Leinster stand up to scrutiny
With neighbours Munster and Leinster securing passage tothe last eight of the Heineken Cup and Ulster also giving themselves a fighting chance or progression with thatmagnificent performance against Leicester Tigers, the westerners once again found themselves out in the cold despite performing valiantly in defeat in Toulouse. Many a side have gone tothe Stade Ernest Wallon and finished with far less to show for their efforts.
Leinster look odds on fora home quarter-final asMontpellier, with nothing to play for, next up at the RDS on Saturday. Munster, on 20 points, require a minimum of a losing bonus point against a rejuvenated Northampton on Saturday, and even that may not besufficient to secure a home draw because of their lack of tries.
There are a number of sides who could also finish on 21 points so Munster have to chase a win in Milton Keynes.Problem is, they are finding it difficult to convert pressure into points and that could come back to haunt them.
Leinster have had no such difficulty this season in keeping the scoreboard ticking over but were presented with a challenge of a different kind in Firhill yesterday. There are days when you can attempt to play too much rugby and given the dogged defensive approach of Glasgow in the opening half the visitors had to make tacticaladjustments at the break. They did well to emerge with a win when a draw seemed the likely outcome but they were facilitated by a dreadful decision from young Stuart Hogg who butchered a three-on-oneoverlap with minutes remaining.
Should Leinster go on and become only the second side in the tournament’s history toretain the Heineken Cup, you feel the character they showed in adversity in Glasgow could prove the key moment of their season. Glasgow were seething with the manner with which they were unceremoniously battered in the RDS and were primed for revenge. If everLeinster were going to be set up for an ambush then it washere on a soccer pitch which is several metres shorter and narrower than their home patch in Dublin. It took them a long time to adjust but adjust they did.
Full marks to Joe Schmidt — his use of the bench in the final quarter was crucial to the outcome of this dog fight. When Glasgow’s reserve scrum half Colin Gregor scored in the corner and Duncan Weir converted from the touch line to draw the side’s level with 17 minutes remaining, Leinster’s will-to-win was put to the ultimate test. Their response,a try within six minutes, demonstrated exactly why they are a champion side.
Despite that score Leinster were still left fighting for their lives at the death, but, as always, their defensive work was first class. In addition to Isaac Boss, the introduction of Heinke Van Der Merwe and Damien Browne in that final quarter was key. Browne’s bulk in the second row was especially welcome when Leinster were left to defend two five metre scrums with only seven forwards after Sean O’Brien saw yellow in the closing minutes.
This is the type of examination that reigning champions in any sport have to endure when playing away from home. There was also evidence to suggest that Glasgow coach Sean Lineen took a lead from the Welshtactical approach from the World Cup quarter-final against Ireland and double-teamed in the tackle to halt O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip. The net result was that they were offered little or no space to operate.
It also suited the Glasgow approach that the game was full of stoppages, which never gave Leinster the opportunity to play at the pace and intensity to showcase their offloading game. It didn’t help matters either when Jonny Sexton went over on his ankle before the break. This necessitated a change in place kicker and here Leinster were fortunate to have such reliable back-up in Fergus McFadden who landed three from three to retain Leinster’s advantage.
Schmidt has every reason to be thankful for the efforts of some of his younger troops, in particular Devin Toner, who had an excellent game yielding nothing to the highly-rated Richie Gray in the second row and to Seán Cronin who was dynamic in everything he did.
Boss also had a major impact with his strength and abrasiveness proving vital in delivering a crucial win that hung in the balance, right to the final whistle.
ON the day when ColmTucker was laid to resthow fitting it was that his memory and contribution to Munster rugby should be marked, along with the late Jim Kiernan, with a minute’s silence which was impeccably observed in his beloved Thomond Park. Munster went on to win a contest where they never looked entirely comfortable and were made to fight much harder than should have been the case.
Castres signalled their intentions before the kick-off when they decided to leave many of their big guns, including internationals Chris Masoe, Max Evans, Luc Dulcalcon and their most prolific points scorer Romain Teulet at home. Yet Munster struggled to put them away, the game still in the balance until Wian du Preez touched down with 12 minutes remaining. This was a strangely subdued Munster performance, when one considers the prize on offer for a win. The failure to register a score during the 10 minutes that Castres scrum-half Thierry Lacrampe spent in the sin bin highlighted a lack of scoring power that has been a concern all season. Once again the scrum proved the main source of inspiration and yielded a plethora of vital penalties while Paul O’Connell produced yet another incredible performance. The loss of Niall Ronan for the second week in-a-row with an injury to the same knee must also be a source of concern to the management, given the attrition levels suffered in the back row already. Despite that it is difficult to argue with results and Munster are the only side in this season’s Heineken Cup with a flawless record. They have mastered the art of just doing enough. What others would give for that.
