In the final pool round of the Heineken Cup, Leinster, 2009 winners, smashed Racing Metro 36-11 with a five-try hammering of the Top 14 team at the French outfit’s home base.
Outside centre Brian O’Driscoll celebrated his 32nd birthday with the last try of the game to become joint leader of the all-time try scoring record in the competition.
The result follows hot on the heels of Leinster’s six try demolition of Saracens in last weekend’s match that secured them qualification for the quarter-finals. Clermont Auvergne, current holders of the Bouclier de Brennus, gained second spot in the pool but probably won’t qualify as best runner-up such is the competition in the cup.
Leinster have evolved this season under the guiding hand of Joe Schmidt, late of Clermont, last season’s Top Winner champions. The Leinster backline, already a fast moving threat, has combined with a much more mobile pack and a backrow that is one of the best in the world with Heaslip, Jennings and the find of the season, Sean O’Brien.
O’Brien, who has played at 6 and 8 this season, is already eclisping Heaslip and the Ireland No. 8 could find his position under threat as he recovers from an ankle injury. O’Brien has seven man of the match awards so far – this guy is going to run and run. And he can score tries for fun.
With 21 tries from their H Cup pool games, without doubt Leinster are the side that have seen the shackles thrown off under the new law interpretations. The off-loading, support running, and pace at the breakdown would have Graham Henry purring such is the speed of their game.
Leinster know how to defend too – they conceded just one try against a ebullient, snarling French pack who had the upper hand for parts of the match. Leinster refused to get suckered into a front row scrum-fest with the result that scrums were kept to a minimum, and when they had to pack down, the ball moved fast – in the right direction. Not one reset was called the whole match – a sharp contrast to a lot of matches across European leagues.
Super 15 teams could learn a lot from the new standard of offensive and defensive play that is being set by the men in blue who now are joint favourites with Toulouse to win the cup.
A home quarter-final awaits tonight’s victors. The identity of their opposition will be known by Sunday evening. Whoever it is, they won’t relish heading to face the Blue Magic with 50,000 fans roaring them on at Lansdowne Road.
Derm
Roar Guru
Kovana Quarter-finals are: 1. Northampton v Ulster 2. Leinster v Leicester Tigers 3. Perpignan v Toulon 4. Biarritz v Toulouse The semi-final draw is: Winner 1 at country home to Winner 3 Winner 2 at country home to Winner 4 Leinster now installed as 2/1 favourites with home draw in the quarters, and if they beat Leicester, a home draw against either Biarritz or Toulouse. Leicester are right behind them at 3/1 with a home semi if they bear Leinster. Reality is though this will be a very tight game and could go either way. Lansdowne will be sold out for this one. Northampton should beat Ulster and will face either Perpignan or Toulon - more difficult to call, but I think Perpignan will sneak it with the more aggressive pack. Now we pause for breath and bring on the 6 Nations. With England the bookies favourites to win the Championship even though they've lost Moody, Croft and Lawes for some of the games. France are saying nothing after their humiliation against Australia. Ireland are wondering if their front row will hold up and their backline not have any more injuries with Trimble, Bowe and Kearney all on the sick list along with Jamie Heaslip. Wales are....Wales.. who knows? They've lost Adam Jones to injury which is a big blow. Scotland might just stay quiet and see if they can knock over a few more bigger names.
Colin N
Guest
Northampton v Ulster and Biarritz v Toulouse.
Intotouch
Guest
Check out these Brazilian rugby ads. The last in particular is hilarious! Don't worry they're subtitled. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKnQn-8PFII
kovana
Guest
Leinster vs Leicester at the Aviva Stadium with 50'000 leinster fans.. Awesome. I thought they would have held the Q-final at RDS arena... But it seems that this Q-final is special enough to be played at LR2. Perpignan vs Toulon at Barcelonas Olympic stadium is the other Q-final Who are the other 4 Q-finalists?
Tristan Rayner
Editor
"Super 15 teams could learn a lot from the new standard of offensive and defensive play that is being set by the men in blue who now are joint favourites with Toulouse to win the cup."
Ben S
Roar Guru
'(the same year he got his one and only cap for the Maori)' As any New Zealander will tell you, Jason, this is incorrect.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I haven't been that impressed with Ulster, Pot. Bath have yet again experienced a mini-crisis during the HC group stage, Biarritz are no great side and Ulster have spent a lot of money on big name players, and they only squeezed through their group. I think Northampton are overrated and Ulster do have some exceptional players, but I'd be stunned if they won in England. I suppose it will be hugely significant as to which players aren't injured during the 6N, as you say. Leinster v Leicester will be a cracker. Incidentally, I may be wrong, but I think Leicester have 11 players involved with the senior and/or A sides this coming 6N. Again we come back to injuries but this could be an awesome game. Yeah, Perpignan have been impressive, but they've faced an injury depleted Leicester side and an exciting but seriously flawed Scarlets side, so I'm a little reluctant to draw conclusions just yet. The way that French sides play their rugby we've basically got two QFs with four sides slogging it out. Who knows which way the two French games will go?
