Young guns send Leinster top

LEINSTER’S young guns steered them back to the top of the Magners League table and now they have a four-point lead over champions Munster with a game in hand.

It proved a great night for Michael Cheika’s side, ending a five month wait for a win on the road in the league as only one other side in the top five managed a victory.

Edinburgh’s unexpected bonus point triumph over former leaders Ospreys at Murrayfield briefly took them to the top of the table, but that result merely set-up Shane Jennings and his men for their assault.

While home coach Dai Young was pulling out his hair, Cheika was quietly chuckling to himself after seeing the gamble of playing rookie centres Fergus McFadden and Eoin O’Malley against former All Black Casey Laulala and double Welsh Grand Slammer Tom Shanklin paying off so well.

Not only that, Ireland U20 star Andrew Conway never looked out of his depth on the wing and Kevin McLaughlin was a tower of strength in the back row. McFadden scored all his side’s first-half points, including the opening try, and his 19 points turned him into a match-winner. Not to be outdone, 21-year-old O’Malley, starting only his second Magners League match, made a massive contribution as well, paving the way for Bernard Jackman’s vital try.

The impressive Shaun Berne made the most of the home side’s first blunder as he snapped up a loose pass near half-way before sending Isa Nacewa racing up the left wing to launch a dashing raid that ended with Devin Toner being held up on the line.

At the following scrum the Blues were penalised, Berne kicked for the line out and, after two drives from the pack, the Aussie outside half sent McFadden over at the posts.

The centre, who enjoyed a fine afternoon and ended with 16 points, added the conversion and then a penalty. The Blues responded with a try out wide for prop Gary Powell, and the home revival continued after another McFadden penalty when back row man Sam Warburton dived over for a try which Ben Blair converted.

That cut the gap to a single point but, on the stroke of half-time, the Blues coughed up another penalty to give McFadden another shot at goal that allowed him to send Leinster into the break four points to the good.

The Blues took just 47 seconds to respond after the break with a try in the left corner by wing Chris Czekaj that gave them the lead for the first time. Yet, with a win and a bonus point beckoning, it took them another 38 minutes to add to their score as Leinster showed off their defensive prowess. O’Malley’s midfield break that paved the way for Jackman’s 25 metre sprint to the posts put Leinster back in front after 49 minutes and McFadden’s conversion gave his side a six-point lead.

After that, a Berne drop goal and fourth McFadden penalty not only condemned the Blues to their eighth defeat of the campaign, but also stripped them of a losing bonus points. What a topsy-turvy weekend it was in the Magners League with Leinster being the third team to top the table yesterday. A play-off place beckons and now Cheika and his coaching team can possibly start planning for a home draw with a top two finish.

Blues scorers: Tries: G Powell, S Warburton, C Czekaj; Con: B Blair; Pen: C Sweeney

Leinster: Try: F McFadden, B Jackman; Cons: F McFadden 2; Pens: F McFadden 4

CARDIFF BLUES: B Blair (S Norton-Knight 64); T James, C Laulala, T Shanklin, C Czekaj; C Sweeney, G Cooper (L Williams 54); T Filise, TR Thomas (H Dowden 27-32, 64-67), G Powell (S Andrews 72), S Morgan (A Pretorius 64), P Tito (capt), M Molitika, S Warburton (A Powell 54), X Rush.

Yellow Card: C Sweeney 54

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; A Conway, E O’Malley, F McFadden, I Nacewa; S Berne, E Reddan; S Wright, B Jackman (R Strauss 55), CJ van der Linde (M Ross 60), D Toner, M O’Kelly, K McLaughlin, S Jennings (capt), S Keogh (T Hogan 78).

Yellow card: D Toner 78.

Referee: A Macpherson (SRU).