Defiance? Belligerence? This time, they belonged to Leinster

WITHOUT question, Leinster’s finest hour.

To beat the reigning champions of Europe at any stage of a tournament is especially pleasing. To do so against your greatest rival, in front of a world record crowd, defying all the odds, makes this win even sweeter.

For some time now Leinster have had to live in the shadow of big brother Munster but on Saturday emerged from the darkness with a display of passion, commitment, skill and quality that has erased all the pain of the professional era for the boys in blue.

Having failed at this penultimate stage on three previous occasions, Leinster now march onwards to Edinburgh in less than three weeks time for a first-ever Heineken Cup final.

They will meet tournament specialists and twice winners Leicester Tigers after a pulsating semi final that was ultimately decided after extra time by a first-ever tournament penalty shoot out. What drama.

Inspired by the memory of that 30-6 defeat in Lansdowne Road at the penultimate stage three years ago, Leinster were the ones who brought a cause to Croker. They simply refused to yield. For a variety of reasons, there was far more pressure on Munster going into this contest.

With seven Lions on display, their renowned winning mentality being showcased to the rugby world and identified as the cornerstone for the forthcoming Lions tour to South Africa, it all proved a bridge too far. Leinster sensed the opportunity and seized the moment.

Inspired by the indomitable Rocky Elsom and an impregnable midfield presence, they drew a line in the sand from the early collisions and refused to yield. Against the Ospreys, Munster were offered time and space to display their vast range of skills and off-loading ability against an accommodating opponent. Leinster offered no such invitation. In the modern game, defence wins trophies. In recent encounters, with their try-scoring abilities apparently in cold storage, Leinster relied heavily on their dominance at the breakdown and in the tackle area. In this contest, that belligerence and resolve resulted in Munster failing to score a try for the first time since their defeat to Connacht back in December, and kept them scoreless for the entire second half. It also created several opportunities for Leinster’s livewire attack, producing three excellent tries of their own.

After a proud season for several wearers of the famed red jersey, this was a day they’ll remember for all the wrong reasons. It is a long time since Munster have been so comprehensively beaten in the physical stakes and they could not live with the level of intensity that Leinster brought to the table. Many of their forwards had visited the well on so many occasions this season that there had to come a day when they would be found wanting. Saturday was that moment.

LEINSTER’S character and resolve was tested as early as the 25th minute when Felipe Contepomi was forced to retire injured at a time when Cian Healy was already cooling off in the sin bin. At this juncture, Michael Cheika’s men were in trouble with Munster creating two clear try-scoring opportunities which they failed to convert.

On one such occasion, Rocky Elsom saved a certain try with an all-enveloping tackle on Ian Dowling even if he did do so from an offside position. On another day he may well have seen yellow. He gambled and won. There is no substitute for experience.

The manner in which Leinster faced adversity and conquered the demons of their two previous defeats at the hands of Munster this season is sure to stand to them in Murrayfield.

While Brian O’Driscoll was named man of the match, his centre partner Gordon D’Arcy produced his finest display since returning from a career-threatening injury. With the Irish captain that duo formed a no-go area in midfield and apart from one bit of magic in the opening quarter, succeeded in stifling the best efforts of Lifeimi Mafi and Keith Earls.

The twin peaks in midfield along with an outstanding back row of Elsom, Jamie Heaslip and Shane Jennings also generated countless turnovers. Time and again Leinster held their discipline and patience to deny Munster.

The hallmark of Munster’s play all season has been their clinical execution when try-scoring opportunities presented themselves. When Leinster survived the sin binning of Healy with a score of 3-3 in his absence, the psychological benefit that accrued was invaluable.

The fact that Jonathan Sexton, on as a replacement for Contepomi who had started brightly, converted a penalty goal with his very first contribution also helped to settle a burgeoning talent that has been afforded little game time in recent months. When the opportunity arose in the most demanding cauldron of all, Sexton grabbed the moment with both hands and feet. One crossfield kick for the outstanding Luke Fitzgerald which almost produced a five pointer showed that he would not be overawed by the magnitude of the occasion.

At times in the opening period, Munster were trying to be too clever. The offloads that stuck all day against the Ospreys were just not happening due to the pressure Leinster were exerting. The sight of Ronan O’Gara gesticulating towards the pack, attempting to lift his colleagues up front after only 20 minutes, was a worrying sight.

In many ways this was a strange game. Leinster managed to survive a dodgy lineout, losing three consecutive throws at one stage in the opening half enabling Munster to clear their lines.

Despite trailing by only five points at the break, Munster looked vulnerable for the first time since their Christmas brain freeze against Ulster and Connacht. How significant is it that their three worst performances of the season have all come against Irish opposition? In fact apart from our neighbours, Clermont Auvergne are the only team in Europe to defeat Munster in competitive fare this season.

All year Munster targeted the opening 10 minutes of the second half as the time to lift their intensity and punish the opposition. Leinster knew exactly what to expect and if anything reversed the trend. When Fitzgerald finished off an outstanding piece of attacking play four minutes after the break with a moment of brilliance this contest was all but over. Despite being a manageable 12 points in arrears, Munster were left facing a challenge that on the day was beyond even their remarkable capabilities. Even with 70% possession and the majority of field position in that second half they failed to register a single point.

In the old days of Irish rugby back in the early 1980s when Ireland were delivering Triple Crowns and championships, Molly Malone was the signature tune that accompanied many memorable days in Lansdowne Road. On this occasion it was reserved for an outstanding Leinster side that defied all the odds and proved once again that in sport the only certainty is that anything is possible.

Munster have given us so much to be proud of for so many years that they have no apologies to make. If nothing else, once again, they have found a cause. They will be back.