Ben S
Roar Guru
I think he's been OK, Colin. He has scored his usual handful of tries, and whenever I've caught him on ESPN he's shown his usual glimpses, but I thought he was easily contained in the HC, really getting manhandled on occasions. It probably isn't helping his cause that Saracens have played some really horrid rugby this season. Plus... perhaps the average Aviva player is fitter than he was last season due to the new law interpretations?
Intotouch
Guest
Super rugby? Super 15? Call me crazy but isn't Leinster playing in the Heineken Cup? Weird title for this article.
Colin N
Guest
I think Schalk Brits has had a poor season for Saracens. I'm not really a fan for the 'teams have started to work him out' cliche but he's not dominated in the loose like he did last season.
Derm
Roar Guru
If Northampton shift to somewhere other than Franklin's Gardens, they may shift some of their home advantage. Ulster can be a thorny opponent although their success on the road, particularly in England, has not been good. However, they got the double over Bath this season, and the SA contingent in the squad might prove a stubborn match for the Saint's pack. Ulster have the more inexperienced backline and I assume that Ashton and Croft will be back in harness. Should go Saints way, but there may be a surprise in store. Leinster will start as favourites, even though Leicester have knocked them out at quarter-final stage twice in the past. These two have met up more than any other, and are good rivals. Should be a cracking match, but I won't be putting the house on the outcome - injuries and form could play a part. Leinster have about 15 players up for selection in the 6 Nations and A games; Leicester have about half that. The risk exposure to key players getting injured is much greater for the boys in blue. I do think Perpignan have more in the locker than Toulon will be able to control. In fact, I'd tip Perpignan as a potential H CUp winner this season, even though they don't have home advantage in the semis. Their pack and backline are likely to be too strong for either Saints or Ulster. Biarritz are a negative, pack-dominant team with Ngwenya out wide to throw some stardust on their scorelines. Yachvilli, for all his whinging about Munster and pick and gos, is more than content for his pack to do the exact same to grind out a result. Toulouse, on their normal game should take them, but their display yesterday against Wasps was brittle and unconvincing. On current form, I'd go with Biarritz. 8 weeks time might be different. As VC refers to above, Leinster have more to do in the front five stakes. Hopefully Healy and Ross get more game time in the hot seat for Ireland to improve their confidence and standing.
Derm
Roar Guru
He plays for Highlanders – so he must have been rated in some way. Either way, he’ll be gone in a few weeks. He was cover only – largely unneeded. Hope he does better in the Super 15 this season.
Derm
Roar Guru
What does that mean? Consistent about what?
Ben S
Roar Guru
'Nonsense. Clint has never fulfilled any promise his frame might have suggested. Any New Zealander would tell you that.' Unsurprising. The comment that he didn't fulfill his promise suggests suggests he had promise to fill, hence he was rated. I've spelt out my position quite clearly: Newlands was not an All Black, nor a great, but he was a consistent Super performer, and a Maori representative, who in the past garnered calls for All Black selection. He has been pretty crap. End of.
Pothale
Guest
KOTG - thanks for that - there's a few things called Super Rugby, so I tend to use Super 15 to distinguish the SH competition. I see it used on the Roar quite regularly.
Jason
Roar Guru
Pot Hale writes: 'Well he plays for Highlanders – so he must have been rated in some way.' He joined the Highlanders in 2008 (the same year he got his one and only cap for the Maori). They're been cellar dwellers all that time and he hasn't been what one would call their best player. As I said, he's never lived up to the promise.
Derm
Roar Guru
Well he plays for Highlanders - so he must have been rated in some way. Either way, he'll be gone in a few weeks. He was cover only - largely unneeded. Hope he does better in the Super 15 this season.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
For the record is SupeRugby, not Super 15.
Jason
Roar Guru
As long as you're consistent Pot Hale.
Derm
Roar Guru
If I understood anything about French rugby I would know there is only interest in the Top 14 when they can't make the H Cup Finals? That is well known and understood Red, even if it's becoming an over-used excuse for French losses at this point. Racing turned up to play. Being beaten 5 tries to 1 is fairly severe for any French team on their home ground. And they were beaten soundly in the first match too. My point about the reference to Super 15 - albeit somewhat tongue in cheek for Roar readers - was a reference to how they've played all season not just the last match.