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Rasolea stuns Stade as Edinburgh clinch quarter-final spot
By Tom Webber
Solomoni Rasolea's dramatic 77th-minute try helped Edinburgh clinch a place in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a stunning 34-33 victory over Stade Francais on Friday.
Stade needed a win to keep their chances of stealing top spot in Pool 4 alive, but Rasolea denied them at the death, extending the hosts' 100 per cent record in the competition and guaranteeing a home match in the next stage.
Four penalties from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne gave Edinburgh a 12-6 half-time advantage, but Sekou Macalou, Waisea Vuidarvuwalu and Giorgi Melikidze all crossed as the lead changed hands repeatedly in an enthralling second half.
Hamish Watson and Jaco van der Walt kept Richard Cockerill's men in the fight before Rasolea had the final say.
Stade must now hope to qualify as one of the best second-placed teams, though one of those is guaranteed to come from Pool 3 following Gloucester's 45-24 thumping of Agen.
The Premiership side moved onto 21 points, meaning they will advance even if they lose a shootout for top spot against Pau at Kingsholm next week.
Henry Purdy crossed twice inside the opening 10 minutes and Owen Williams kicked a perfect 15 points from the tee as Gloucester came out on top in a 10-try match.
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Latest Comments
What these stats actually seem to show is that there isn't a massive about of variation in the number of cards/penalties conceded by the top teams.
South Africa received 13 yellow cards in 13 matches; Ireland received 11 in 12; New Zealand received 11 in 14. The difference is pretty immaterial.
In terms of penalties, SA conceded 131 in 13 matches; England conceded 111 in 12. Considering England had the best record of anyone, SA are hardly far off the pace.
Go to commentsThe boy needs to bulk up if wants to play 10 or 11 to handle those hits, otherwise he could always make a brilliant reserve for the wings if he stays away from the stretcher.
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