Finally getting around to writing my match report, my apologies for taking so long, but my nerves have not been in a good place for the last few days. I have (and so has every other Leinster fan!) been on an emotional rollercoaster!
What a final! What a comeback!
Northampton came straight out of the traps and got stuck into the men in blue, and nowhere was this more evident than in the scrum. Tonga'uiha had said in the days leading up to the match, that when the Saints scrum is dominant it transfers out to the rest of the squad. And it showed!
It seemed to show on the Leinster side too with uncharacteristic errors. Five big knock ons in the first half from players you just wouldn't expect it from, Nacewa, Heaslip, D'Arcy, Strauss and O'Driscoll.
Northamptons first try came from their powerful scrum when they went to the blindside and Calum Clark stepped inside and off-loaded to put Phil Dowson over.
Leinster were unlucky after a break from Horgan and an off-load to Strauss that was knocked on when Strauss had acres of space in front of him.
Horgan was at it again when he put Dowson on his rear and broke through the Northampton line. He passed to O'Brien who passed to O'Driscoll, and O'Driscoll raced to the line only to be thwarted by a very fine tackle from Ben Foden and a knock on.
Brian Mujati was sin binned for a pull back on Healy. Harsh, considering that Leinster were still inside their own half.
This didn't dampen Saints spirits though. New prop Tom Mercey came on and picked up where Mujati left off. They even won a scrum against the head! And from that scrum they ran at Leinster. Bashing up into the Leinster defence until the ball got to Foden and he side stepped O'Driscoll, of all people.
For their third try, they moved the ball from touchline to touchline until captain Dylan Hartley and his big boys forced themselves over the line for the try.
22-6 at half time. It was looking very ominous for the men from the capital at this stage.
Leinster came out in the second half, much like Northampton did in the first, like bats out of hell!
A great initial break from a ruck by O'Driscoll and Heaslip which brought Leinster up to the Northampton line. They banged away at the Saints defence until Sexton received the ball with big Soane Tonga'uiha standing in front of him, Sexton turned on the pace and beat him on the outside to go over.
D'Arcy was desparately unlucky not to get a try when he went over the line. Paul Diggin did exceptionally well to hold him up.
From the ensuing scrum the ball was moved to the far touchline and then eventually moved back to under the posts where Sexton dummied to dot down over the line.
For Leinsters third try it was a case of great running lines and utter commitment from the entire team for Hines to barge his way over to score.
There was still time for Northampton to get back into the game, but they looked deflated and almost disinterested at that stage.
Leinster went on to win and Sexton missed a penalty to break the record for highest individual point scorer in a final.
Something very drastic happened in the Leinster dressing room at half time. In the second half they became the Leinster we all know and love! We saw Healy barnstorming, Strauss roaming, Ross scrummaging, Cullen leading, Hines off loading, O'Brien destroying, Jennings rucking, Heaslip striding, Reddan sniping, Sexton unleashing, Fitzgerald hitting, D'Arcy stepping, O'Driscoll scything, Horgan claiming and Nacewa catching. It was brilliant!!
In my opinion Jennings had a significant part in this revival. When he plays, Leinster play better. O'Brien was getting on the ball a lot more because Jennings was doing the dirty work at the breakdown. Also the ruck ball was quicker.
Another place was the scrum. The front five came out and played like a completely different outfit! As a prop myself, I know when you're getting smashed in the scrum, you just want the game to end and you dread every blow of the refs whistle in fear of another humiliating defeat in what should be your bread and butter. So for Healy, Strauss and Ross to come out in the second half after taking such a physical and mental bashing and perform in the way that they did was truly remarkable!
The main catalyst for the revival was (Man of the Match) the magnificent Sexton! He grabbed this game by the scruff of the neck and refused to let his team lye down! I really hope he can replicate more performances like this in the world cup!
This was a truly great final with everthing that a rugby fan could ask for! And Romain Poite didn't interfere!!
Next stop for most of these players is the World Cup, we can only hope that that final can be even just a fraction as good as the one witnessed here!
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