Leinster dumped out of Heineken Cup

Leinster 13 Leicester 29

Leicester will face Toulouse in the Heineken Cup semi-final later this month after producing a dominant performance to beat top seeds Leinster in Dublin this afternoon.

The Tigers had been left to carry all of English rugby’s Heineken Cup hopes after Toulouse and Stade Francais comprehensively sent Northampton and Newcastle packing in the first two quarter-finals.

And, in the manner that saw them crowned European champions in 2001 and 2002, Leicester responded with an emphatic performance to become the first English side ever to win a Heineken Cup quarter-final on the road.

Ollie Smithand Daryl Gibson scored a try in each half and Andy Goode booted 19 points from four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal as Leicester moved a step closer to a record third European title.

The Tigers had battled into the last eight as runners up in the toughest of all the Heineken Cup pools, while Leinster had become only the fourth side to reach the quarter-finals unbeaten.

It was officially top seeds against eighth seeds today – but Leicester made a mockery of the rankings to set up the thrilling prospect of a home semi-final with Toulouse, possibly at the Walkers Stadium.

The Tigers had been forced into a late but not entirely unexpected change when Julian White, who had aggravated his neck injury during the week, was replaced by veteran prop Darren Morris.

It had made little difference as Leicester bossed the forwards battle with their back row particularly effective and Lewis Moody named man of the match.

Leinster were put under intense and constant pressure in the first half and their devastating back division was nullified as they were forced to play almost exclusively on the back foot.

In many ways, Leinster were fortunate to only concede one try to Smith and trail 16-3 at the interval.

Shane Horgan, the leading try-scorer in the Heineken Cup this season, had returned to the Leinster wing after recovering from a broken hand, but it was his defence that was tested early as Leicester dominated possession and territory right from the kick-off.

Horgan twice had to shackle Leon Lloyd, which he did effectively, as Leicester spread the ball wide, prodding for an opening. Martin Corry, less tentative, burst through the Irish defence and charged 20 yards.

Leicester were building the phases, forcing Leinster to play from inside their own half but they could not work the opening and after 10 minutes of dominance it was left to fly-half Goode, who had already missed one simple penalty, to slot his second attempt and put the Tigers ahead.

Leinster responded by piecing together their first meaningful attack, stretching Leicester after Horgan, Girvan Dempsey and Guy Easterby had combined down the right.

Horgan wasted an overlap with an attempted chip through, but Leinster did make their attacking foray count and fly-half David Holwell, the leading points scorer in the competition, slotted an 18th-minute penalty.

Leinster barely had time to draw breath as Leicester forced them onto the back foot once again. Dempsey produced a try-saving tackle on Sam Vesty and Geordan Murphy was then halted just shy of the line after cutting off the right wing onto Harry Ellis’ pass.

Leicester, quicker to the breakdown and dominant at the set-piece, were decamped deep inside the Leinster 22. Leinster captain Reggie Corrigan was in constant, frustrated dialogue with referee Joel Jutge and twice Leicester kicked penalties to touch.

They failed each time to capitalise on line-outs five metres from the Leinster try line and eventually, with 31 minutes on the clock, Leicester had to accept three points and Goode slotted a second penalty.

From the restart Leinster poured forward but Holwell hit the woodwork with a penalty and finally Leicester, having given Leinster a good working over, scored the try they had been threatening all afternoon.

Leicester attacked the short side from the back of a ruck and Smith sold a simple dummy to glide through the line and score.

Goode converted and two minutes later – after blindside Ciaran Potts had tested referee Jutge’s patience one time too often and was sent to the sin-bin - the Leicester fly-half landed the penalty to open the Tigers a deserved lead at the interval.

Leinster did not concede again while Potts was in the sin-bin and the 22-year-old did not return as Victor Costello was charged with making an impact off the bench.

Gordon D’Arcy, recovered from the hamstring injury that wrecked his Six Nations, slotted into midfield and Leinster, with more ball and better territorial position, looked a more dangerous prospect.

But it did not last. Holwell landed a second penalty but Leicester swarmed forward straight from the restart and Daryl Gibson burst over to open Leicester a 23-6 lead just before the hour.

Leinster still pressed forward but turnovers, dropped balls and wayward passes cost them. With five minutes remaining Horgan used his upper-body strength to stretch over and score a consolation try for Leinster but it was no more than that.