Sandy Park swagger shows Leinster can claim fourth European Cup
The staff and supporters couldn’t have been more welcoming or helpful to those attending the game against Leinster and it was clear just how proud the entire Devon county is of the remarkable achievements of the club over the last decade.
It was equally clear from the minute we arrived that this was much more than just another Champions Cup outing for the hosts and their passionate followers.
With a first Premiership title tucked away in the trophy cabinet, this crowd has its sights on European success. That impressive win away to Montpellier at the Altrad Stadium in round two served to lift expectation levels even higher and given Leinster’s status in Europe, one got the distinct impression they were targeting Sunday’s contest to announce their title ambitions to a wider European audience.
The fact a club proudly displaying three European stars on their shirt and competing in a 153rd European cup game — it was Exeter’s 28th — were coming to town provided the perfect benchmark from which to measure their progress. With so many players away on Irish duty for over a month, there was a danger that Leinster entered this game slightly undercooked and therefore vulnerable.
It’s a source of annoyance to the passionate Chiefs following that only three of their squad were involved with England over the November international window. A number of their players on the verge of Eddie Jones’s squad were ready to promote their individual cases against a side with seven Lions and 20 internationals in their matchday squad.
Having beaten the likes of reigning Champions Cup holders Saracens in the Premiership semi-final last season, this Exeter squad felt capable of coping with anything Leinster might throw at them.
But all that changed within 20 minutes of the kick-off.
Given their limited preparations, the manner in which Leinster controlled the opening quarter left Exeter shell-shocked. But for two disallowed tries, Leinster could have been out of sight. The accuracy of Johnny Sexton’s kick passing and the hang time achieved on his garryowen’s exposed the hosts in a way no visiting Premiership side had managed for some time.
Leinster announced themselves as serious title contenders again and, with a decent draw, look capable of emulating the glory days under Michael Cheika and Joe Schmidt. The quality of their scrum, with Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy and Jack McGrath at their disruptive best, offers a great starting point, especially on the road.
There is nothing as reassuring for a visiting team than the sight of the opposition scrum being mangled in front of their home crowd. The fact their promising England tight-head prop Harry Williams was forced to take the walk of shame — a yellow card for persistent dropping of the scrum having been squeezed to death by Healy after only 16 minutes — sent a clear message to all and sundry.
As Williams sat distraught on the naughty boys stool, his dream of a Six Nations debut already receding, Jack McGrath jogged past with the rest of the Leinster bench, sending a withering look as he did. The message from a player who bagged game time for the Lions in all three Tests in New Zealand was clear: If you think things are bad now, wait until I get a hold of you.
In many respects, it summed up the difference between the two sides.
Everywhere you turned, Leinster had a blend of proven international quality mixed with younger capped players already on their way towards forging significant careers.
Undoubtedly, Exeter will be better for this experience but the mutterings from their loyal band of supporters in the clubhouse after struck a sombre note. They might have conquered England but their European ambitions have a journey to travel just yet.
Two clubs which have already scaled the European heights, but hanker for a return to those halcyon days, clashed in Thomond Park with Munster looking far sharper and more convincing than Leicester.
For a club steeped in the history of the English game, with a massive following and a serious tradition, the Tigers’ fall from grace in recent times has been surprising.
Within the space of 12 months, they have conceded 71 points and eight tries on two visits to Limerick. Their pack looks toothless and one can fully understand how their tight-head prop Dan Coles is the only Tiger anywhere near the starting England pack. A decade ago they owned that sector of the field.
Their pedigree demands a reaction for the return leg next Sunday, just as there was last year, but Munster will be expecting that and, hopefully, in a better position to cope with it. The fact Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua could make a badly needed return to the Tigers midfield is sure to add to their attacking prowess but their impact will be very much dependent on getting quality ball.
For that to happen their forwards need to show a dramatic improvement. How ironic to hear Matt O’Connor complain bitterly after the game about Munster being cynical at the breakdown with impunity from referee Jerome Garces.
This coming from Leicester! The likes of Neil Back, Lewis Moody, and Martin Corry set that template for many Leicester victories over the years. Assessing the interpretation of the officials in the contact area and dominating that key facet of play was always key to that success. It is what all effective back rowers do. Think Richie McCaw.
He sized up a referee in the opening period of every game and worked out exactly what he could and couldn’t get away with. That is exactly what Munster’s excellent trio of Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander, and Chris Cloete did last Saturday. Cloete is a little pocket battleship, in the mould of the great Wallaby flanker David Pocock, and is equally difficult to shift once he gets his hands on the opposition ball. He looks a really good signing, hopefully a lasting legacy of the Erasmus era.
When the opposition are complaining, you know you have them on the run but Leicester will be better at home and will come after Munster up front where they are duty-bound to bring more physicality. There is always an added edge to the second of these back-to-back games and this one won’t be any different.
After a whitewash for all the Aviva Premiership sides in Europe and a clean sweep for Munster, Leinster, and Ulster over English opposition last weekend, they will be waiting in the long grass for us.
As the only Irish side on the road this time out, Munster are probably the most vulnerable of the three. Having lost both December clashes at Welford Road over the last two years, Munster must set the record straight and make it third time lucky.
