Former Scotland captain John Barclay criticized his former team Edinburgh for their disappointing 55-21 defeat against the Lions in Johannesburg. The Emirates Lions set a new league record by leading 48-0 at halftime, scoring seven tries in the first half. Barclay expressed his embarrassment and labeled it as a disaster, pointing out fundamental issues within the team that need to be addressed.
Barclay highlighted that despite Edinburgh’s resources and talented squad full of internationals, they are not delivering results on the field. He emphasized the need for honest conversations and a critical analysis of the team’s performance to make necessary improvements.
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt acknowledged the team’s poor execution of the game plan, especially in kick strategy, leading to turnovers and transition tries by the Lions. Despite the frustrating third consecutive defeat in the URC, Everitt remains optimistic about the upcoming match against the Stormers, as he believes in the team’s ability to bounce back.
Injuries, including hooker Ewan Ashman, may require adjustments to the squad for the next game. Everitt stressed the importance of sticking to the plan and staying focused, rather than hitting the panic button prematurely.
As Edinburgh prepares for the future challenges in the league, they face a crucial period of reflection and improvement to regain their form and competitive edge. The team’s resilience and ability to learn from setbacks will be tested as they strive to turn the tide in their favor and overcome the recent setbacks in the URC.