RUGBY ROUND UP
Leinster’s long PRO12 unbeaten run finally over
By Daire Walsh
LEINSTER will face the Scarlets in the semi-final of the Guinness PRO12 at the RDS on May 19, after their winning run in the competition came to an end against Ulster at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday evening.
This was the first time that Leo Cullen’s outfit have tested defeat since 26 December, when Munster got the better of their arch rivals at Thomond Park. Indeed, following a comfortable success for the southern province over Connacht in their final game of the regular season, Leinster finished in second position after 22 games – which means they have been paired with third-place Scarlets in the upcoming play-offs.
Cullen had announced wholesale changes from their victory against Glasgow Warriors eight days earlier, and there was no fewer than four Kildare natives named in the starting line-up. Adam Byrne (Kill) and Fergus McFadden (Suncroft) joined club captain Isa Nacewa in the back-three, while Athy’s Joey Carbery was selected at out-half alongside Luke McGrath.
James Tracy (who also hails from Kill) was given a chance to impress in the Blues’ front-row, but this game was generally focused around the swansong of two Ulster rugby stalwarts. South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar will be transferring to Top 14 side Montpellier, while Roger Wilson is retiring after a distinguished playing career that also included a memorable spell with Northampton Saints.
Indeed, despite falling behind to an early penalty from Carbery, Wilson crashed over the Leinster whitewash for a converted try in the ninth-minute.
Carbery added to his personal tally with another successful place-kick in the second-quarter, before a Paddy Jackson three-pointer on the stroke of half-time helped Ulster to develop a 10-6 cushion.
This kept alive Ulster’s slender hopes for a top-four spot, and they extended their lead after the restart. Stand-in skipper Andrew Trimble gathered a superb crossfield kick from Pienaar, and touched down with consummate ease on the right-flank.
An outstanding Jackson conversion enhanced the home team’s advantage, and even though Carbery added the bonuses to a final-quarter penalty try, Ulster held out for a 17-13 triumph. Leinster are still expected to be favourites heading into their semi-final encounter with Scarlets (who feature Eadestown’s Tadhg Beirne amongst their ranks), but they will keen to improve on their overall display in Belfast.
Kildare duo Craig Ronaldson and James Connolly were in the Connacht starting line-up against Munster in Thomond Park, but it proved to be a day to forget for Pat Lam’s men. Ronaldson provided conversions to tries from Cian Kelleher and Nualia Dawai, but after suffering an emphatic 50-14 reversal, Connacht are expected to face Northampton in a Champions Cup play-off.
Meanwhile, there was good news for Naas natives Fionn Carr and Billy Dardis last Thursday, as they were named in the Ireland Sevens training squad ahead of the upcoming Rugby Europe Grand Prix, where they will face Wales, Germany and Georgia in a tricky pool in Moscow.