True honour in defeat

FOR THE third time in as many years I travelled yesterday to the atmospheric surrounds of the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin in Clermont in the hope rather than expectation of witnessing a Heineken Cup pool win by an Irish province.

On the two previous occasions Munster’s return journey home with a losing bonus point in the bag represented some sort of moral victory such was the quality of performance of the home side.

History repeated itself this time with Leinster emulating the feat of their great rivals, returning home with that all important bonus point. With just five minutes left on the clock it looked as if all their hard work would be in vain as the immaculate Morgan Parra, who up to that point had slotted four kicks from four, straddled over a crucial kick to deny Leinster any crumbs of comfort. He missed and Leo Cullen’s side left with something very tangible to show for what was a heroic and valiant effort.

Leinster, playing their 100th game in the Heineken Cup thus becoming only the fourth side to do so following Toulouse, Munster and Leicester Tigers, had hoped to celebrate that notable landmark with a win in the stadium where they achieved their first ever Heineken Cup victory on French soil back in 2002 when the city was represented by AS Montferrand.

Much has changed since then. The region’s rugby renaissance is now complete with ASM Clermont Auvergne the proud holders of the Bouclier de Brennus, the ultimate symbol of rugby supremacy in French rugby.

Now they seek to expand their horizons with their focus firmly set on conquering Europe. On the evidence of this performance, they may have to wait a little longer.

Hunger is a vital ingredient in any sport and at times Clermont were just too casual for me. At half time with the teams locked together at 10-10, Leinster sprinted to the dressing room with a clear spring in their step, and with good reason. Clermont looked a little bemused; Leinster simply refused to let them play. Like a spoilt child, they sulked a little. Before the game, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt insisted “we will live or die by our first line of defence”.

He need not have worried.

Leinster were truly magnificent and their line speed in defence offered little or no space to a backline that has the ability to rip a side to shreds if given the opportunity.

It was unfortunate in the extreme that the crucial try by the outstanding Anthony Floch in the second-half was facilitated by Gordon D’Arcy falling off his tackle, because he had been superb all afternoon, rising to the challenge in the absence of Brian O’Driscoll.

Right from the off it seemed if the gods were conspiring against Leinster in this one.

Short three Lions in O’Driscoll, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney, the sight of Jamie Heaslip rolling his ankle as early as the third minute seemed ominous and impacted on his effectiveness.

Somehow, despite being severely handicapped, he managed to soldier on until the second minute of the second half when he realised after missing a tackle on Aurelien Rougerie that he couldn’t function any longer.

With Sean O’Brien also in serious trouble — I wonder how much of the game he remembers — Leinster were hanging on.

In the circumstances, O’Brien’s performance was immense as he continuously pilfered ball on the deck, manufacturing a number of crucial turnovers, and carried ball making incredible yardage right throughout the game.

After a somewhat disappointing autumn international series, the Carlow man demonstrated in the most demanding of cauldrons, just how explosive a player he is.

Leinster somehow remained competitive throughout the game because they survived the most crucial test of all in the set piece. The scrum — their downfall in last season’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse — survived without ever excelling and their lineout was competent.

Indeed it showed the willingness of both teams to keep the ball in hand in the opening half, when it took eighteen minutes for the first lineout to take place. When it came to directing the game with the boot, Jonny Sexton was far superior to Brock James whose kicking was awful.

In adversity, Leinster also unveiled a look at what the future holds. Filling the number 13 jersey for Leinster and Ireland is going to prove an impossible task when O’Driscoll finally calls a halt but in his first ever Heineken Cup appearance, young Eoin O’Malley can be justifiably proud of his efforts. He created problems for Clermont all day and has lightning feet. He also fared well in his personal duel against the massive Rougerie who was unrecognisable from the callow figure that operated in midfield for France against Australia only a few weeks ago. He looked class on this occasion.

With D’Arcy, Cullen and Shane Horgan the only survivors from that ground-breaking win in this stadium eight years ago, a new breed of hero emerged in defeat for Leinster yesterday with O’Malley, Fergus McFadden and Dominic Ryan off the bench all making a positive contribution against the reigning French champions.

Things could even have got better for Leinster had Shane Jennings not been pinged by referee Wayne Barnes for a double movement within inches of the line. Indeed Barnes had a fine game, refusing to be intimidated by the constant jeering and cat-calling from the intimidating home crowd.

While the modern breed of Irish professional player balk at the suggestion of honour in defeat, there is such a thing. This is recognised in the professional game with the award of a bonus point. Never was one so richly deserved. The show now moves on to the Aviva Stadium next Saturday against the same opposition where finally we might even witness a full house and a raucous atmosphere that on the evidence of this display Leinster fully deserve.