Isa, Isa, Isa , reverberated around the RDS in short staccato bursts.
The fact that the chanting was sporadic, reserved for when Isa Nacewa touched the football, offered a microcosm of Leinster's performance in the RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final victory over the Glasgow Warriors.
It was a fitful display, lacking the nuance and subtlety that normally accompanies the home side’s back play. The injuries to Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy and the ensuing reshuffle of the three quarters line had an impact but credit must go too to the manner in which Glasgow’s aggressive line speed in defence cut down space and time.
The Leinster supporters are keen to pay tribute at every turn to a New Zealander who has been outstanding for the province in his time here. The long goodbye has begun. Saturday night's bruising victory means that it will be extended by a week before Nacewa embraces retirement and the long journey home to New Zealand.
Take stock
First, he'll prepare for Friday night's Amlin Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais and the following weekend return to the Ballsbridge venue for a Pro12 final against Ulster. It is only then that Nacewa will take stock of his time in Dublin.
Every time he took possession against the Warriors he ran aggressively, his clever footwork in contact, allowing him to defy the laws of physics in collision, when outweighed or outnumbered. He might even have claimed a try from a beautifully flighted cross-kick from outhalf Jonny Sexton but the ball bounced and scuttled away from his grasp.
In a dressing room, where bumps, bruises, blood and stitches were commonplace, Nacewa bore no visible scars as he offered an insight into the match. He paid tribute to a Glasgow team that came up agonisingly short on the night. “They are one of the hardest games of the season and when it comes to a semi-final, you have to throw everything at it and they did that. We were chasing them around the park for most of the second half.
“They were playing into a stiff breeze there (in the second half) and made the most of the ball that they had. We coughed up a lot of opportunities ourselves, so we’ve just got to do the basics right next week,” he added looking ahead to Stade Francais.
“We just need to really get the breakdown right. We knew Glasgow were going to come at us and they really disrupted our ball. It was a bit of the same last week against Ospreys too. So if we can clean up the breakdown area and get our basics right, we’re in for a good game.”
Leinster’s defensive line speed was too passive at times, allowing Glasgow boss most of the collisions and maximise impressive offloading. Fergus McFadden and Kevin McLaughlin – both of whom had excellent matches – showed that aggression in the tackle can yield turnovers.
Nacewa explained: “You know, line speed is a bit of an attitude thing and they really attacked well in the second half, so credit to them.”
The focus for now will be exclusively on Stade Francais before the big Pro12 decider.
“Ulster will get a bit of a rest next week and they’ve probably been the in-form team the whole season in this Pro 12. So they’re going to be primed and ready for us,” said Nacewa.
“It’s a great way to go off, with two finals. You work all year for this and there’s no better way than to stay at the RDS for two more weeks.”
