Edinburgh lead URC table alone after first three-win start since 2015

Edinburgh Rugby are the only unbeaten side in the United Rugby Championship after claiming a 29-12 bonus-point win over Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, completing their first three-match winning start to a league season since 2015 and the old PRO12. Hooker Ewan Ashman crossed for the decisive fourth try in the final minute to secure maximum points.

The result was hard-earned against a side that has long troubled Edinburgh. Coach Sean Everitt acknowledged as much after the final whistle: “It was very tough indeed. Zebre seem to be up for these games when we come to Parma. They’ve been our bogey side. We’ve only beaten them once in four outings, so we are very happy with the result.”

Captain Matt Currie, who opened the scoring from centre, echoed that sentiment. “It’s always really tough coming to Zebre. We’ve not had too much success here the past few seasons, so it was really important for us that we came out and played the game we wanted to play. We were definitely under pressure right to the 80th minute.”

Player of the Match Magnus Bradbury, the try-scoring number eight, credited a mid-week reset for the performance. “We had a real long chat about how we were going to play it. We’ve come here in the last couple of years and beaten Zebre one out of four times. All we talked about was playing our DNA. We went off script and started doing our own thing and that’s when we put ourselves under pressure. But we doubled down on who we are and it paid off.”

Scotland’s second club, Glasgow Warriors, sit directly behind Edinburgh after bouncing back from a frustrating Round 2 draw against Ulster. They ran in four maul tries to beat Connacht Rugby 36-19 at a wet Scotstoun, claiming a bonus-point win that moved them up to second in the standings.

Glasgow skipper Sione Tuipulotu said the squad had used the week to confront their disappointment head-on. “We addressed the mood during the week. We were really disappointed after that Ulster game — to be honest, that draw really felt like a loss. I am happy about the way the boys bounced back, particularly the pack. Four maul tries really set the tone. In weather like this, we need to rely on our pack and they did a massive job for us.”

The Vodacom Bulls climbed to third after dismantling the Lions 57-15 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, running in nine tries with number eight Cameron Hanekom crossing twice in a performance that ended the Lions’ unbeaten start to the season.