O'Driscoll back as Leinster win

Bonus point is cold comfort for Ulster

As harsh winter weather approached Belfast, Leinster came north to play Ulster at Ravenhill on Monday evening and returned to the Republic with the laurels, winning 24-19 as they held out. And Brian O'Driscoll was there and he took the field in the last half an hour of play.

There was interest in the line-ups. Justin Harrison and Matt McCullough played after being cleared of foul play by the European Rugby Cup's disciplinary committee but Brian O'Driscoll, on his way back from his Lions tour injury, got only as far as the bench to start with, but 12 minutes into the second half Irish hearts lit up as O'Driscoll joined the fray. He came on for Robert Kearney and took up place next to his old comrade at arms, Gordon D'Arcy. He did not have a big impact on the match, but he was there. That was impact enough.

Afterwards O'Driscoll said: "You can't get too far ahead of yourself after playing just 30 minutes in five months, but I'm delighted to be back playing for Leinster.

"You don't just jump back in after that kind of a lay-off, but on another day I might have even scored a try at the end. It was very much a game of two halves. Ravenhill is a tough place to play. We're all pleased with the win and it leaves a sweet taste after putting in such hard work over Christmas."

Puma fly-half Felipe Contepomi scored first for the visitors and after a quarter of an hour they led 6-0.

But tall, big, fast Tommy Bowe set the packed crowd on fire in the cold as he strode over for a try, which David Humphreys converted. Humphreys added a penalty goal before Contepomi made the score 10-9 with a penalty goal for Leinster.

As the half headed for its final five minutes, Humphreys kicked his second penalty and Ulster went into the break winning 13-9.

The second half was just a few minutes old when Keith Gleeson started it and Contepomi and Girvan Dempsey carried it on till powerful D'Arcy scored Leinster's first try and gave his side a 14-13 lead. Ten minutes later, after good work by James Heaslip and Kieran Lewis, fullback Girvan Dempsey scored a try which Contepomi converted to make it 21-13 and create the impression that Ulster were not going to get even a bonus point to reward their sell-out crowd.

But Humphreys kicked a third penalty goal to bring his side to within bonus-point reach and then Leinster suffered a setback when scrumhalf Guy Easterby was sent to the sin bin with 15 minutes still to play and a lead which looked meagre at five points.

In need of a scrumhalf Leinster brought on Brian O'Riordan in place of No.8 Jamie Heaslip. Later, on Easterby's return, Ben Gissing replaced O'Riordan.

With five minutes to go five points became two as Humphreys, so often the hero of Ulster, kicked another penalty, 21-19. But Leinster were back on equal terms as Easterby's sin bin elapsed and they celebrated it with a penalty goal by Contepomi to make the score 24-19, the difference still a try, and there were just two anxious minutes left.

There was plenty of drama at the end. At one stage Leinster were in under the posts but were called back, and then brave Ulster broke out and had Leinster scampering on defence. But the visitors held out for a thrilling victory.

Scorers:

For Ulster:

Try: Bowe
Con: Humphreys
Pens: Humphreys 4

For Leinster
Tries: D'Arcy, Dempsey
Con: Contepomi
Pens: Contepomi 4

Teams:

Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Kevin Maggs, 12 Andrew Trimble, 11 Paul Steinmetz, 10 David Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Neil McMillan, 6 Neil Best, 5 Matt McCullough, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Simon Best (captain), 2 Rory Best, 1 Bryan Young.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Justin Fitzpatrick, 18 Ryan Caldwell, 19 Stephen Ferris, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Adam Larkin, 22 James Topping.

Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Brendan Burke, 13 Gordon D'Arcy, 12 Kieran Lewis, 11 Robert Kearney, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Guy Easterby, 8 Jamie Heaslip,  7 Keith Gleeson, 6 Cameron Jowitt, 5 Bryce Williams, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 3 Will Green, 2 Brian Blaney, 1 Ronan McCormack.
Replacements: 16 David Blaney, 17 Emmett Byrne,18 Ben Gissing, 19 Eric Miller, 20 Brian O'Riordan, 21 Jonathan Hepworth, 22 Brian O'Driscoll.

Referee: George Clancy
Touch judges: Dermot Moloney, Jude Quinn
Assessor: Jack Young