RUGBY
Leinster made to work hard but Nacewa’s penalty crowns famous win
By Daire Walsh
NOBODY said it was going to be easy and it certainly wasn’t amidst testing conditions in Bilbao on Saturday. Yet, thanks to the considerable boots of Jonathan Sexton and departing club captain Isa Nacewa, Leinster claimed their fourth European top-tier title with a character-defining 15-12 victory over Racing 92.
With only Nacewa, Sexton, full-back Rob Kearney and towering lock Devin Toner surviving from their first success in 2009 (Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Rhys Ruddock played significant roles in subsequent final triumphs), this win serves as the dawn of a new era within the eastern province.
Only time will tell how far this squad can go in the future months and years, but they may well look back on Saturday’s game as a seminal moment in the development of their careers – at both provincial and international level.
While Fergus McFadden was ruled out of the final through injury, Kildare natives James Tracy (Kill) and Joey Carbery (Athy) were included amongst the replacements by head coach Leo Cullen.
Though the intense nature of the game ensured that Carbery was held in reserve, Tracy’s second half introduction helped Leinster to eventually turn the screw on their Top 14 opponents.
Despite the clamour for an All-Ireland showdown with Munster when the draw for the Champions Cup semi-final was made, the showpiece pairing with Racing caught the attention of Carbery. Dan Carter is the player the former Ardscoil na Trionoide student idolised in his formative years and the All Blacks legend was also named on the bench for the Parisienne outfit.
However, owing to a hamstring complaint, he was replaced by Remi Tales at the 11th hour. Racing’s injury problems continued in the opening moments of the contest, as fly-half Pat Lambie was forced out of the action.
Tales was thrown in at the deep end as a result, but Teddy Iribaren stepped forward to kick Racing into the lead. Although it was difficult for Leinster to develop an attacking rhythm, Sexton was on hand to level matters in the 16th-minute.
Indeed, after the Ireland number ten cancelled out another Iribaren three-pointer, the sides were inseparable at the break (6-6). In a game where try-scoring opportunities were conspicuous by their absence, Iribaren and Sexton once again traded penalties on the resumption.
With the stakes increasing inside the final-quarter, both players spurned kicking opportunities. Iribaren edged Racing back in front on 70 minutes, increasing the pressure on the hotly-tipped Leinster.
Because Sexton was receiving treatment for a heavy knock, Nacewa opted to take Leinster’s latest place-kick. He expertly stroked the ball between the posts, before moving the Blues into the ascendancy for the first time on 78 minutes.
It suddenly became a game of containment for Leinster, and following Tales’ wayward drop-goal attempt, they were able to soak in another magnificent continental success.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Kildare men Adam Byrne and Will Connors, who featured for Leinster ‘A’ in their British & Irish Cup final defeat to Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday.