Ryan Bailey reports from the Aviva Stadium
SARACENS WERE ALWAYS going to provide a rigorous examination of Leinster’s credentials, but Mark McCall denies their rough treatment of Johnny Sexton was pre-meditated.
Sexton was the subject of some borderline late and reckless tackles in the first half of this afternoon’s Champions Cup quarter-final, as the visitors appeared determined to unsettle the out-half.
After being clattered by Maro Itoje early in the contest, Sexton required treatment for a dead leg and then further incidents involving George Kruis, Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth riled the 32-year-old and home fans further.
How referee Jerome Garces didn’t brandish yellow for Wigglesworth’s hit — the scrum-half jumped into Sexton with his shoulder, making no attempt to wrap his arms — beggared belief.
“It was tough on Johnny because he had been played off ball a few times in the first half,” Leo Cullen said afterwards.
“It’s hard for him not to get frustrated, I’ll have a look back at the game but there were three or four incidents when he got hit late off the ball. I’ll have to have a look back and see how that unfolds but I think important to take those things in the context of the game.”
Sexton, as bullish and combative as ever, picked himself up and kicked 13 points for the hosts, while also kicking from hand and distributing with conviction — but there was one flash of petulance, a moment in which his frustration manifested itself.
After slotting a third penalty over from under the posts, Sexton was penalised for kicking the ball away from the halfway line as Saracens looked to restart the game, allowing Marcelo Bosch to thump one over from range.
“It was definitely very hard on Johnny in particular, because they were playing him which is the best way to describe it,” Cullen added. “But that meant there was going to be space for somebody else so it’s important we have that balance so we’re not relying on one player.”
Next into the press conference room was McCall, and when asked about his side’s discipline and whether they aggressively targeted Sexton, he said: “There certainly wasn’t any plan to do that. We wanted to make him make his decisions early. We wanted him to pass a little bit sooner than he wanted to, to kick a little bit earlier. But apart from that, there was no other plan.”
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It was it was very obvious they did. And it makes me very happy their dirty tactics didn’t work. Well done Leinster, as a Munster man I’ll always back the four provinces. Now let’s make it a Munster Vs Leinster final! Imagine a year where Ireland win the Slam and an Irish club take the European cup. It’d be feckin’ awesome!
@Tomás O’Loughlin: just like In 2009. It would be some occasion and long over due
@William Finnegan: I’m still hungover from 2009!
@Tomás O’Loughlin: really hope we both make it. It will hurt losing to Munster in the final. But honestly I would rather Munster won it if we don’t. Both teams are great advertisement for Irish rugby and we are lucky to have them
@Tomás O’Loughlin: Well said Tomas.
@William Finnegan: Just hope it’s one of us dude. Against the monied clubs of Europe, it’d be a statement.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: Certainly my favourite Munster Rugby moment of all time was the thrashing in Croke Park in 09, I’d happily repeat that in Bilbao…#4stars
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: Munster are very hard to beat this year. Yesterday proved it. We’re not playing pretty rugby. We’re back playing balls out, fearless, ugly, gutsy passionate Munster rugby. We’re beatable, but no team will trash us. #SUAF. G’luck.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: Toulon have always bought their success – great result for rugby yesterday! And Conway’s try – magnificent, and Toulon like England, have finally been caught out. But Munster will be away from home with it all on the line – the “16th” man has nothing on the D4tress. Racing Leinster final IMHO
@Tom Reilly: some rugby being played lads it’s like nz! Enjoy it while we can is all I’ll say
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: Or Munster vs Scarlets. Just as likely. Scarlets have, and can, take you. Don’t be so arrogant boyo.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: Slow and steady loses the race in this competition
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: We have it then. Munster for Europe. G’luck. Take your arrogant BS with ya.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: I’ll rest easy – 3 stars is better than 2
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: Yeah. Concentrate on past glories. Just like Engerland do. Go away boyo, I can see Scarlets beating you. If Leinster don’t, they’re in big trouble. You lost to them with first choice 7 seeing as you think it’s a big deal.
