MAGNERS LEAGUE Cardiff Blues 11 Leinster 3:LEO CULLEN joined an illustrious few and Stan Wright returned form long-term injury but Leinster coach Joe Schmidt believes it was the province's youngsters who took most from this game.
Leinster suffered their first defeat in eight games to slide back into the mix for the Magners League play-offs, down to fourth place and 11 points behind leaders Munster.
It was hardly the result to mark skipper Cullen becoming only the fifth player to wear the Leinster jersey 150 times while prop Wright got a vital 20 minutes under his belt following a five-month Achilles injury.
However, Schmidt believes it was a result that will provide some important lessons for his young team, among them centre Eamonn Sheridan on his first start and Michael Keating who made his debut as a late replacement.
Schmidt said: “It was a huge opportunity for the younger players but it’s also a reality jolt for them. The speed and the physicality of top-level rugby is something that you need to make sure you are primed for.
“Our game management wasn’t great and we were starved of the ball in the first half. We kicked the ball too much. Those players will learn a lot before the next time they play.
“Ian McKinley on his first game went through a couple of times. The first time he slipped and we didn’t finish the second one. But that is the ruthless reality of top-level rugby. That is something the young players will learn from.
“The young lads kept trying. I was disappointed we weren’t able to match the Cardiff side up front. We weren’t accurate enough at the lineout and rucks.
“We knew they would muddle us at the rucks because they had someone like Martyn Williams. We’re disappointed we did not keep that area clean enough.”
Veteran Wales and British Lions flanker Williams proved the difference between these teams as Cardiff, who included transfer saga hit James Loxton, stormed to second in the Magners League. Williams unlocked a ferocious Leinster defence on the half-hour mark for young fullback Dan Fish to slide over in the corner.
That proved the game’s only try after Williams saw his own second-half effort ruled out for a forward pass by Ceri Sweeney, who added a penalty five minutes from time to deny Leinster the consolation of a losing bonus point.
Cardiff introduced young wing Loxton for the final 17 minutes at the end of a remarkable week that has left his proposed transfer to Connacht in the hands of the IRB amid confusion over his possible eligibility for Ireland. Blues coach Dai Young refused to be drawn into the eligibility row but backed the 21-year-old’s reason behind seeking a move to Galway.
CARDIFF BLUES: Fish; Mustoe, Evans, Hewitt, James; Sweeney, Slater; Yapp, G. Williams, Filise; D Jones, Tito; Pretorius, M Williams, Rush. Replacements: Loxton for James (64 mins), Downes for Slater (77 mins), Andrews for Filise (55 mins), Molitika for Rush (60 mins). Not used: Parks, R. Williams, Hobbs, White.
LEINSTER: Nacewa; Conway, Sheridan, O'Malley, Morris; McKinley, Boss; Van der Merwe, Strauss, Newland; Cullen, Toner; McLaughlin, D Ryan, R Ruddock. Replacements: Reddan for Sheridan (49 mins), Keating for Morris (67 mins), Madigan for McKinley (58 mins), Harris-Wright for Strauss (77 mins), Wright for Newland (58 mins), Hines for Toner (58 mins), Keogh for R. Ruddock (64 mins). Not used: McGrath.
Referee: Carlo Damasco(Italy).
