Leinster limping but there’s more in them
Despite another less-than-spectacular performance, Leinster find themselves in another European semi-final, their eighth in the continent’s premier competition.
It proved a disappointing weekend for the Aviva Premiership overall with three of their four representatives biting the dust. Leinster not only carry Irish interests but also that of the Guinness Pro12 as they challenge for a coveted fourth European gold star on their famous blue jersey.
Saracens fly the flag for England after an incredibly fortunate win over Racing Metro. Johnny Sexton’s side shot themselves in the foot by giving away a penalty in the last play of the game. You could see it coming. In a repeat of last season’s semi-final, Sarries now meet Clermont- Auvergne once again.
Clermont’s 37-5 annihilation of Aviva Premiership holders Northampton once again begs the question what is wrong with the French national team? They were absolutely superb and right now appear in pole position to finally land a first ever European Cup.
As anticipated, Toulon filled the final semi-final slot when they accounted for Wasps at Stade Felix Mayol but they were less than convincing in accounting for their English foes. That offers Leinster hope, even if they appear to have a lot to work on before that clash in Marseille on April 19.
Leinster’s greater craft, experience and understanding of what is required when it comes to the knockout stage of tournament rugby made all the difference against Bath in a contest that was still in the balance right up to the final whistle. Even then, the outcome was shrouded in controversy, with both sides laying claim to a penalty in the game’s last play. Bath were furious it went Leinster’s way as the possibility of extending the game into extra-time was denied them.
French referee Jerome Garces has often been the source of controversy with Irish sides involved but with a penalty count of 12-4 in Leinster’s favour, nobody in the home camp was throwing any menacing glances his way on Saturday evening.
Saturday’s quarter-final in Dublin was Leinster’s 19th knockout game spread across the Pro12, Heineken, Amlin and Champions Cup over the last four seasons. The fact that they had won 15 of those contests ahead of the weekend shows their understanding of what is required on occasions such as this.
By way of contrast, Bath lacked the game appreciation, smarts and discipline required to prosper in the cauldron of cup rugby. In addition, their normally reliable handling skills let them down. While they are entitled to feel somewhat aggrieved, given that they outscored Leinster by two tries to nil, knockout rugby is not about how you score your points, just about how many you score over 80 minutes.
The fact that Bath were only three in arrears at the final whistle will really disappoint the English high flyers but their discipline was appalling, with eight penalties conceded coupled with a crucial yellow card over the opening 40 minutes alone.
Leinster were so much smarter at the breakdown and also extracted the maximum return from their six international front-row forwards at scrum time. With their two English tight-head props in David Wilson and Henry Thomas out injured, Leinster identified a potential point of weakness and exposed it to the full. Half of Leinster’s total points haul resulted directly from scrum infringements, with Ian Madigan exacting maximum return from the boot.
Given the way the game unfolded, Bath have every reason to suspect that had their scrum stood up in the manner it did with Wilson and Thomas on board for away wins at Toulouse and Montpellier in the pool stage, they may well have prevailed in this one. Leinster have made a habit of winning ugly this season and it was strange but not surprising to hear the whispers of dissatisfaction that resonated from all corners of the stadium after the game.
Despite making the last four in Europe and remaining in contention to do likewise in the Pro 12, the Leinster fans are not happy. Yet their side is still very much alive, even if they face a daunting task in a repeat of last season’s quarter-final exit against the treble-seeking holders.
The gloss of invincibility Leinster had begun to enjoy when playing at the Aviva Stadium has faded ever since Clermont Auvergne did a number on Joe Schmidt’s side in 2012. Since then Northampton and Munster helped puncture that aura while even Aviva Premiership strugglers Harlequins were decidedly unfortunate to lose by a single point there last January.
The atmosphere in the stadium was strangely subdued right from the off and Leinster appeared influenced by their surroundings and were distinctly off the pace in the opening exchanges. They needed to make an early statement of intent as the home side but if anything it was Bath who looked more comfortable.
The visitors’ full back Anthony Watson, who was superb after seven weeks playing on the wing for England, was afforded far too much latitude to field Jimmy Gopperth’s opening bomb as Leinster’s kick chase lacked urgency.
Bath were full of attacking intent and in Watson, Kyle Eastmond and George Ford, they had brilliant broken field runners. At the height of their powers Leinster were famed for the quality of their attacking game but were equally competent in carrying out their defensive duties.
That defensive solidity is becoming a distant memory with Leinster missing an astonishing 14 tackles alone in the opening half for a very poor tackle completion rate of 66%. They missed 12 more after the break. That failing has to be addressed before the Toulon examination.
Ford’s opening try was facilitated by three poor missed tackles while his effort in putting his captain Stuart Hooper in for Bath’s second try after the break highlighted again, just like Glasgow did the previous week, that Leinster are being opened up far too easily.
Leinster’s forwards, however, carried the day with the superior set piece and better ruck efficiency. Jordi Murphy and Jamie Heaslip were superb on the deck but Sean O’Brien was strangely subdued after his heroics in Murrayfield and was less influential than his opposite number, the outstanding Springbok Francois Louw.
Sean Cronin was Leinster’s best forward. Some of his lines of running were sublime and he is fast closing the gap on Rory Best as the country’s number one hooker.
Leinster’s decision to switch this quarter final clash from their regular home at the nearby RDS was certainly justified on a financial basis but from a tactical perspective you have to wonder.
For once the fast track on offer at Lansdowne Road was better suited to the visitors than the hosts.
With 14 players who saw game time for Ireland in the Six Nations championship, the pressure was on Leinster to perform.
When you consider that one of Ireland’s most effective players in last season’s championship-winning side (Dave Kearney) failed to make the match day squad this time out, you realise that this was Leinster’s strongest starting side of the season.
Unfortunately the cohesion of old is still missing and Leinster kick away far too much possession.
That enabled Bath to outscore Leinster 10-3 in the second half and vast improvement is required if they are to conquer Europe once again.
That said, with the undoubted quality and winning experience Leinster have accumulated over the years, you feel there must be one big performance in them.
If they want to win silverware this season then it had better come soon.
