Few at Murrayfield have seen a match like it and few probably ever will again.
Edinburgh came from three tries down, infront of a 5809 crowd, to pip their French opponents by a single point and record back to back wins in the Heineken Cup.
It must be very difficult for Racing. To come here and score 47 points and lose is just unbelievable. There were parts of their attacking game that were just stunning."
Bradley added, "We were blown off the pitch in the first half despite scoring 17 points inside 10 minutes and you wonder how you're going to come through that but the boys stuck to it and I'm so pleased with the character they showed to get back into the game."
The biggest crowd of the season at Murrayfield were witness to an outstanding start against Racing Metro. A box kick by the French visitors was easily gathered, spun wide and Tim Visser broke one tackle, chipped the French full back and cantered past Wisniewski to touch down after just 37 seconds. Greig Laidlaw made the conversion. Edinburgh Rugby 7 Racing Metro 0 with many in the crowd still searching for a seat.
The French side closed the deficit four minutes later after Edinburgh were penalised on their own 22 as a scrum went down. Edinburgh Rugby 7 Racing Metro 3. It was an electric start
Thirty seconds later, Edinburgh had again extended their lead, Laidlaw slotting a penalty from the right after the visitors were caught offside straight from the restart.
It was Edinburgh 10 Racing Metro 3 after 6 minutes but with less than 8 minutes on the clock, Edinburgh were back in the points. A delightful drawing pass from Geoff Cross set Visser free, he was taken out trying to get on the end of his own chip and chase but Laidlaw was on hand to snaffle the chance and race under the posts, Laidlaw converting his own try. Edinburgh 17 Racing Metro 3.
The contingent of travelling fans were in full voice as quick hands by the French side freed the winger Julien Saubade to touchdown, Hernandez converting to make it Edinburgh Rugby 17 Racing Metro 10 after 13 minutes.
Edinburgh fans were appealing for a forward pass as Racing again opened up wide and ghosted through the home side defence, Henry Chavancy passing inside to Imhoff for the fourth try of the game after only a quarter of an hour, Wisniewski converting to level the scores at 17 all.
Racing Metro looked to take the lead for the first time with a drop goal attempt from full back Wisniewski but his effort was skewed wide. The scores remaining level after 20 breathless minutes.
Edinburgh were forced into an early change with Matt Scott limping off after 21 minutes to be replaced by James King and it preceeded the third try of the game for Racing Metro as they again found men over on the left, Wiesniewski rounding off a straight forward move, the full back converting his own try to put Racing into the lead. Edinburgh Rugby 17 Racing Metro 24 with 23 minutes on the clock.
The pace of the attack from Racing Metro meant a threat every time the ball was in the hands, the quick hands and quicker feet drawing praise from the East Stand crowd.
10 minutes from half time, Racing again put points on the board, the outside centre Henry Chavancy shrugging of the tackle of Laidlaw and touching down under the posts, the conversion once again successful from Wisniewski. Edinburgh Rugby 17 Racing Metro 31.
The first half ended with intense Edinburgh pressure as they capital side looked to get back in the game before the break and their efforts were rewarded with a penalty between the 10 metre line and 22. Captain Laidlaw slotting home to bring Edinburgh back within two scores on the stroke of half time. Edinburgh Rugby 20 Racing Metro 31.
Edinburgh made one change at the break, Mike Blair replacing Harry Leonard and Greig Laidlaw moving to the fly-half berth with Blair taking over duties at scrum half.
Racing went back to 14 clear with a penalty on the 22, Edinburgh deemed to have strayed offside. Wisniewski slotted home the 3 points with 42 minutes gone. Four minutes later a cruel bounce of the ball meant Racing's fifth try. The ball was spilled in contact by Edinburgh and kicked forward, the ball evading the Edinburgh defence and straight into the arms of Chavancy. Wisniewski adding the extras to put Racing in a commanding 41-20 lead.
Edinburgh full-back Jim Thompson was replaced on 48 minutes by Tom Brown as coach Michael Bradley looked for a way to get his side back into the game. Racing again stretched the lead though with another penalty from Wisniewski, Edinburgh 20 Racing Metro 44 after 53 minutes.
