Edinburgh left themselves with too much to do – not for the first time in Europe – despite an inspirational solo performance by Hamish Watson and lost out to La Rochelle in the European Challenge Cup quarter-final at Murrayfield.
The capital club conceded four tries and looked outclassed by the Top 14 leaders in the first half but showed real spirit after half-time with Watson scoring a try and proving an all-round threat to the French side as they tired in the second half.
But there were too many errors and basic mistakes by Edinburgh cost them dear over the piece and blunted the momentum of their comeback in the second half before veteran La Rochelle stand-off Brock James kicked two relieving penalties late on.
The first half was another one of those sobering 40 minutes for Edinburgh fans, with 19-year-old La Rochelle scrum-half Arthur Retiere having a stormer as his side scored four tries.
Edinburgh’s hopes of a fast start were dashed by some too familiar basic errors holding on to ball, and it took a last gasp tackle from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne to stop Aguillon scoring after Retiere sniped around the fringes at pace.
However Blair Kinghorn’s panicked clearance gave the French an attacking lineout and they went over from the inevitable drive all too easily with hooker Jeremy Mauroaurd getting the credit, James converting.
It was no surprise when La Rochelle won another penalty that they went for the lineout and another driving maul, and the resuilt was almost identical, Edinburgh’s defence pitifully inadequate for Mauroaurd again to score and James again converting.
Edinburgh found some possession at last and Phil Burleigh picked a good line through a gap for a try to get the home side on the board, Jason Tovey converting well.
But just as Edinburgh seemed to be getting some equality of possession, another turnover gifted the French position and Retiere zipped down the blindside from halfway, going through Kinghorn’s dreadful tackle for the try.
The pacy scrum-half then turned supplier again taking a sharp off-load from Kevin Gourdon and sprinting into space, feeding his supporting wing Steve Barry for a try under the posts, James taking the French to 26-7 ahead.
Edinburgh had to get something before the break and did after a series of attacking lineouts, a sharp move seeing Bill Mata feed Ross Ford for a try in the corner that went unconverted.
The home side had to score first and got inspioration from the dynamic Watson who had two charges upfield to lift his side. Then when Cornell Du Preez and Damien Hoyland combined to work Kinghorn close to the line the Scotland open side was there to finish off with his side’s third try.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne converted as Tovey went off injured but Edinburgh still contrived to waste their sudden superiority with too many errors.
Edinburgh were unlucky when Watson’s kick upfield saw Hoyland tackled too early by replacement prop Kaulashvili just too far out for referee Luke Pearce to consider a penalty try although it was a glaring scoring chance and the Georgian saw a yellow card.
The home side chose to kick the penalty by replacement Duncan Weir to get within four points but they were to let their last two big chances go when Simon Berghan’s offload fell loose close to the psots and then when former All Black Victor Vito stripped the ball from Weir.
James kicked a penalty to take his side seven points clear again and then another as the clock clicked towards 80 minutes to secure the victory.
Att: 5483
Edinburgh: B Kinghorn; D Hoyland, C Dean, P Burleigh, T Brown; J Tovey, S Hidalgo-Clyne; M McCallum, R Ford (capt), S Berghan; A Bresler, G Gilchrist; V Mata, H Watson, C du Preez.
Replacements: S McInally for Ford 60, K Whyte for McCallum 70, K Bryce for Berghan 71, F McKenzie for Bresler 55, V Fihaki for Mata 67, N Fowles for Hidalgo Clyne 67, D Weir for Tovey 49, G Bryce for Dean 72.
La Rochelle: K Murimurivalu; S Barry, P Jordaan, P Aguillon, E Roudil; B James, A Retiere; M Corbel, J Maurouard, M Boughanmi; J Eaton (capt), M Tanguy; R Sazy, B Veivuke, K Gourdon
Replacements: H Forbes for Maurouard 51, D Priso for Cornel 51, D Kaulashvili for Boughanmi 51, D Cetaro for Eaton 56, V Vito for Aguillon 40, A Bales for Retiere 67, V Rattez for Barry 54, B Nobles for Jordaan 19
