Thoroughbreds from the RDS canter on.
Having patched up O’Driscoll and beaten Clermont in one of the
most impressive Heineken matches of another great year, there was no earthly
way that Leinster would get beaten. Having said that, the rugged Ulstermen had
managed to negotiate this year’s “Group of Death” – which is usually the one
without an Italian side in it – murdering Leicester 47-0 in the process, then
went and won at Thomond Park in the quarter finals.
The very idea that it could be Ulster’s year was kicked into
touch early on, courtesy of that man O’Driscoll, who executed one of his
trademark offloads. The muscular certainties that Sean O’Brien brings to a
rugby field did the rest. I still have question marks over young Sean as a 7 –
O’Driscoll and D’Arcy’s excellence at the breakdown mask his shortcomings when
quick thoughts and deeds are needed in the tackle area – but he is one hell of
a ball carrier. And I would never, ever, pick a fight with him. Just ask the
redoubtable Ulster back row, who tried to subdue the Leinsterman all afternoon,
but left the field of play exhausted. Ferris, one of the players of the
tournament, came off second best here.
The vital cog in the Ulster machine, Ruan Pienaar, had an
average game. He lacked authority, perhaps finding too much on his shoulders
with the 20yr old Paddy Jackson at 10. When Pienaar did try to utilise his
kicking game, he was just setting Kearney up for another virtuoso high catch.
Even when the Ulstermen managed to breach the blue wall, the clock was ticking
on, and they had nothing left.
So it’s 3 out of 4 for Leinster. And that ain’t bad…
No comments:
Post a Comment