imagine the changing room is going to be saying, look at the next game now. So again, bottle it up, put it into training and go again.”
Meanwhile, Edinburgh head coach Everitt said that Duhan van der Merwe remains on track to get some game-time before linking up with the Lions in June by making his comeback in two weeks’ time from the ankle he has been sidelined with since the end of March.
“We’re hoping so,” he said. “He’s running and he’s doing really well. So we’re definitely hoping that we have Duhan for the quarter-final.
“The players will be off until Thursday, and then we’ll come in and prepare for whoever we’re playing against. And we’ll install that plan on Friday and Saturday and come in the following Monday ready fir whoever we play.”
Our Edinburgh-based experts advise both individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, providing accountancy, audit and assurance, business advisory, tax and VAT services. Founded in 1855, Saffery is the 15th largest accountancy firm in the UK by turnover and has had a presence in Edinburgh for over 30 years. Website: www.saffery.com
URC: Edinburgh book their place in play-offs with big home win over Ulster