Furious Dean Richards hits out at EPCR after Newcastle injury crisis against Edinburgh causes controversy

Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill is refusing to get carried away with his side’s 31-13 victory over Newcastle, warning it will be a “different game” when the pair clash again next week, but Friday night's clash was overshadowed by an injury crisis that left two loosehead props on the other side of the Falcons’ scrum and director of rugby Dean Richard fuming at European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR).

The Scottish outfit moved to the top of their Champions Cup pool with a comfortable bonus-point win over previously-unbeaten Newcastle at BT Murrayfield.

The Falcons had a try by Adam Radwan and a string of kicks by Brett Connon to lead by three points, with the host's response coming with a Hamish Watson try and five points from the boot of Jaco van der Walt.

However, Edinburgh dominated for most of the second half and a converted touchdown by Chris Dean followed by a penalty try and a score from Blair Kinghorn allowed them to take control.

It is looking good for Edinburgh at the midway point of the qualifying phase, but Cockerill is taking nothing for granted in a group that also includes French sides Montpellier and Toulon.

“It’s a good five points but we know what to expect next week. It will be a different game,” said Cockerill in reference to the return fixture at Kingston Park.

“We’re still in the group, we still have a lot to do but we’ve got a fighting chance which is where we want to be.

“We are going to go there (Newcastle) and try and win then go to Toulon which is going to be difficult and then Montpellier are going to come here looking to qualify.”

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Cockerill insists his players are capable of challenging for overall success in the competition, but he is equally adamant that there is a long way to go.

He added: “This is where Edinburgh want to be and we are doing alright. We are going to give it our best shot.

“We genuinely believe that if we can get the right people on the field and play to the best of our ability we can beat anybody.”

In the away camp, Cockerill’s counterpart Richards was furious at the decision of tournament organisers EPCR to prevent him from drafting in a replacement after an injury crisis robbed Newcastle of three specialist front row players.

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The Falcons director of rugby said: “You lose three tighthead props in 24 hours, you ask for dispensation to bring in another one and you’re not allowed that so you have to play a loosehead on the tight.

“It’s not like playing a left wing on the right wing or an inside centre at outside centre. There is a safety issue there and they weren’t prepared to address it so I was particularly disappointed with it.”

Richards praised the efforts of his makeshift side, who led at the interval but were powerless when the hosts raised the pace after the resumption.

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“It was always going to be a difficult second half,” he said. “We created a lot of opportunities and didn’t take them – we will look to nail them next week.”

But his final word was another comment on the intransigence of the organisers.

“For the integrity of the game and the competition the boys said ‘Look we’ll give it a go’, and to be fair to them they stuck at it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Saturday's game in Pool Five saw Toulon record their first win of the European campaign in a 38-28 bonus-point victory over French rivals Montpellier that leaves the group wide open. The three-time European champions scored tries through Raphael Lakafia, Jean Monribot and Filipo Nakosi plus a penalty try, and although Montpellier scored four tries of their own to claim a bonus point of their own, it was the boot of Anthony Belleau who made the difference as he kicked four penalties keep Toulon in the hunt.

PA