[caption id="attachment_71773" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Ulster’s defenders can’t stop Cian Healy going over to score for Leinster."]
PLAUDITS came thick and fast following Leinster’s 42-14 Heineken Cup final success over Ulster in front of a capacity 81,774 crowd at Twickenham last Saturday.
There were so many it was hard to pick out one that demonstrates the sheer quality of this Leinster squad. But maybe the former England World Cup winning scrum-half Matt Dawson summed it up as well any anyone.
“No question, Leinster are the best squad ever in northern hemisphere history. Congrats.” Dawson commented.
That’s a big statement and it’s all the better that it came from someone who was so heavily involved with the English scene. The only slight change I might make is to say that they are the best squad and probably have the best coach to have graced European Cup rugby.
Because last Saturday was about the squad and the coaching set-up, most noticably head coach Joe Schmidt. Since his arrival Schmidt has developed Leinster into a team capable of playing a stunning brand of rugby.
If last season’s comeback final victory over Northampton was good, last Saturday’s success was even better. To have won such a competitive tournament three times in four years is quite astonishing.
It’s also unprecented. And while it’s seems ludicrous to suggest that any team could win the competition four times in five years, no one is ruling it out, especially as next season’s final is set for the Aviva Stadium.
Anyway, back to the events of last Saturday. The first thing that should be said is that the final scoreline didn’t do justice to Ulster’s efforts in what was a first ever all-Ireland final.
The made a huge effort putting Leinster under insense pressure at times. But only once could they break through a magnificent Leinster defence for a try.
With seven minutes remaining they were trailing 27-14 when their South African full-back Stefan Terblanche was yellow carded for a foolish spear tackle. If Ulster found the job of playing with 15 men against Leinster was difficult, then they discovered that it was impossible to do so with 14.
Leinster duly ran in two more tries as they finished 42-14 clear for a record winning margin. It was a brilliant end to a marvellous campaign.
Although the final scoreline might have been a bit unfair to Ulster, there was absolutely no denying Leinster superiority. Everyone played well, from the starting line-up to the substitutes, which was quite remarkable given that Leinster had their share of injury worries going into the final.
Brian O’Driscoll had undergone keyhole surgery on his damaged knee a week before the final. But yet again he put such concerns to one side to deliver another huge performance, his flip pass to Sean O’Brien to help set up one of Leinster’s five tries being a match highlight.
That’s O’Driscoll, he somehow continues to confound the medics. The man-of-the-match award, however, deservedly went to O’Brien for a performance which saw him score a try and generally terrorise the Ulster defence.
Once again, Johnny Sexton was top class at out-half, only missing once from seven goalkicking attempts before his late substitution. So was Rob Kearney at full-back.
Kearney, in fact, set the tone for Leinster with a magnificent catch on the run in the opening stages. Leinster needed to be very good defensively in that first half as Ulster spent a good deal of time in their half.
The difference was that Leinster were able to score tries. Two, the first from O’Brien and the second from prop Cian Healy after some outstanding play from O’Driscoll and O’Brien.
Consequently, Leinster went in at half-time 14-6 ahead, Ruan Pienaar having landed two penalties for Ulster, one from inside his own half. Unfortunately, their promising 20-year-old out-half Paddy Jackson found the occasion too much and needed to be substituted six minutes into the second half. By then, Leinster had been awarded a penalty try to move 21-6 clear. Effectively the match was over but Ulster, to their credit, did manage to reduce Leinster’s lead to 24-14 as the game entered the final quarter, Paddy Wallace setting up Dan Tuohy for a very good try.
Time for Leinster to move up another gear and they did so with two further penalties from Sexton before substitutes Van der Meuwe and Sean Cronin ran in those late tries. It was the perfect way to finish before attempting to complete the double when they face the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12 final on Sunday.
Can Leinster go on and win the trophy three years in a row and four times in five years? Brian O’Driscoll is definitely not ruling it out.
“I would image we will try and defend the trophy as much as we did this year. The pleasure of being involved with this group of players is that I know how hungry they are and they will push one another.”
Leinster skipper Leo Cullen tried to put the contribution of Schmidt in perspective, stating: “He demands high standards. You might think I’m joking but he’ll find plenty from that game to look at.”
Sadly, the Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin won’t be looking at improving standards as he will be replaced for next season. Typically, he departed with a good deal of grace, commenting: “It’s hard to take but Leinster are an outstanding side. They just punish you at every opportunity.”
Taylor heads to London
as world champion
EVERYTHING it would seem is in place for Katie Taylor to make make a successful gold medal bid at the London Olympics.
The Bray, Co. Wicklow, boxer claimed her fourth successive AIBA World title when beating Russian Sofya Ochigava 11-7 in the lightweight title in China. Her efforts earned her the Best Boxer of the tournament.
The 25-year-old Taylor will now get a bye into the quarter-final of the Olympics because she is the top seed. All of which means that she is only one win away from gaining a bronze medal.
For the moment, she is just relieved to have won the World title and gained Olympic qualification. “It’s great to be going to the Olympics as the current World Champion.” she stressed.
“I will improve again over the next few weeks and hopefully I’ll come back with that gold medal for my country.”
She may well do so, although the Taylor camp appreciate that nothing can be taken for granted. Her father and coach Peter will leave not leave anything to chance in the quest for the gold medal.
Importantly, Taylor can adapt against any opponent. She is capable of going forward, throwing fast combinations and equally adapt at moving away and avoiding punches.
It was a combination which saw her win a fascinating contest with Ochigava. The Russian is again expected to be her main rival at the Olympics but interestingly Taylor is calling for wild cards to be given to allow other top class opponents who have not qualified.
They include Cheng Dong of China and America’s Queen Underwood. “I think there are a few wildcards to be given out still and it’s important that they give them to the best boxers.” argued Taylor.
“We need to showcase the best talent out there. I hope they make the right decision.”
