Connacht vs Leinster

It’s becoming a familiar theme this season with Leinster. A theme that is not something that you would normally associate with the Pro 12 and Challenge Cup Holders: Winning Ugly. The visiting side won a hard fought game 8-16 having gone in at the half time break 8-3 down. A Gordon D’Arcy try and the boot of replacement out half Jimmy Gopperth eventually getting Leinster over the line. Whilst the conditions weren’t ideal, they weren’t as bad as they have often been at the Sportsground so for the team continue to make the handling errors that have typified their season so far was a frustrating sight to see.

The first 20 mins of the game saw both sides trying to play for territory and capitalise on any mistakes made by the defending sides. As a result, there was a lot of kicking for both sets of supporters to endure. When the teams did try and run the ball and put together some phases, errors such as forward passes, knock on’s and leaving the man in possession isolated killed any momentum. During this period, Ian Madigan did miss a shot at goal from straight in front of the posts but from about 50m out.

It took until the midway point of the first half for the first score of the game to arrive. From a secure maul, Eoin Reddan sent up a box kick that was well won by Connacht winger Matt Healy. From there the home side were able to secure quick ruck ball and scrum half Kieron Marmion fed the ball out to his centres. Brian O’Driscoll tried to rush up and shut down the potential attack but failed to get there in time leaving outside centre Robbie Henshaw to skip past a flailing Dave Kearney tackle and sprint clear. Henshaw timed his pass perfectly to winger Fionn Carr whose pace was too much for the attempted cover. A great finish by the home side but it was a huge error on the part of O’Driscoll that presented them with the chance. Young out half Jack Carty was unable to add the extras from the touchline. 5-0 Connacht after 23 mins.

Both sides had the opportunities via difficult penalty attempts and it was Leinster who managed to reduce the gap. A Madigan penalty had bounced off the crossbar and into the arms of tight head Nathan White. White kicked the ball straight into the arms of Rob Kearney and from there; the visitors launched an attack into the Connacht ’22. Eventually Leinster earned a lineout 10m from the Connacht line. As Leinster tried to set up a catch and drive attempt, blindside flanker Andrew Browne was penalised by referee George Clancy for entering the maul from the side. Considering the area of the field where the offence took place, Browne was lucky not to receive a warning from the official. Madigan nailed the kick to reduce Leinster’s arrears. 5-3 Connacht after 36 mins.

The final score of the first half went to the home side, deservedly so as they had shown the most attacking endeavour throughout the first 40 mins. The nature of the score however was difficult to understand. Leinster had made a mess of clearing their lines and Connacht turned them over. When Connacht set up a ruck at the next phase in play, Referee Clancy declared that the ball was out. Tom Denton then dived on the ball, going over a couple of players to do so. Clancy proceeded to penalise Denton for going off his feet at the ruck, a ruck he had just declared over. Carty didn’t care how the penalty came about and restored Connacht’s 5 point lead at Half Time. 8-3 Connacht after 40 mins.

Leinster made some changes just after the break which seemed to increase their physicality and began to overpower the home side at scrums and ruck time. Mike Ross, on for Martin Moore, got a good shove on a Leinster scrum giving Heaslip some space to pick up from the base. Second row Mick Kearney, in his eagerness to shut down Leinster’s attacking opportunity never got back into an onside position from the scrum. This left Clancy with no option but to award the penalty. Another replacement, Jimmy Gopperth, made no mistake from 30m out and once again the deficit was down to 2 pts. 8-6 Connacht after 57 mins.

Leinster turned up the pressure at the next scrum and managed to exert more pressure on the Connacht pack which enabled them to give Heaslip the platform he needed to make a significant carry. Heaslip showed good control at the base of the scrum and managed to slip through 2 tackles before being put to ground by Robbie Henshaw. Henshaw, having made the tackle, failed to roll away and was duly penalised for it. Gopperth made the most of his opportunity and Leinster took the lead for the first time in the match. 9-8 Leinster after 63 mins.

Having survived a missed Dan Parks penalty (given for a let tackle and shoulder charge by Jamie Heaslip for which, in the eyes of many, he was lucky to avoid a yellow card) Leinster put the game to bed with 8 mins to go. Having won a penalty and kicked up the line, the Leinster pack launched the most effective maul of the match, tying up the Connacht defenders. Effective carries from Jordi Murphy and Heaslip enabled the visitors to get within 6m or so of the Connacht line. Isaac Boss sped the ball out to Jimmy Gopperth who attacked the inside shoulder of the defender and managed to offload to D’Arcy who went over untouched underneath the posts. The try was referred back to the TMO Jude Quinn who ruled that there was no clear and obvious forward pass and the try should be awarded. It was a 50/50 call and had it been ruled out the travelling fans couldn’t have complained. However, the try was awarded and Gopperth added the extras to ensure the win. 16-8 Leinster after 72 mins.

So, it was a tough win on the road for Leinster. I’m sure Matt O’Connor would happily settle for the same in Castres next week.