Cockerill says Edinburgh have made 'real statement' with champions cup progress

Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill declared his side had made a major statement by sealing a home quarter-final in the Heineken Champions Cup with a 19-10 win over Montpellier.

Darcy Graham's second-half try and 14 points from the boot from Jaco Van Der Walt handed Edinburgh a deserved win in front of 11,802 fans at BT Murrayfield - a Scottish record for a European pool match.

Edinburgh have won all 11 home games this season and they sealed top spot in Pool 5 with their fifth victory in the tournament after losing their opener in Montpellier.

''It was a big win for us,'' Cockerill said. ''To do it last week away (at Toulon) and then to do it against that side that Montpellier picked was very pleasing.

For us it's a step in the right direction and it's an achievement for us. Europe is bloody tough and to qualify for a home quarter-final in particular is an achievement for any team, but it's a real statement from us.

Whoever comes here - Munster or Exeter probably - we are going to try and win and give it a bash, because why can't we?''

However, Cockerill played down their chances of winning the tournament.

''Not a chance, no,'' he said. ''But I don't think any of the eight would say they could win the tournament because it's such a hard tournament to win. There is so much luck involved.

Look, every time we play we try to win. We win the next three games in Europe, we are champions of Europe and I am retiring.''

Edinburgh's win also ensured Glasgow qualify for the quarter-finals regardless of the score in their pool decider against Saracens on Saturday - the first time both Scottish clubs have reached the last eight together.

Cockerill joked: ''There's always one down side to the evening, isn't there?

I enjoy the rivalry and the rivalry is going to get stronger and better.

But it's great for Scottish rugby. We have got two teams in the quarter-finals, there is a lot of good things happening in the Scottish game, so let's enjoy it.''

There was one real down side for Scottish rugby, though, as flanker Hamish Watson emerged as a major doubt for much of the Guinness Six Nations.

''We think it is a broken bone (in the hand), which is disappointing to say the least,'' Cockerill said.