RUGBY COLUMN – APRIL 23
By Daire Walsh
Following their accomplished 30-12 triumph over Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, Leinster remain on course to secure a record-breaking fifth European Cup title.
The Blues will aim to build on previous successes in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018 when they face Saracens at St James’ Park on Saturday, May 11. The English Premiership outfit will prove formidable opponents in Newcastle, having convincingly overcome the challenge of Munster at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
Since Ireland’s underwhelming Six Nations campaign came to a crashing halt on St Patrick’s Day weekend, Leinster had failed to catch fire in any meaningful way. Alongside a run of three games without a win in the Guinness PRO14, they rode their luck in a European quarter-final win against Ulster.
A step up in quality was always expected for the arrival of Toulouse to south Dublin, however, especially with Jonathan Sexton and James Lowe returning to the fold. Devin Toner was another welcome presence in the second-row, where regular partner James Ryan also featured.
There was a significant disruption to the Leinster pack in advance of this contest, after club vice-captain Rhys Ruddock was ruled out through illness at the 11th hour. His place in the Leinster back-row was taken by Scott Fardy – who had a major impact on the game.
Despite getting himself on the scoresheet in that last-eight victory at the expense of Ulster – as well as their pool stage meeting with Toulouse at the RDS – Adam Byrne missed out on the match day selection.
There was a spot in the 23 for fellow Kill man James Tracy – he provided cover on the bench for starting hooker Sean Cronin. Amidst the baking sunshine at Lansdowne Road, Thomas Ramos landed an early penalty to edge the French men in front.
This was eventually cancelled out by Jonathan Sexton at the far end, before Cian Healy, Cronin and Sean O’Brien combined for James Lowe to touch down on the left-wing. A Sexton conversion increased their cushion and while Toulouse initially remained in the hunt, a second Leinster try inevitably arrived.
With Toulouse lock Richie Gray in the sin-bin, Luke McGrath rounded off a line-out maul with a converted try. Leinster then suffered an injury set-back on 34 minutes, when a calf complaint brought Cronin’s afternoon to an end.
This presented Tracy with an early opportunity to impress, though recent starts against Benetton and Glasgow Warriors ensured he had a sufficient level of match sharpness. Another Ramos place-kick preceded this stoppage, meaning Toulouse’s deficit had been cut to 11 points (17-6) in time for the break.
The full-back moved Toulouse a step closer to Leinster with another penalty five minutes after the restart, but this was as close as they came to wrestling the tie back in their favour. At the end of a patient move on the right-flank, Healy’s short pass released Fardy for a powerful finish over the whitewash.
Romain Ntamack splits the posts on the hour mark to give Toulouse renewed hope, only for Sexton and Ross Byrne – his replacement on 66 minutes – to effectively close out the game for the holders. Another Champions Cup final appearance lies in wait for Tracy, but this time he may have a more substantial role at the front of the pack.
The dream of an all-Irish European decider is over for another season as Munster went down to Saracens on a scoreline of 32-16 in Coventry. The absence of Athy’s Joey Carbery and the ever-dependable Keith Earls was certainly felt, though it was always going to be a tough task for Johann van Graan’s men.
Eadestown’s Tadhg Beirne was selected to start in the Munster second-row, while another Athy native – Jeremy Loughman – made a final-quarter cameo at loosehead prop. The opening period was dominated by kicks at goal, with Owen Farrell’s accuracy giving Saracens a 12-9 interval lead.
Tyler Bleyendaal and Conor Murray kept Munster in the reckoning, until Saracens pulled 16 clear after the break. Darren Sweetnam’s excellent finish and a Bleyendaal conversion presented the Red Army with a fighting chance, but Billy Vunipola’s late try eventually put paid to their prospects.