Leinster 39 Scarlets 7:IN REAL terms this Heineken Cup match at the RDS lasted two minutes and 14 seconds from the opening whistle to the point where it dawned on the Scarlets that Leinster's defence was every bit as uncompromisingly bruising as it had been seven days earlier.
Having flung themselves against a blue-clad wall, seeking contact rather than space as if laying down a physical marker through close to a dozen phases, Scarlets’ outhalf Stephen Jones kicked the ball up in the air. During that period the visitors actually went backwards.
Outside a couple of individuals like Seán Lamont and Simon Easterby, the Scarlets pursued the game with an ardour that might charitably be described as tepid.
In some respects what makes it even harder to fathom is that Leinster were generous hosts in the opening 20 minutes. Seán O’Brien knocked on from the kick-off, Rob Kearney spilled more high ball during that period than he will in a season and Leinster handed Jones two eminently kickable penalties. He dragged both wide.
But despite appearing ragged at times, the home side remained true to their patterns and worked through the kinks: better opposition would have given them less latitude, especially in terms of time.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika acknowledged: “Early on we actually made some elementary mistakes. We could have put ourselves under pressure there.”
Kearney’s wildly contrasting personal cameos included a brace of tries, the fullback using his strength to finish what could be described as good team scores.
Leinster outhalf Shaun Berne must have thought that his team-mates were deliberately scoring as far away from the posts as possible. Two from eight represents a tough night with boot. Several were from the touchline but his ball striking from the ground wasn’t crisp.
There was nothing shabby about the rest of his game. He moved ball when it was on, took it into contact rather than farm out dross and had one or two neatly judged punts. The backline weighed in with all seven tries, two apiece for Kearney, Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy with Shane Horgan’s, the best individual effort.
The right wing intercepted a Deacon Manu pass inside his own 22 that should have led to a Scarlets’ try; impressively outpacing Jones and Rhys Priestland over the ensuing 80 metres. The home side took the 15-0 lead into the interval and within six minutes of the resumption had bagged the bonus point with D’Arcy’s first try.
The centre is getting closer to his coruscating best, finding holes in the cluttered thoroughfares of the midfield and even when collared possessing the leg drive to eke out a yard or two on the right side of the gain-line. O’Driscoll did his share of the heavy lifting, tidying up and refocusing the point of attack on occasion.
Arguably Leinster’s best performer on the day was number eight Jamie Heaslip, given the official accolade but only a whisker behind was Eoin Reddan. For the second week in succession he tormented the Scarlets’ backrow, while at the same time providing intelligent direction and snappy, accurate distribution.
Cheika could afford to empty the bench and there were some decent vignettes, especially Stan Wright, whose appetite for miscellaneous duties was typically voracious. Wright was introduced after 28 minutes as CJ van der Linde’s misfortune with injury continued, on this occasion a calf injury. He’ll have a scan this week to reveal the extent of the damage.
Leinster kept the scoreboard ticking over, despite succumbing to another patchy quarter hour in terms of accuracy while Scarlets’ did eventually breach the Leinster defence; Kearney a bit too casual in letting a ball bounce and undone by the direction in which it took off. Priestland was the beneficiary.
Cheika was not amused: “I thought we gave away a really poor try and that really sums up where we want to be in defence. We shouldn’t let that happen. We were at three-quarter pace at that stage.We understand that there are still big challenges ahead of us. No one is getting carried away.”
SCORING SEQUENCE:7 mins: Kearney try, 5-0; 21: Kearney try, 10-0; 39: Horgan try, 15-0. Half-time: 15-0. 46: D'Arcy try, Berne conversion, 22-0; 56: O'Driscoll try, 27-0; 62: D'Arcy try, Berne conversion, 34-0; 68: Priestland try, Jones conversion, 34-7; 72: O'Driscoll try, 39-7.
LEINSTER:R Kearney; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa; S Berne, E Reddan; C Healy, J Fogarty, CJ van der Linde; L Cullen (capt), N Hones; K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements:S Wright for van der Linde 28 mins; M O'Kelly for Hines 46 mins; B Jackman for Fogarty 51 mins; S Keogh 51 mins; M Ross for Healy 57 mins; G Dempsey for Nacewa 60 mins; F McFadden for D'Arcy 60 mins; P O'Donohue for Reddan 73 mins.
SCARLETS:R Priestland; D Daniel, S Lamont, J Davies, A Fenby; S Jones, M Roberts: I Thomas, K Owens, D Manu: L Reed, D Day; S Easterby, J Edwards, D Lyons (capt). Replacements:G Maule for Fenby 16 mins; T Knoyle for Roberts 55 mins; P John for Thomas 55 mins; R McCusker for Edwards 55 mins; D Evans for Knoyle 64 mins; E Phillips for Owens 71 mins; J Corsi for Manu 71 mins; V Cooper for Day 71 mins.
Referee:W Barnes (England)
