The first three letters of the winning team’s name were never in doubt and, from an early stage, neither were the other five. Leicester are supposed to be the toughest beasts the English Premiership has to offer but here they were made to look relatively toothless, a distant second in most areas to opponents who appear short odds to conquer Europe for a fifth time later this month.
On this evidence it is going to take something extra special to deny the Irish province, particularly with their semi-final against Toulouse to be staged at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Wherever they play, though, they currently seem to have all the necessary answers, particularly against English opposition. Leinster have now won their last eight away games in England in this competition and appear to be still improving.
Having trotted back down the tunnel at half-time already trailing by 20 points, there was never any realistic danger of Tigers burning bright on a clear, sunny east midlands evening. The ground was not full but the noise was spectacular throughout, to the point where it felt like a Test match in all but name. Leinster certainly play like an international side and would give England a run for their money home or away.
It was a question, then, of whether the Tigers could make the leap from the top of the Premiership to another level. Their pre-match game plan was simple enough: to get under Irish skins physically and to rattle the favourites’ composure. Leinster, though, were ahead inside three minutes via a Johnny Sexton penalty for offside and much of the first quarter was a rhapsody in midnight blue.
Toulouse’s pinpoint accuracy ensured they came out on top in a nerve-jangling penalty shootout at the Aviva Stadium to knock Munster out of the Champions Cup. The holders fought back to level the game at 24-24 and send it to extra time before winning a tense shootout 4-2. Antoine Dupont split the posts twice for Toulouse, with Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack also on target. Conor Murray and Joey Carbery scored successful penalties, but misses from Ben Healy (two) and Murray ended Munster’s campaign. The teams resembled two punch-drunk heavyweights at times and could not be split during an exhausting 100 minutes of rugby, with the young replacement Healy missing a 56-metre penalty at the end of normal time. (Reuters)
Sure, Leicester have power but their opponents outdid them thanks to their collective pace and their speed of thinking. Everyone knew the Tigers would kick a lot but Leinster’s response was to strike so quickly from deep that the hosts, at times, could barely lay a glove on them. The man of the match, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Hugo Keenan, all excellent, kept the tempo daringly high and no side in the tournament can match the visitors’ strike rate in the opposing 22.
The result was two Leinster tries inside seven game-shaping minutes. First the equally impressive Josh van der Flier surged through Harry Potter’s tackle to stretch and score before his Irish international teammate Robbie Henshaw, also involved earlier in the move, took a similarly direct route to the line from five metres out. A brace of Sexton conversions made it 17-0 and left the hosts to play a serious game of catch-up.
It was not so much that Leicester were moderate, more that Leinster were looking every inch a collection of champions. Their knock-out defeats in the past two seasons to Saracens and La Rochelle have clearly stung but there was more to this classy demolition than a desire to settle a few old scores. Simply looked what they are: a well-coached, talented, dynamic side who believe rugby is a 15-man game and not just a grindathon.
Leicester are used to defending against sides who recycle methodically and give them half a chance. Leinster’s ruck speed was at least a second quicker than is commonplace in the Premiership and they were also sharper in every other respect. If Van der Flier is not the player of this UK and Ireland season it is only because Gibson-Park has pipped him on the line; both are testament to the ability of the Leinster management to improve the players under their tutelage.
Another Sexton penalty further extended his side’s half-time advantage, leaving Leicester requiring an oval-shaped miracle.
To their credit they mounted a comeback of sorts, George Ford putting Chris Ashton over in the left corner before slotting the conversion, but Leinster can defend as well. Ross Byrne, on for Sexton, slotted an easy 66th minute penalty to push his side more than two scores clear and, despite a late Nic Dolly consolation try, there was to be no Manchester City-style stumble.
As well as putting Leicester’s lofty domestic status into sharp perspective it was also another feather in the cap of Leinster’s senior coach Stuart Lancaster who has had a prominent part in the Irish side’s continuing rise. A penny for the thoughts of the watching England head coach Eddie Jones, still searching for players who can make a difference to the national team’s fortunes. Like everyone else connected with English rugby he will have headed home deep in thought. The Irish are currently well ahead and showing no sign of slackening their pace.