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: I think Bordeaux will be like a home game for Munster. The Parisians will not drive/train 6 hours to watch their team. Bordeaux will be full of the Munster faithful. All Ireland final in Bilbao!!! A pleasant thought
Garces is a joke. Wigglesworth very very lucky
@Ollie Watson: there wasn’t anything in it though, Sexton didn’t even go to ground. I thought Garcès used common sense, same way he used common sense when Kearneys shoulder connected with the head of Williams.
@Jim Demps: you think the wigglesworth and Kearney incidents were similar? Williams tripped into Kearney. Wigglesworth smashed his shoulder into Sexton when the ball was gone. How can anyone think those two are similar
@Jim Demps: Even though Wigglesworth didn’t cause much damage, it was a blatant late shoulder charge. While Kearney’s caused more damage, Williams was on his knees and at least had the ball.
@William Finnegan: you’re missing the point. I’m just saying that if the referee went down the road of letter of the law then he would have had to yellow card both players. The incidents were different yes and the intent was different but there have been plenty of players who have gotten cards because of an accidental shoulder. As it stood the ref used common sense in both cases and the game was better for it.
@Jim Demps: Williams slipped and slid into Kearney. Saracens deliberately targetted JS. Dirtbirds.
@GARFARKLE: as are their fans who were throwing cups onto the pitch at full time
@Jim Demps: Jim, leave your provincial bias behind. A shoulder to the face warranted further action regardless of what else happened in the match.
@Camroc: I am tho Cormac. I’m saying that intent doesn’t matter and that a shoulder to the head is a shoulder to the head. So it balanced itself out. He didn’t yellow Wigglesworth and Kearney got the benefit of the doubt later in the game. Can’t ask for fairer than that.
@Jim Demps: wigglesworth wasnt penalised. Garces is in BT Sports pocket
@Jim Demps: I have never seen a yellow given for the Kearney incident. I don’t even think he attempted a tackle. Wigglesworth purposely smashed his shoulder into Sextons head. One deserved a yellow the other didn’t
@Jim Demps: I think Sexton dived tbh
@Jim Demps: You are right but Itoje knew what he was doing with his knee which may not have been as much in sight but still much more serious.
@Ollie Watson: snowflake comment, it’s rugby, true Sexton was targeted, but people running into people is part of the game – accept it
@Fuinneóig Ó’Fuigeann: haha so people running jnto people with their elbow in front of them and when there is no ball is normal? Wanna get yourself checked Window
Sexton and Farrell had a few heated exchanges alright. Very similar professionals, abrasive, physical competitors.
@Simon Clarke: Did you know Farrell was born Owen O’Loughlin? The fecker has Irish roots!
@Simon Clarke: agreed, two ultra competitive, abrasive players. No love lost today, not an inch given, but mates afterwards, as it should be.
I really like tough hard fought rugby games but when the rules aren’t enforced I find it distasteful. I wanted to turn off the TV for fear of seeing a body lying prone because the referee was soft and teams were pushing the rules to the limit.
It’s not rocket science. Punish anything high and late. Sexton is a star player playing exciting rugby. These guys need protection. That’s the future of the game.
Every single team targets the opposite 10. It’s foolish to not target the key player on the team. But the cynicism with how some Sarries players attacked Sexton was appalling. Wigglesworth’s no arms tackle on Sexton was a straight yellow. Graces, who I usually like as a ref, was dreadful today.
Every chance they got they hit him and that’s only natural to disrupt him. Rob was lucky from our view in the ground also Mako put in a couple of no arm clean outs. Although they had a struggle this season I’d say there are a few sore bodies tonight as every breakdown was contested. Looking at where they were before Christmas was daft as they battled away today but the better team got their desserts.
Not in the Irish mentality to go out and take players out like that. Horrible tactic .
Ps The Claw doesn’t count :)
@Tranceformer: Yeah. I remember someone else in 1967.