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There he goes: Isa Nacewa
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Teams
- Leicester
- Leinster
Also see
- Min-by-min: The action from Dublin
- Sunday: Northampton v Ulster
Leinster cooked up a Heineken Cup semi-final against either Biarritz or Toulouse after defeating Leicester 17-10 at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
In a bruising encounter, it was one moment of brilliance from Isa Nacewa that ultimately did for the Tigers, who will be left wondering 'what if'.
'What if' Alesana Tuilagi had stayed in the field of play when diving over on the left, 'what if' they hadn't bought one of Nacewa's numerous dummies. But in truth their regrets would be unfounded as Leinster deserved their victory.
The 2009 tournament winners were a cut above in most areas, particularly the front-row where Mike Ross, Cian Healy and hooker Richardt Strauss dominated their opposite numbers all evening.
Leinster will now await the result from Sunday's quarter-final between Biarritz and defending champions Toulouse - they will fear no one.
Why? Joe Schmidt's side seem to have very few, if any, weak links in their XV. The aforementioned front-row can stick it to anyone, Leo Cullen and Nathan Hines have experience to burn while the back-row of Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and a recovering Shane Jennings is well-balanced with power, pace and know-how.
Outside them they have the string-pulling abilities of Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton and a familiar Irish duo in midfield. But it is at the back that their real cutting edge is found.
Nacewa hit the line superbly in Dublin and his try will live long in the memory of Leinster fans. With the ball in two hands and swerving in and out, the former Blue shredded Leicester from about 30 metres out. It was a magical try that came just after Tuilagi's foray.
Sexton had got Leinster on the board on four minutes but it could have been much more had outside centre Brian O'Driscoll sent the ball out wide during an early attack.
Toby Flood, who did not enjoy the best of games alongside Ben Youngs, then brought Tigers level almost immediately. However, Leicester were struggling to apply pressure.
Sexton knocked over two further three-pointers as the sides went in at a 9-3 scoreline.
Then came the moment that proved that rugby is a game of inches. Tuilagi bounced off O'Driscoll on the left wing and then set off for the corner. But a wonderful covering tackle from O'Brien saved the day for Leinster, forcing the Samoan wing's mid drift into touch. It was a tough call for Welsh Television Match Official Derek Bevan.
Cue the moment of the match from Nacewa, who seemed to have the Leicester defenders on a string as he ghosted his way to the whitewash. It was a 14-3 lead for Cullen and co.
Sexton did succeed with a penalty shot five minutes from the end that looked to have sealed matters but when hooker Rob Hawkins crossed, Leicester were given hope. It was false.
Man-of-the-match: It was a toss-up between Sean O'Brien and Richardt Strauss and we have gone with the hooker. The former Cheetah showed offloading skills, power in contact and good pace throughout. A mention too for improving prop Mike Ross.
The scorers:
For Leinster:
Try: Nacewa
Pen: Sexton 4
For Leicester:
Try: Hawkins
Con: Flood
Pen: Flood
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.
Leicester: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Craig Newby (capt), 6 Tom Croft, 5 Steve Mafi, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Julian White, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 James Grindal, 22 Jeremy Staunton, 23 Matt Smith.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: James Jones (Wales), Jonathan Mason (Wales)
Television match official: Derek Bevan (Wales)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
carpelone says...
Well done to both teams, Leinster fully deserved it at the end.
Cant wait to see the match against Toulouse, it will be a thrilling game between arguably the best two European sides.
Posted 22:31 11th April 2011
lawynd says...
@crunchfit - a good video for those who perhaps have only had the 'expert' analysis of Stuart Barnes or Brian Moore to rely on. Based on that though Nacewa did pass the ball marginally forward, although as I already mentioned it didn't (and shouldn't) have mattered a jot, ultimately.
I did also forget to mention how quite brilliant O'Brien's covering tackle on Tuilagi was - this game was the perfect example of how the inches in rugby really do matter. Looking further ahead, how good a prospect is it that a Lions committee will have to choose from the likes of O'Brien, Ferris, Heaslip, Croft, Moody, Wood, Barclay, Brown, Beattie, Lydiate, Warburton and probably a few others for 2013!?
Posted 19:45 11th April 2011
crunchfit says...
Regarding the forward pass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgMlDy2jP9s
Watch the entire video. Your perceptions of forward passes might be greatly changed.
Also, Leicester fans are great to have around town and post match. Very pleasant bunch of people. Had a great time with a bunch of Leicester fans after the 2009 final in Murrayfield as well.
