O'Meara rescues Leinster

Leinster Lions 20 Cardiff Blues 17

They somehow eked out victory over the unrated Cardiff Blues in front of a 23,460 crowd, a record for the pool stages of the competition, but were mighty fortunate to do so.

Fourteen points ahead after 30 minutes they took their foot off the pedal to such an extent that Cardiff were able to draw level by half time, come within inches of at least two second half tries before finally going down to the sole score of the second half - a 78th minute penalty by Brian O’Meara.

“Everybody thought this was going to be an easy five pointer for Leinster,” said Cardiff coach Dai Young. “They controlled the first half hour but we got into the game before half time and I felt it could have gone either way in the second half.” To his credit, Leinster captain Reggie Corrigan didn’t disagree: “Other teams might have dropped their heads so give credit to Cardiff. Maybe they were unfortunate in the end not to win.”

Make no mistake, Leinster were a huge disappointment to their supporters, individually and collectively. They can justifiably claim that Eric Miller’s enforced departure on 32 minutes was a blow given how well he was performing but the side as a whole lacked penetration, and nowhere more than in the centre - Brian O’Driscoll’s stomping ground.

At least he was back in light training yesterday and should be back in action in time for Ireland’s Six Nations opener in three weeks.

For Girvan Dempsey, however, it was a night to forget as Shane Horgan also failed to provide the vital cutting thrust in midfield. Out-half Matt Leek, a late replacement for the injured Christian Warner, was way off the pace and only Brian O’Meara and to a lesser extent Brenda Burke of the Leinster backs made a worthwhile impression. Up front, the big men like Victor Costello, Malcolm O’Kelly and Keith Gleeson started well but suffered eventually in the general malaise.

“Perhaps it was the fatigue of a second big game in five days, for this is a hard and demanding competition,” said Corrigan. Coach Gary Ella agreed on that point but otherwise didn’t make any excuses, instead preferring to praise Cardiff and to accept that “our kicking and defence was not good”.

He'll get no argument there, although the odds still favour his side’s prospects of reaching the last eight. They now have 18 points in Pool Three and much will depend on the outcome of tomorrow’s clashes of Biarritz (currently on 11) and Sale (9) at home to Sale. A home win would suit Leinster perfectly!

You can only imagine what Ella had to say to his side at half time. They had looked by far the superior squad side for the most part. They led 17-3 after 32 minutes and yet went in at half time on level pegging at 17 points apiece - and this in spite of being pitted against 14 fourteen Cardiff players for 10 ten minutes after the sin binning for an professional infringement by their most by influential forward, Scott Quinnell.

Leinster had begun at a fierce pace that threatened to sweep the visitors off the Lansdowne Road pitch. Out-half Leek got off to just the kind of start his fragile confidence demanded when finishing off a sparkling movement in which the excellent Eric Miller, Victor Costello, Brendan Burke and Shane Horgan played a crucial part.

A penalty by Cardiff out-half Nick Robinson temporarily interrupted the Leinster flow but four successive penalties by O’Meara saw Leinster cruise into a well deserved 17-3 lead.

With Quinnell in the bin, they might well have improved on that advantage. Instead, it was Cardiff who took up the running. A quickly taken penalty by skipper Martyn Williams put Jim Brownrigg over between the posts. Quinnell then signalled his return to the fray four minutes into stoppage time when he steam rolled his way over for a trademark try.

Robinson converted both and, incredibly, Cardiff were on terms at the break. They Cardiff were within inches of a third try seconds after the restart when Shane Horgan just managed to pull Tom Shanklin back by his jersey as he broke clean through in front of the posts.

However, it wasn’t the only time the Welshmen were unlucky not to make the breakthrough. Lansdowne Road was certainly silenced in the 70th minute when Rhys Williams threw away a gilt edged chance when he lost possession as he dived to score at the sticks. In the end, though, Leinster were saved two minutes from time when O’Meara held his nerve for the deciding to kick the decisive points.

LEINSTER LIONS: - G. Dempsey; J. McWeeney, G. D'Arcy, S. Horgan, B. Burke; M. Leek, B. O'Meara; R. Corrigan capt, S. Byrne, P. Coyle, M. O'Kelly, B. Gissing, E. Miller, K. Gleeson, V. Costello. Replacements, A. McCullen for Miller, 32 mins.

CARDIFF BLUES: R. Williams; N. Walne, J. Robinson, T. Shanklin, C. Morgan; N. Robinson, R. Powell; J. Yapp, G. Williams, B. Evans, C. Quinnell, A Moore, J. Brownrigg, M. Williams capt, N. Thomas.

Referee: T. Spreadbury (England).