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.