24 points down, less than 20 minutes left, most teams would have been satisfied with maybe picking up a bonus point and going back to the drawing board. Not this Edinburgh side.
Edinburgh got back on the scoreboard with 63 minutes gone, Netani Talei rounding off a period of sustained pressure and Laidlaw now driving attack after attack from the 10 position, converting. Edinburgh Rugby 27 Racing Metro 44. Just as it looked as though Edinburgh might have a chance of further closing the gap though, another penalty from the French full-back, Wisniewski, edged Racing closer to the half century, Edinburgh 27 Racing Metro 47.
The try glut continued with 13 minutes left on the clock, McInally deftly off loaded, Laidlaw made the break and floated the pass to Tom Brown who dived in at the corner in front of the crowds standing just feet away. A bonus point for Edinburgh as they drew back in touch, Laidlaw adding the conversion to make it Edinburgh 34 Racing Metro 47.
Racing were reduced to 14 men when Orlandi was sent to the sin bin by the referee, Edinburgh looking to make the extra man count. What a finish was set up as Roddy Grant rounded off a move which took Edinburgh from their own 22 all the way to below the posts. The initial break by the outstanding Tim Visser was worked back across the pitch and Roddy Grant accelerated past the tiring legs of the last defenders to put Edinburgh back to within just six points. Edinburgh 41 Racing Metro 47 with seven minutes to play.
Edinburgh, remarkably, weren't done just yet. The Edinburgh back line opening up a shattered Racing Metro defensive line and there was no stopping Visser touching down yet again. Laidlaw, who was awarded the Man of the Match, converting from the touchline to put Edinburgh back in the lead, 48-47.
As the Edinburgh pack tried to secure possession, they were penalised for going off their feet meaning the drama wasn't quite over. Racing Metro kicked to touch, secured lineout and found themselves below the posts with the ball safely at the base of the ruck. Hernandez was in the pocket ready to snatch victory.
With 80 minutes on the clock the Murrayfield crowd had their hearts in mouths. A line of Edinburgh players sprinted to block and it was Hernandez who blinked first, his drop goal dragged badly to the right. Edinburgh's players embraced each other as they realised they had pulled off one of the great comebacks in sport.
In clearly buoyant mood, Bradley joked with reporters afterwards that perhaps a final score of 50 all would have been the fairest result. Fair maybe but the fans of Edinburgh Rugby will glady take a second Heineken Cup win, even it was by just one point from the 95 seen at Murrayfield.
Edinburgh
Tries - Visser 2, Laidlaw, Talei, Brown, Grant
Penalties - King, Laidlaw
Conversions - Laidlaw 6
Racing Metro
Tries - Saubade, Imhoff, Wisniewski, Chavancy 2
Penalties - Wisniewski 4
Conversions - Wisniewski 5
Edinburgh Rugby: Jim Thompson (Brown, 48); Lee Jones, Nick De Luca, Matt Scott, Tim Visser; Harry Leonard (Blair,40), Greig Laidlaw (Capt.); Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Esteban Lozada, Grant Gilchrist (Turnbull, 59), Netani Talei, Roddy Grant, Stuart McInally.
Subs: Steve Lawrie, Kyle Traynor, Jack Gilding, Steven Turnbull, Ross Rennie, Mike Blair, James King, Tom Brown.
Racing Metro: Jonathon Wisniewski; Julien Saubade, Henry Chavancy, Guillaume Bousses, Juan Imhoff (Vakatawa, 53); Juan Martin Hernandez, Mathieu Loree; Mikaele Tuugahala (Arous, 54), Benjamin Noirot (Bianchin, 74), Johannes Coetzee (Orlandi, 66), Karim Ghezal, Lionel Nallet, Johnny Leo'o (Vaquin 59), Bernard Le Roux, Sebastien Chabal (Nailiko, 63).
Subs: Thomas Bianchin, Eddy Ben Arous, Juan-Pablo Orlandi, Jone Qovu Naililko, Sebastien Descons, Virimi Vakatawa, Antoine Battut, Remi Vaquin.
Referee: John Lacey (Irl)
Att: 5067
