'I kicked like an absolute clown in the warm-up... luckily I did it when it mattered'

Edinburgh centre Mark Bennett was glad he came good when it mattered with a crucial penalty against Bulls after kicking like a “clown” during the warm-up.

Edinburgh faced a tough second half against the South Africans at the DAM Health Stadium and the visitors reduced the deficit to four points with 10 minutes left.

Edinburgh soon won a penalty within shooting distance with Jaco Van Der Walt and James Lang off injured and Bennett stepped up to seal a 17-10 United Rugby Championship win.

Bennett told his club’s media team: “Everybody else was broken so it was last resort and I kicked like an absolute clown in the warm-up. Luckily they don’t count so I did it when it mattered.”

Edinburgh had led 14-3 at the break thanks to Henry Immelman’s try and three Van Der Walt penalties but they were made to work for the win.

“It was really physical, they are a bloody big side,” Bennett said. “I thought we started the game really well, controlled the territory and put them under pressure and made them play from deep. And when we did that we defended really, really well.

“Second half we gave away a few penalties and let them get into areas of the pitch that we know they are really good, and they put us under a lot pressure.

“I’m delighted to hold on for the win. We made it hard for ourselves but we got the win and that’s what matters.”