Five games that cost Edinburgh a place in the URC play-offs

In the final standings, Edinburgh’s season reads reasonably well. Played 18, won 11, lost seven.  

They won as many games as Ulster, who finished sixth, and only two fewer than Munster who topped the table.   

But a lack of bonus points, whether for scoring four tries or finishing within seven in losing efforts, also cost them dear. They collected just five all season – the second worst in the league behind second-bottom Dragons.  

Nevertheless, Sean Everitt’s side remained in the hunt and appeared well-placed at stages to make it into the end-of-season shake-up.  

We have looked back on five games that cost them that place.  

Edinburgh 22-24 Benetton 

Scorers - Tries: Kinghorn (2) Currie; Pens: Healy; Cons: Healy (2)

Blair Kinghorn scored two tries on his final appearance for Edinburgh, but it wasn't enough (Image: SNS)

You might not be stunned to read this isn’t the last time the Italian side feature on this list. Blair KInghorn’s farewell before his move to Toulouse ended badly not just for the Scotland fullback, but for Edinburgh, as his wayward pass late on allowed Marco Zanon to score the decisive try.  

Ben Healy missed an injury-time drop-goal that would have snatched victory.  

Glasgow Warriors 22-10 Edinburgh 

Scorers - Try: Nel; Con: Healy; Pen: Healy

Ally Miller, a former Edinburgh man, celebrates his try in the 1872 Cup win at Scotstoun (Image: SNS)

The Warriors finished the regular season unbeaten at home in the league, so Edinburgh weren’t alone in failing to pick up any points at Scotstoun.  

Tries from Johnny Matthews and Ally Miller while Edinburgh were a man down with Grant Gilchrist in the sin-bin ultimately proved the capital club’s undoing. While they did win the second 1872 Cup match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield a week later, a losing bonus point - at least - would have been useful here. 

Cardiff 7-24 Edinburgh 

Scorers - Tries: Schoeman, Ashman, Venter; Cons: Healy (3); Pen: Healy

James Lang finds no way through the Cardiff defence (Image: Shutterstock)

That a win on the road makes this list shows the fine margins of the URC table.

By the time they headed to Cardiff Arms Park, Edinburgh knew they’d need every available point. After hammering Scarlets the week before, they scored three tries in the Welsh capital but couldn’t get that decisive fourth score. It felt like a big dent to their top four hopes.  

Edinburgh 26-29 Munster 

Scorers - Tries: Bennett, Venter; Cons: Healy (2); Pens: Healy (4)

Grant Gilchrist's reaction at full-time in the defeat to Munster was telling (Image: SNS)

The final home match of the season was one Sean Everitt’s side knew they needed to win. It was no small task, the defending champions Munster visited Hive Stadium having reclaimed top spot following Glasgow’s wobbles in South Africa and were determined to stay there. 

Edinburgh pushed Graham Rowntree’s side all the way, but tries from Jack Crowley and Gavin Coombes turned the game in the visitors’ favour.  

Benetton 31-6 Edinburgh 

Scorers - Pens: Healy (2)

Ali Price can't stop Ignacio Mendy crossing for an early try (Image: Shutterstock)

Edinburgh travelled to Italy for the final round of the regular season knowing a win over Benetton, who were also chasing the top eight, would mean a place in the play-offs. It also would likely have meant Investec Champions Cup rugby next season.  

Instead they turned in the poorest performance of Everitt’s time in charge as the Italians recorded a bonus point win and booked themselves a seat at European rugby’s top table for 2024/25. 

The back-to-back defeats to Stormers and Sharks - don't make the cut here because so few teams win in South Africa.

Edinburgh never looked like winning either, and only a Boan Venter injury-time try in Durban brought the visitors to within 10 points of their hosts.

If the capital club can turn the narrow defeats - like the Benetton reverse in November - into wins, and score more tries in the matches they win, they should find themselves back into the top eight for 2024/25.