Leinster 35
Northampton Saints 19
THE PARTS CHANGE all the time, but the Leinster machine keeps whirring away.
It might splutter and chug and groan while the maintenance is under way, that’s to be expected even against a much-changed Northampton. But it takes an elite outfit to pick them apart even when they are patching themselves up on the go.
A starting line-up already re-jigged after Caelan Doris withdrew with a calf issue faced a last-minute disruption after the new school out-half Harry Byrne was put through that old school concept, a pre-match fitness test.
The younger Byrne was last to enter the dressing room after a back issue flared in the warm-up and when the players re-emerged, big brother Ross had swiped the number 10 shirt and Cian Kelleher was among the replacements.
The enforced tweaks didn’t end with the opening whistle either. Jimmy O’Brien and Ringrose were both send for head injury assessments before the match was 15 minutes old. The international centre passed his on the day he returned from a broken jaw. The fullback did not.
And yet there Leinster stand, firmly in control of their destiny in Champions Cup Pool A. This bonus point win did not come as easily as forecasted, but for all the scrappiness and a handful of soft tries conceded, it never truly looked in doubt either.
Despite all the chopping and changing, the clock was just ticking to three and a half minutes when Ross Byrne struck a conversion to fellow late addition Josh Murphy’s try.
To the Saints’ credit, they issued their statement of intent after that worrying early concession, brought about by a scything Ringrose run. They dug in their claws to put up a robust defence when the home side were camped in the northern end of the RDS. But the pressure told, it always tells. Cian Healy forced his way over from close range and so the 2018 champions were cruising at 14-0 despite being down, at that point, four starters from their back eight.
The Saints turned their grim intent into an attacking threat midway through the half, and they made hay while there was uncertainty in the Leinster defence as Fraser Dingwall and Tom James both found gaps on the back of close-range scrums.
In attack, Leinster still looked fully cohesive when Ryan Baird was putting his explosive physicality to good use on his first European start and the less threatening physique of Ross Byrne broke into the 22 before the interval to help Leinster tighten their grip on the contest.
With a penalty advantage coming, Jamison Gibson-Park threw caution to the wind and the ball very close to the grasp of Ryan Olowofela. The wing wasn’t able to take the ball in though and instead Dave Kearney made the gap 22-14 at half-time.
Gibson-Park sealed the bonus point with the second half just two minutes old, ghosting under the posts from a scrum 30 metres from the try-line.
It wasn’t a sign for the floodgates to open. Nick Isiekwe earned himself a charge down try to keep the home side honest and, with the try bonus secured, Byrne kept nudging Leinster’s lead upward with two penalties, the second of which came after Tom Wood escaped serious sanction after his shoulder made contact with the head of Josh van der Flier.
The personnel will change again when these sides meet again in mid-January, but Leinster will remain unshakable favourites as they close in on a quarter-final place.
Scorers
Leinster
Tries: J Murphy, C Healy, D Kearney, J Gibson-Park
Conversions: R Byrne (3/4)
Penalties: R Byrne (3/3)
Northampton
Tries: F Dingwall, T James, N Isikiewe
Conversions: R Hutchinson (1/3)
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien (Cian Kelleger ’9 HIA), Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose (Ciaran Frawley ’14 HIA, reversed 25. Permanent 75), Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney, Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park (Luke McGrath ’56): Cian Healy (Peter Dooley ’56), Ronan Kelleher (James Tracy ’56), Andrew Porter (Michael Bent ’56), Ryan Baird, James Ryan, Josh Murphy (Ross Molony ’67), Josh van der Flier, Rhys Ruddock (Dan Leavy ’61)
Northampton Saints: Northampton Saints: Tom Collins, Ryan Olowofela (Piers Francis ’58), Fraser Dingwall, Rory Hutchinson, Taqele Naiyaravoro (Matt Proctor ’58), 10. George Furbank, Tom James (Henry Taylor ’70): Alex Waller (Francois van Wyk ’47) Sam Matavesi (Mikey Haywood ’50), Paul Hill (Owen Franks ’58), Alex Moon, Api Ratuniyarawa (Teimana Harrison ’62), 6. Nick Isiekwe (Alex Coles ’65), Tom Wood, Shaun Adendorff
COYBIB
Such a joy to watch ulster this week compared to Munster. So much variety in their play. Mathewson sniping, passing, kicking. Forwards carrying with impact but also offloading when appropriate. Much more effective. Hume and McCloskey look great in the centre.
Let’s go Leinster!! Big day out for Ringrose
@gabs90: ya, biggest day of his career
Leinster lineouts are keeping Ulster in the game
Looking forward to a good game and hopefully no injuries for both sides for next week. . Super selection from Leinster and what a bench. Leinster by 10+ for me.
Leinster will win
I see Van Der Flier is Liam Tolands man crush this week
He’s a gas man. Giving Stockdale grief for crawling with the ball. But sure it was perfectly fine when a Leinster player did it to score against Munster.
Half time and the leinster lineout is easily the worst in professional rugby.
@Chris Mc: I think we need to end the hype that’s been surrounding Kelleher right now. Cronin is a better lineout thrower and that’s saying something!
@David Finn: his throwing is pants but he’s a massive present arround the pitch
@Chris Mc: yeah good around the pitch but on that performance about Irish no 4. He needs time.
@Trevor Johnston: the leinster lineout has been too complicated for a good few seasons now. Far too many moving parts. Most of the balls lost yesterday came without any real presure from Ulster, lifters missed the jumper, some times the jumper didn’t even jump. A lineout should be very simple, your jumper gets into the air before theirs or get higher than theirs. Your hooker throws the ball to the big guy been lifted by 2 other big guys. All the dummies, moving arround and decoys just allows the line to close and the lifters to be obstructed or miss their position or timing.
Game on great try
It’s good to see Ulster taking a leaf out of the Leinster playbook. Holding opposition players in nearly every ruck and starting to milk some penalties.
Another trophy the invincibles
Leinster Congratulations
People effuse about this morphing Leinster game plan, kicking on their terms and their love for defending but Ulster have been playing the better rugby for the majority of the game. I know Leinster are still winning but as a Leinster fan I expected a good bit more from Leinster tonight in preparation for Saracens. Doris has been quiet, Conan was petulant in the first half and it is not a day for Kelleher at line-out time. There have been moments when Leinster have shown good running rugby but the last phase fizzles out with an attacking penalty or picking the wrong option. We’ll need a better performance against Saracens, even without Farrell and Mako.
@Dan Finlay: and moments after posting Doris goes and scores.
@Dan Finlay: Conan coughed up three penalties. Can not afford that against saracens.
Atrocious lineout from Leinster.
Great response.
Brilliant try.
Great try! Very well worked. Come on ulster!
Would be grand if Brace actually reffed Leinster. Let’s them away with murder at the breakdown
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: fussy but fair
Here he comes. The Boss.
Great try …..game over ..joking
Anyone know if tg4 are showing this live or is it just discussions about the game starting at that time and the kick off being shown later on?
@Rudiger McMonihan: I’m pretty sure it’s live
Ulster happy to be in final, same as Heineken cup a few years back they failed to throw a punch… embarrassing
@Nathan Fulham: you can only play as well as you are allowed. Leinster in total control.
SUFTUM
Terrible commentators