Bulls power wins the day
Edinburgh built a great platform to win this game, but after going in 17-5 up at the break, they failed to exist as an attacking force.
Part of that was self-inflicted, with a poor kicking strategy constantly inviting pressure.
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The power of the Bulls was the decisive factor, though. The South Africans ramped up the physicality in the second half and Edinburgh just could not live with it.
The scrum started to creak and leak penalties, the battle at the gain-line became a losing one and Edinburgh just could not break out of their own half.
A mountain to climb
This was a damaging defeat for Edinburgh’s ambitions of reaching the URC play-offs.
They went into the 10th round of fixtures in 10th place and ended it in 12th. When you consider their next assignment is in Dublin away to Leinster, their position is starting to look perilous.
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Edinburgh picked up form just in the nick of time to sneak into the top eight at the death last season. They may need to embark on an even better run to get there this time.
Momentum still proves elusive
This was Edinburgh’s fifth defeat in their last seven matches, and it’s been impossible for Sean Everitt’s side to generate any sort of momentum this season.
The hope was the thrilling Champions Cup victory over Toulon would be the spark to ignite their campaign, but a combination of injuries and questionable squad rotation has seen Edinburgh stall in recent weeks.
The heavy away defeats to Castres and Bath were not terminal to their European hopes – they still qualified for the last 16 – but they will have been damaging to the confidence of the side, as would the poor displays in the derby double-header against Glasgow.
We know how good Edinburgh can be at their best, but we see their best far too infrequently.
