Of course, one result does not a season make, and given Edinburgh’s inconsistency, we would be foolish simply to presume that they will kick on from here and qualify for European rugby’s top-tier tournament for the second season in a row. Even so, getting into the upper half of the table does now look a lot more feasible.

They have ten regular-season games still to play in the URC, six of them at the Hive, In order they are:

  • Bulls H
  • Leinster A
  • Scarlets H
  • Ulster H
  • Lions A
  • Stormers A
  • Zebre H
  • Sharks H
  • Dragons A
  • Connacht H

Edinburgh got into the play-offs with 49 points last season, a point more than Scarlets, who were the eighth and final qualifiers. They currently have 17 points from eight games. So six straight wins – plus seven bonus points somewhere along the way – would equal that Scarlets tally. 

By no means an easy feat for a team who have only won three of their first outings, but not impossible either. The two crunch home games look likely to be the fixture with the Bulls, who are themselves in the fight for a play-off just a point behind Edinburgh, and Ulster, given that match will take place during the Six Nations, meaning a lot of first-team regulars will be unavailable.   

Of the away games, Dragons is by far the easiest on paper. Leinster (currently fifth), the Lions (seventh) and the Stormers (first) look a lot tougher.

“We’ve got a game in hand against Ulster, who are flying at the moment,” head coach Sean Everitt said yesterday. “So we’ve got to make sure that we pick up those points when they come here to the Hive – then it puts us in a good position on the log. 

“But obviously, there’s a long way to go, [including] a trip to South Africa. So every point we pick up from now on, before we go there, is better for us.”

Having said that, Everitt accepted that a final tally of just one point more than last season would be enough for his team to clinch a top-eight spot. “Fifty points would be enough. But if you look at the results on the weekend, the Irish teams are fighting it out amongst each other. The Welsh teams had a turnaround on the weekend as well. 

“So it’s an interesting log at the moment, with the Bulls struggling and obviously the Sharks where they are as well [the Durban side are 14th]. It does make it a bit different, it does make it tighter, and that’s why I say every point counts.

“I was just looking, and only three away teams won on the weekend in the three biggest rugby leagues, which is Top 14, Premiership, as well as URC. So we’re proud of the fact that we won [at Benetton]. We also know that we’ve got work to do in certain areas, but there were improvements in our attack, which I’m pleased about.  

“And we did play some really good rugby, but we just weren’t efficient enough close to the goal line. It’s something that’s been plaguing us for some time, maybe the guys just being too over-energetic in that area, not being composed enough. 

“An example of that is Freddy Douglas’ knock-on, just short of the line. We’ve got to finish those opportunities off.”  

If the race to the play-offs in the URC is tight, Champions Cup Pool 2 is tighter still. Bath are top on six points, with the other five teams all on five. Edinburgh lie bottom on points difference, below Castres, Munster and Toulon as well as Gloucester.

It may well be the case that they will need to pick up something at the Rec in addition to beating Gloucester, and that is easier said than done. But Everitt’s squad are set for a significant boost ahead of the latter game, with several Scotland internationals ready to return from injury.

Duhan van der Merwe, Ewan Ashman and Ben Muncaster will all be available after missing out on Saturday night’s URC win at Benetton. Liam McConnell has also been passed fit to play – he had to go off in the 15-14 win with a head injury. And Grant Gilchrist could make it five full internationals coming back if he recovers from the dead leg that ruled him out of the match in Italy.

“We’re getting some troops back,” Everitt confirmed. “Duhan will be back and ready to play. Ben Muncaster will be up for selection. Ewan Ashman is available.   

“Liam has passed his head-injury assessments, so he’s available for selection. And we’re hoping that Grant will pull through. It’s the best position we’ve been in for some time.”

Everitt has still got a lengthy injury list to deal with. It includes Scotland forward Dylan Richardson and Springboks international prop Boan Venter, who were both injured in last month’s double-header against Glasgow.  

“Dylan’s got a fractured rib, and that’s four to six weeks,” the coach added. “Boan is recovering well from his neck injury, but he probably won’t be available this week and next week.”