Broader picture looks pretty for Ireland coach
If Joe Schmidt can produce consistency of results like this in the Irish job, the IRFU are on a winner.
One game short of a century of competitive outings at the helm of Leinster, Schmidt has delivered two Heineken Cups, an Amlin Challenge Cup and on Saturday evening the one piece of silverware that had eluded him twice on the last day of the season, the RaboDirect Pro12 title.
His record of 77 wins, three draws and a mere 19 defeats is one that will be very difficult to emulate. At least Schmidt’s successor Matt O’Connor knows what’s expected but at least he can point to the fact that on his last day at the office with the Leicester Tigers, he delivered an Aviva Premiership title. He too knows what winning is all about.
Saturday’s contest was a marvellous advertisement for the Rabo Direct and augurs well for Irish rugby too. If Schmidt was able to detach himself for even a second from his role with Leinster and look at the broader picture as national coach, there was much in this final alone to excite.
Over the course of a pulsating 80 minutes there were smashing contributions from many of the young brigade on the periphery. Leinster had three in Ian Madigan, Devin Toner and Kevin McLaughlin. While Jonny Sexton offered plenty to remind the Leinster followers what they will miss next season, there was a confidence and an assuredness about everything Madigan produced to suggest he has what it takes.
Ulster too have their stars and even the much maligned Paddy Jackson showed he can perform more than just a link role with two searing breaks. One could well have ended in a try but for the illegal intervention of Isa Nacewa who, as a result, spent ten minutes in the bin.
Jackson now needs to be given more responsibility for he will never develop as an international quality out half unless entrusted with running the game. Ulster rely on Ruan Pienaar to do just that from the base of the scrum and who could blame them. When it looked as if the contest had got away from them, Leinster assumed a 13-point lead, you feared for the northerners. Yet, almost single handedly, Pienaar clawed them back into the game with his tactical kicking and accuracy from placed balls.
The drama started before kick-off when Rob Kearney’s hamstring tightened up in the warm-up and was forced to withdraw. This presented another starting opportunity for Andrew Conway and on the evidence of what he produced, not only last Saturday but also in recent weeks, Munster have hit the jackpot signing him.
Ulster were the more tentative side from the off and it didn’t help them settle into the game that they conceded four penalties in-a-row with captain Johann Muller culpable for two. His side fell foul of referee John Lacey and failed to recognise he penalises the tackler for not releasing before contesting possession and it cost them dearly.
Having raced into a ten-point lead in as many minutes, Leinster were in complete control but the Ulster scrum offered hope. The fact Lacey failed to recognise Isaac Boss, who was an inspirational figure for Leinster throughout the game, plucked the ball from the feet of Nick Williams with Ulster in total command of a series of five metre scrums, was an extremely harsh call in my view. The ball was clearly not out of the scrum.
It could well have been a penalty try to Ulster given their dominance in those series of scrums as John Afoa had Cian Healy in all kinds of trouble.
When it comes to defending their line however, nobody does it better than Leinster. One outstanding scramble effort in the corner from the departing Sexton deprived Ulster of a certain score. When he miraculously held up Robbie Diack over the line you felt Ulster couldn’t fail to score.
In the second half when Ulster mounted a spirited comeback that threatened a Leinster defeat in a fourth consecutive final, Brian O’Driscoll led the defensive resistance. He barked the orders, instructing all around him when to push out and when to hit. He was outstanding and put to bed any lingering question marks over his fitness to travel with the Lions.
It was up front however where Leinster laid the foundations for this excellent victory, winning the key battle at the break down. Ulster had their moments with Williams and Chris Henry influential but in Jamie Heaslip and Shane Jennings, Leinster had an abundance of intelligence.
I flagged in the preview that the back row battle could well be decided by brain over brawn and that is exactly what happened. When it came to the heavy hitting McLaughlin was more than capable of providing the grunt and his contribution was such that it made light of the absence of Sean O Brien.
So Leinster continue as the standard bearers in this country with domestic and European honours added to the trophy cabinet. It is up to the others to close the gap.
