Player Watch- Magnus Bradbury V Bulls

Players emerge from mist for Edinburgh V Bulls

Edinburgh fans are all aware of Magnus Bradbury’s journey as a Burgh man. Debut in 2014 and then named as Edinburgh

captain for the start of season 2017 - 18  and then unceremoniously removed after some late night high jinks led to him missing a

match with a head injury.

He was replaced by Fraser McKenzie for the remainder of the season. Bradbury was 22 at the time and to my mind this was a little early for him to bear that responsibility. McKenzie did a great job for the season and should probably have been given the position in the first place. He wasn't likely to be called up to Scotland squads and was a senior and well respected member of the squad.

Since then Bradbury has been in and out of the Edinburgh starting XV as well as Scotland squads. He’s played across the back row and in the engine room on occasion.  He has been quoted as potentially being the big ball carrying No.8 ™ that Scotland have been crying out for but frequently has struggled to start in that position for Edinburgh with Bill Mata and then Nick Haining preferred in that role. There's also been the small matter of Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson and the emergence of Luke Crosbie that has limited his appearances on the flank.

Prior to the match on Saturday my good friend Ian Wallace predicted that Bradbury would have a big game against the Bulls and, for once, he was spot on.

Bill Mata was awarded player of the match and it's hard to decry that decision even if it were given only for that lovely offload in the second half but this was a match that was won by tenacity, sheer bloody mindedness and forward power.

Cockers would have been delighted with not only the way that Edinburgh pretty much destroyed Bulls up front but also with the outstanding performance from the man he identified as a leader early in his tenure. Bradbury will be rightly happy with  his performance as he was a thorn in the side of Bulls throughout.

This was potentially his best game in and Edinburgh shirt.

Magnus was top of the charts for metres made and carries. His numbers also show up favourably in terms of tackles made and lineouts won.

You can see the details of his workrate  in the chart below. (does not include tackles but worth noting only Gilco made more tackles for Edinburgh)

1 min	Carry and dummy, ruck set up
2 mins	Misses high ball
4 mins	Front jumper at lineout, taps back
6 mins	Pass from Mata on wing, makes good ground before tackled
	Clean take from restart after Edinburgh try, pass to Shiel
10 mins	Charge from short pass from Shiel, sets up ruck
12 mins	Short carry and ruck set up
13 mins	Clean take from high ball, turned over on the ground
14 mins	Wins turnover within own 22 at a maul
17 mins	Wins turnover at ruck inside Bulls half
18 mins	Fails to collect at lineout
25 mins	Clean take at 2 in lineout
25 mins	Carry through heavy traffic  and ruck set up
29 mins	Short carry and ruck set up
	Clean lineout take at 2
33 mins	Clean take and ground made after restart following Edinburgh penalty
	Fighting carry and ruck set up
40 mins	Clean take from restart
41 mins	Penalised for contact in air at lineout
43 mins	Comes round for short throw to front at lineout and drive
48 mins	Clean take at lineout
55 mins	Steal at lineout
62 mins	Clean take at front of lineout
63 mins	Pass from Shiel in midfield, yards made and ruck set up
63 mins	Carry and ruck set up
74 mins	Short drive from ruck

Some random thoughts -

Ben Whitehouse is oft maligned but I thought his decision making throughout especially with the disallowed Bulls try was on point. Held in the tackle, no release and then up on his knees to propel himself forward. No try and for the ‘experts’ in the studio to disagree is a worry. 

There was some amount of saffa moaning on Edinburgh’s social media after the game. It's also a bit worrying when you can't see you've been dominated up front and when your team  can't take advantage of the fact your opponents have lost two fly halves in the course of the game.

Henry Immelman took his try well and kicked well for the most part in the match but needs to learn to make sure with his kicks when the final whistle is looming. 

Mark Bennett had an excellent match and put in some very important tackles and if it had been a back picking player of the match would have been in consideration.