Stormers 28-17 Edinburgh: Scottish pride intact but hosts prove too strong in Cape Town

In the shadow of Table Mountain Scottish involvement in the United Rugby Championship was ended as Edinburgh went down 28-17 to the Stormers.

Mike Blair’s side showed plenty of heart but they were ultimately undone by a South African side whose commitment to attacking rugby was the equal of their visitors and who, in Evan Roos, had the game’s outstanding player.

The No 8 notched the Stormers’ third and final try after a score at the start of each half from Warrick Gelant and Ruhan Nel put Edinburgh on the back foot. They responded impressively, with tries from Dave Cherry and the excellent Henry Pyrgos, but they couldn’t quite get close enough to their opponents.

Emiliano Boffelli, the Edinburgh full-back, was outstanding in attack and defence and kicked both conversions and a penalty.

The Stormers will now host Ulster in the URC semi-final next Saturday but for Edinburgh the season is over. Blair’s maiden campaign has produced far more positives than negatives and there is much to build on.

After Glasgow Warriors’ abject display in Dublin against Leinster it was important that Edinburgh restored some pride for Scottish rugby and they certainly delivered on that front in Cape Town.

Unfortunately, they made the start they didn’t want. An early surge by Leolin Zas down the left wing took the Stormers into the opposition 22 and when the ball was recycled Hacjivah Dayimani made for the corner only to be tackled by Boffelli. Blair Kinghorn intercepted the Stormers man’s offload and tried to pop the ball back to Chris Dean but the ball went astray and Gelant pounced on it for the game’s opening score.

It was messy by Edinburgh and Manie Libbok’s conversion compounded the error, giving the Stormers an early 7-0 lead.

The South