RUGBY
Tracy wins 100th Leinster cap in hard fought win over Ospreys
By Daire Walsh
KILL’S James Tracy reached a career landmark at Matmut Stadium de Gerland on Saturday as Leinster eked out a 13-6 triumph over Lyon in Pool One of the Heineken Champions Cup.
The dependable hooker – who made his blues debut in a November 2012 clash against Ospreys – appeared off the bench to pick up his 100th provincial cap. This represents a remarkable feat for the former Newbridge College student and with six Ireland senior caps also to his name, he has unquestionably left his mark on the professional game.
It was a far from vintage display by Leo Cullen’s men in France but with Tracy combining to good effect with fellow replacements Andrew Porter and Ed Byrne in the Leinster front-row, they ultimately maintained their unbeaten start to the pool.
Despite Sean Cronin’s absence through injury, the emergence of Ronan Kelleher in recent months has ensured that competition remains stiff for the number two shirt in the Leinster side. Whereas all bar one of Tracy’s eight appearances to date have come as a replacement, Kelleher was making his seventh start of the term alongside regulars Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong.
11 of the province’s World Cup contingent were included from the start, while Porter was named in reserve – just as he had for the majority of Ireland’s time in Japan. Having accounted for Benetton in an opening day fixture at the RDS seven days earlier, the four-time European champions were expected to come through this encounter with flying colours.
Lyon currently hold top spot in the Top 14, but they were staring into a 10-0 deficit just past the first-quarter mark. Supplementing an early Jonathan Sexton penalty, Max Deegan crossed over the whitewash for a converted score.
Leinster held onto this cushion until the break and it was anticipated that they would push forward after the resumption. However – eager to make amends for the previous week’s disappointing reversal to Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Garden – Lyon dug deep in the face of adversity.
Jonathan Wisniewski contributed penalties either side of another Sexton three-pointer – securing a losing bonus point for Pierre Mignoni’s charges.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Loughman (Athy) and Tadhg Beirne (Eadestown) featured for Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday as they played out a thrilling 21-21 draw with Racing 92 in Pool Four.
Loughman made headlines in Swansea seven days earlier with a man of the match performance in the reds’ convincing victory against Ospreys.
Unfortunately, he was forced off through injury in the 48th-minute at the Limerick venue – James Cronin taking his place at loosehead prop. Beirne made way for Billy Holland just past the hour mark and watched on as Munster fought their way back on level terms.
JJ Hanrahan superbly released Andrew Conway for a try in the right-corner, before adding the bonuses himself. The Kerry man had a golden opportunity to claim a last-gasp success, but his drop-goal attempt fell well short of the mark.
Nevertheless, Munster can arguably view this as two points earned considering the precarious position they had found themselves in.