Ospreys rain on Cheika’s parade

IT was billed as the dream send-off for Leinster coach Michael Cheika but the inspired Ospreys danced all over the script in this inaugural Magners League Grand final at the RDS on Saturday.

Leinster were left to rue a plethora of uncharacteristic handling errors, and their inability to compete in their usual vigorous way against an aggressive Ospreys back row, marshalled superbly by Marty Holah, was crucial.

The psychological hurt was evident in the post-match press conference with Cheika’s hopes of a glorious farewell ruined; but while he and matchday captain Shane Jennings were clearly disappointed, neither had any axe to grind with the result that yielded the Welsh region a fourth trophy in seven years.