Leinster set up ‘Battle of Ireland’
Munster’s lead at the top of the Magners League is still intact after an impressive bonus-point win over Glasgow on Friday, but Leinster matched that feat with a thrilling victory at the RDS last night, a try deep into injury time ensuring they go to Limerick still just three points adrift at the top.
Leinster will go into Saturday’s game conscious that the Australian back rower Rocky Elsom is the one that could possibly define the province’s immediate future.
He was easily man of the match last night as Leinster huffed and puffed a bit before finally grabbing four second half tries to emphasise a superiority that was evident for much of the game.
It is no secret that Leinster will try to hold on to him for another season, equally as much as the Australian Rugby Union bid to woo him back.
Leinster’s success over a combative Ulster side keeps them in line to retain the title they won last season, knowing that the Grand Slam high rollers are ready to return in time for Saturday’s eagerly awaited tie.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika is, however, worried about the fitness of CJ van der Linde. The South African has a toe injury that is causing concern, so much so that he spent just five minutes on the pitch last night before being withdrawn again.
But he has other things on his mind, like the defeat inflicted on his side by Munster earlier this season. “We’re very hurt from the match up here; we’re aware of what is needed to beat them, but it’s another thing as to whether we can do it,” said Cheika.
Perhaps it was down to the timing of a late afternoon Sunday kick off, but, from an attendance point of view, the game attracted one of smallest crowds of a very successful season at the RDS. The Leinster Branch sold close on 16,000 tickets, but not as many turned up; not even to see the Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll and three non-playing Leinster colleagues Jamie Heaslip, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney make a cameo appearance before the start, with the Six Nations trophy and Triple Crown. !
The first chance fell to Leinster, but Felipe Contepomi slotted his 40-metre penalty attempt to the right and wide. Try-scoring opportunities were at a premium, but one marvellous Paddy Wallace break almost carved out a crucial opening for the visitors on 12 minutes.
That, and subsequent pressure provided Ian Humphreys with a penalty opportunity that, like Contepomi, he scorned, before Contepomi got it right at the second attempt midway through the half to kick Leinster into the lead.
Ulster drew level when Humphreys was afforded a second penalty opportunity in the 32nd minute. Contepomi did spark a Leinster response by running some fine lines out of defence; eventually his side did enough to merit a second penalty and the out-half duly added the points to secure a 6-3 lead that his side just about deserved, if only because Ulster contributed to their own downfall with so many mistakes.
The try scoring duck was broken early in the second half when Gordon D’Arcy split the Ulster defence from deep inside his own half and sent Fergus McFadden away to score in the left-hand corner, with Contepomi stretching the lead out to 10 points with the conversion.
It got better when Leo Cullen put the finishing touches to a try that was remarkably well orchestrated, the captain finishing well but merely putting the cap on a brilliant movement involving eight players.
The try was well deserved but the scoreline of 18-3 probably didn’t reflect the way the game panned out.
Still, the ambition of a team can be fuelled by success and Leinster began to get the favourable bounce of the ball that they didn’t have in the early stages.
Yet, Clinton Schifcofske pulled back three points for Ulster with a 63rd minute penalty; for a while they had some hope of hauling themselves back into the match and a clean break by Paddy Wallace almost gave them the score they desperately needed.
Instead, though, the move broke down and Isa Nacewa broke away, fed Shane Horgan and the winger compounded Ulster ‘s problems by sending Elsom in for a try at the corner, one that Contepomi converted brilliantly for a 25-6 lead.
Leinster, within sight of a bonus point win, went for the jugular and they struck just in time. Elsom and Whitaker combined before substitute Simon Keogh scorched in for a try that Contepomi converted.
Leinster scorers: Tries: McFadden, Cullen, Elsom, S. Keogh. Cons: Contepomi 3. Pens: Contepomi 2.
Ulster scorers: Pens: Humphreys, Schifcofske.
LEINSTER: G. Dempsey, S. Horgan, F. McFadden, G. D’Arcy, I. Nacewa, F. Contepomi, C. Whitaker, C. Healy, B. Jackman, S. Wright, L. Cullen (captain); M. O’Kelly, C. Jowitt, R. Elsom, S. Jennings.
Replacements: J. Sexton for McFadden, S. O’Brien for Jowitt, van der Linde for Wright (all52), Wright for van der Linde (59), T. Hogan for O’Kelly (61), S. Keogh for D’Arcy, d. Toner for Jennings (both 74).
ULSTER: C. Schifcofske, A. Trimble, D. Cave, P. Wallace, S. Danielli, I. Humphreys, I. Boss, T. Court, R. Best (captain); B. Botha, E. O’Donoghue, R. Caldwell, M. McCullough, C. Henry, D. Pollock.
Replacements: I. Whitten for Humphreys (58), C Del Fava for O’Donohue (60), C. Willis for Boss (66), T Nagusa for Cave (73), N. Brady for Best (73).
Referee: C. Demascos (Italy).
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