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Watch: Edinburgh's Fijian Bill Mata produces majestic feather-touch offload for one of the tries of the tournament

12 Jan 2019

(Photo by Getty Images)

Edinburgh’s Fijian Viliame “Big Bill” Mata has sparked a brilliant counter-attacking try during a second-half comeback in their pool stage win over Toulon.

After Toulon dropped the ball on a promising movement, Edinburgh quickly shifted the ball out wide to the barnstorming Number 8, who weaved through traffic down past halfway before delivering a beautiful feather-touch offload on a silver platter for centre James Johnstone.

https://twitter.com/rorylawson9/status/1084171676982693889

Viliame “Bill” Mata is the BEST no. 8 in World Rugby right now. Don’t @ me.
— Ben Atiga (@atiga1037) January 12, 2019

Bill Mata has made one of the best one handed offloads you will ever see to set up James Johnstone for a try. Toulon 12 Edinburgh 28 after 65 mins
— Rob Robertson (@ROB_Robireland) January 12, 2019

The score extended Edinburgh’s lead to 28-12 with 15 minutes remaining to effectively seal the match. Bill Mata was praised on social media for one of the best offloads ever seen, with former All Black Ben Atiga calling him the best Number 8 in World Rugby right now.

“Bill Mata is a very good player,” head coach Richard Cockerill said post-match.

“He is very good with this team because we have a good balance to help him play – he’s a big player for us. But we’re a team that’s about everybody, about the unity of the team.

“Viliame is very important along with everybody else and he’ll be with us for a long time to come.”

Bill Mata was judged the man-of-the-match for his performance.

After an amazing performance and *that* offload, Big Bill Mata is tonight’s Heineken Man of the Match!#TOUvEDI | #AlwaysEdinburgh 🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/C6jOJtacod
— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) January 12, 2019

Edinburgh’s famous 28-17 win was just the third ever on Stade Mayol soil in European competition, after being down 12-8 at halftime they scored 20 unanswered points to hand Toulon a key loss.

Cockerill was pleased with the effort but insists the job is not done yet. Although they sit atop of the Pool they have a return clash with Montpellier that will likely decide the pool winner at Murrayfield next Friday.

“I was really proud of the boys out there tonight. We’ve made a little bit of history and hopefully the travelling support will go in to work on Monday delighted with how we performed,” said Cockerill.

“We haven’t won quite yet – I want to win next week. I want to have a home quarter-final, because we have given ourselves the opportunity to do that so hopefully we’ll have a big crowd at BT Murrayfield when we play next Friday.

“We’ll enjoy tonight, enjoy the feeling of satisfaction of winning here, but we’ve still got a lot to do and we’ve just got to keep improving.

WHAT. A. WIN! 🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/8RS6X7txvh
— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) January 12, 2019

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 10 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 10 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 10 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 10 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 10 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 10 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 10 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