Munster 25; La Rochelle 24
This was a real blast from the past the way Munster showed up to thwart their old No 10 maestro Ronan O’Gara in his new backyard at Stade Marcel-Defland on Saturday.
It means the men in red now move into the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals after their one point 25-24 win in dramatic fashion which included a Jack Crowley drop goal from 40 yards, which once was O’Gara’s own special calling card.
We cannot stress enough the true grit and character shown by every player as this was an unlikely outcome with few giving the southern province a chance even against a side with indifferent form in the French domestic league.
Tries from Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes – after a brilliant blockdown – and Andrew Smith gave Munster the 22-10 platform they needed as La Rochelle threw the French version of the kitchen sink at them for the remainder of the game.
When the hosts were awarded a penalty try, it meant they were within a score of the Irishmen. That was when Crowley stood up as a leader to land the drop goal, which gave his side a crucial eight-point advantage in the final straight.
A penalty try for the hosts teed up a nervy finish, but Jack Crowley responded with a crucial kick that gave Munster an eight-point lead and a cushion which would prove vital down the stretch.
The visitors withstood some fierce pressure near their line with last-gasp defending but were powerless when Henri Bosmorin gotover for a late try. They had their dander up and withstood the home efforts for a late penalty or drop goal to record a famous victory.
Leinster 62; Harlequins 0
Firstly it must be said that Harlequins are nobody’s mugs in the England game (they are currently seventh in the Gallagher’s Premiership League) but they were made to look like Third As when run ragged by Leinster at Croke Park on Saturday.
The home side were majestic as they moved effortlessly into the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup with a home draw against Glasgow Warriors on Friday. The Scots are a much grittier outfit and will push Leinster much closer than the Quins outfit did.
After a short sojourn in South Africa which brought a very unlucky last minute defeat and an uplifting win, the Leinster side, with all their big names back on board, came out intent on laying down a marker for the rest of this competition.
Josh van der Flier’s pink cap was visible everywhere and getting one of the 10 tries was just reward for an imperious display by the flanker in front of 55,627 fans at the famed GAA stomping ground.
After initial sparring by both sides, Ireland outhalf Sam Prendergast got over for the opening try. The young No 10 proceeded to show up well both in initiating play and in his kicking, though his off the tee kicks were a bit of a curate’s egg again with only a 50 percent return rate - something that needs to change drastically as leinster hope to enter the upper end of the season.
Leinster were 19-0 in front and cruising by the interval, with lock Joe McCarthy and winger Jamie Osborne getting in for well-worked tries.
If Quins had anything to offer, they would have had to come out for the third quarter hoping to hit back but instead it was Leinster who continued their dominance with three more tries through Van der Flier, Garry Ringrose and who else but Dan Sheehan.
With the visitors' discipline also lacking on the day with back to back yellow cards for Luke Northmore and Jamie Benson, it made the rout easier with a penalty try given and then followed by another for Ross Byrne. Putting the iceing on the cake was winger James Lowe who dotted down with a brace before the final whistle.
Leinster: H Keenan, J Osborne, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, R Slimani; J McCarthy, RG Snyman; J Conan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt) Replacements: G McCarthy, J Boyle, T Furlong, R Baird, M Deegan L McGrath, R Byrne, J Barrett.
Scorers - Leinster: Tries: James Lowe (2), Sam Prendergast, Joe McCarthy, Jamie Osborne, Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose, Dan Sheehan, Penalty try, Ross Byrne Cons: Sam Prendergast (3), Ross Byrne (2).
