Edinburgh edged out by Emirates Lions in South Africa despite monster drop goal

Edinburgh were squeezed out in South Africa, losing 15-9 to the Emirates Lions in the altitude of Johannesburg.

It was tight and, at times, scrappy and the Scots at least have a losing bonus point to show for their efforts. Combined with the win over the Sharks last week, it adds up to a decent return for Mike Blair’s side from their mini-tour. They remain hot on the heels of Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship standings with three rounds of regular season fixtures remaining.

The Lions outscored their visitors by two tries to nil and just about deserved their victory in the rarefied atmosphere of Ellis Park.

The ball flies further in the thin air of the Highveld and Blair had joked on the eve of the game about WP Nel dropping a goal from the halfway line in training. But Henry Immelman did exactly that in the 12th minute to give Edinburgh the lead. It was an impressive execution by the big full-back who gathered Jordan Hendrikse’s drop out, set himself, then unleashed a huge kick which cleared the crossbar by several metres.

Edinburgh had begun the game rather cautiously but Immelman’s drop goal seemed to pep them up and Grant Gilchrist was unlucky to be penalised in a rare excursion into the Lions 22.

The home team had the bulk of the possession and had the chance to draw level but Hendrikse was off target with a penalty effort from wide on the left.

It was cagey and untidy and the flow wasn’t helped by a two-and-a-half minute hold-up while referee Gianluca Gnecchi checked for some vague infringement on the big screen.

Edinburgh edged further ahead through Boffelli’s 45-metre penalty in the 27th minute after Francke Horn was punished for a no-arms tackle on Pierre Schoeman.

It seemed to sting the Lions