Posted 17:13 11th April 2011
lawynd says...
A great game that I thoroughly enjoyed, albeit disappointed that the scoreline didn't favour my team. A little gutting to have lost to a try from a forward pass but I don't think that should have changed the result, as Leinster were the best team on the day. I don't think Cockerill got his team selection right and I would have played Waldrom and Castro from the start, rather than trying simply to win an arm-wrestle up front. I think the match report is a little unfair on the Tigers front row too, as the scrums were even and all six players had their moments in the loose (Strauss rampaging run, Hawkin's try).
Special mentions have to go to Isa Nacewa for several brilliant pieces of running - hopefully that will teach Youngs and Flood the penalties of aimless kicking - and Manu Tuilagi for being the main man for Leicester with go-forward attitude and 'that' tackle on D'Arcy! All the best to Leinster for the rest of the tournament, I'd quite like to see a Leinster - Northampton final now!
Posted 14:35 11th April 2011
sicarroll says...
+1 on Shaggy wiping off the blood from BOD's face, brilliant moment, screaming out for a montage.
Incredibly gutsy performance from both sides, though Jonny's temperament held out better than poor Luke Fitz, who really needs to spend some time in the B&I cup for the A team to get his nerve back.
Posted 12:30 11th April 2011
bluelion says...
The Aviva was amazing on Saturday evening. The PR preview said Leinster by 10 and Dublin will be rocking. Only 7 points in the difference but the reminader of the prediction was perfect. The last three minutes were about the noisiest any stadium can get. The days of the passive Leinster faithful are long gone.
There was a buzz in the air aided by some unseasonal great weather. Balmy April evenings in Dublin are rarer than hens teeth. Nothing rare about the performance from the men in blue. There is a steel of resolve about the team. Immense defence and only 2 kickable penalties conceded.
Fitzy seems to be having a crisis of confidence. Class is permanent. He will bounce back. Hopefully soon, its painful to watch.
Similarly can't understand how Isa didn't get MOTM, although harder to see the graft around the park from the 6th row.
Posted 14:59 10th April 2011
blametheref says...
Totally agree Crunchfit with your BOD comments....He's a rugby legend and best 13 ever without a doubt, no player in the world comes close to his all round game, spirit, modesty, braveness and consistancy over the last 12 years...when he's on the pitch it's like having an extra man a brilliant 13 and a real extra 7...A true team player who plays so well it's taken as a given, hence they don't give him man of the match awards anymore!
Posted 13:36 10th April 2011
blametheref says...
Leicester played very well, it was a brutal physical contest that could have gone either way. I feel leinster deserved their victory where their backs were more inventive with the Leicester backs too direct at times...I hope at last J. Sexton has answered those who hail Toby Flood as the better fly half. Sexton's defence was immense but the difference is he can handle the pressure in big games better than Flood, otherwise there's little to choose between them as they are quite similar in style. I thought Manu Tuailagi was really good at 13, he caused real problems, his hits awsome. Luke Fitzgerald was once again highly dissappointing, knocking on 4 times, once with a simple try in the bag that all his co- players would have put away with their eyes shut. He also once again missed a crucial tackle near the Leinster line, this is becoming a habit. Also his positioning is constantly wrong where he's half a second ahead of the play at crucial moments. Amazing that he's played badly all season for Ireland and Leinster and still gets picked. I was amazed when mc Fadden came on, only to replace Horgan...Enough said....A brilliant Heineken cup match, once again!
Posted 12:03 10th April 2011
papachinzo says...
The Six Nations has really messed up our back line... no interlinking going on at all!! we played at about 60%.
Posted 05:20 10th April 2011
crunchfit says...
Brilliant display by most of Leinster. A step above by Necewa. Strauss was good, but who the hell picks the MOTM? Nacewa without a doubt.
Also, BOD has skill and rugby intelligence, but his dedication today was among the best I've ever seen. Doing the dirty work in the rucks, getting in the way of the Tuilangi Brothers' ways, setting up others, making ground himself, pure brilliance. The shot of him covered in blood just showed BOD's core values. I'm not sure if this was shown on camera, but Shane Horgan helped O' Driscoll clean off the blood and helped hide it from the officials so BOD didn't have to go off. They pretended to hug while Horgan got rid of all the blood.
Atmosphere was amazing. I've never seen such rugby fortress before.
Anyway, I've had a few pints so forgive me if there's typos or what I wrote was unclear. I'm over the moon with this performance.
Posted 22:27 09th April 2011