Leinster success centred on aggressive defence

And another key to victory over Munster was Leinster’s management of the sin bin

SO THE dust has settled on the weekend that was. Where did it all come from and why were so many surprised? During the build-up some were cheeky enough to suggest Leinster were due a big one. Even Buddha from Limerick predicted it way back on the evening of the famous Osprey’s defeat in Thomond Park. But on the evidence of the previous number of weeks this appeared poppycock. All season the detractors were rebuked by the “when-it-clicks” answer. Leinster Michael Cheika pulled the stroke of the century by hiding this performance deep in the Glasgow Warriors fixture the week before. And that is where the contrast and comparison can begin and end.

Glasgow lie above Leinster’s opponents tonight, Llanelli Scarlets, who in turn are propped up by Newport Gwent Dragons and Connacht. Glasgow are not a good rugby team. Mind you Leinster still managed an easy bonus-point win in the end, but it was a struggle.

Of course Leinster’s European form is telling with a very strong points differential. Worryingly Leicester and Cardiff Blues had a better points difference in the pool stages with over a 100 to Leinster’s 70. However, as a testament to their steely defence Leinster remained the tightest of defences in the pool stages only conceding 70 points. A team that has traditionally adopted the philosophy of scoring tries to ensure victory has subtly changed its tune. There are many reasons for this but two of them are centres.

The first, Brian O’Driscoll, a man who can turn defence into attack, has remained the best defensive outside centre in the world and his intercept try showed this. His ability to read the situation in a moment’s notice and decide on the correct course of action is unique. Crucially he has developed into the Michael Jordan of attacking players, prioritising defence before racing away to score tries.

The second centre, Kurt McQuilkin, Leinster’s defensive coach, has created the environment to allow O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy to neuter the likes of Keith Earls and in particular Lifeimi Mafi. It helps, of course, when the men inside are Shane Jennings and Felipe Contepomi, not to mention Johnny Sexton.

All men bought into a very strong aggressive defensive line. It also helps when the remaining six forwards worked so hard off the ball. Again Rocky Elsom, a little offside, stopped Ian Dowling in his tracks. YouTube the move and you’ll see how far he travelled to get back. He made the double-team hit on Mafi on the half-way line. Stan Wright had a big game also between carrying in traffic and his defence.

Both sides were very physical, which can drift overboard at times. And for those of you in a position of influence please note the subtle difference between Jennings’ late hit on Ronan O’Gara versus Cian Healy’s effort or Elsom’s jersey pull on Doug Howlett. When choosing to flatten a player off the ball always ensure he’s just passed the ball and not kicked it. Healy and Elsom’s indiscretion resulted in six cheap points conceded.

Why? Because Dowling and Howlett had elected to kick the ball prior to contact. An indiscretion which results in a penalty from where the ball lands. Conversely Jennings collided with O’Gara as he passed the ball. Penalty remains out of kicking range!

Another major change from the Glasgow match was Leinster’s management of the sin bin. There was no hint of panic amongst the players and when the inevitable scrum arrived Jennings, who was outstanding throughout, slipped off the park to facilitate Ronan McCormack’s entry. No fuss, no panic. Tellingly Leinster managed to draw Healy’s 10-minute sin-bin period three-all, advantage Leinster. Against Glasgow the previous week, with the shoe on the other foot, they looked disjointed while Glasgow had a man in the bin. Several attacking scrums were spurned for lack of control. Not so on Saturday where they remained focused throughout.

Such focus was displayed in Leinster’s handling of the restarts. Here both Leo Cullen and Malcolm O’Kelly were majestic. Cullen’s two receptions after the Leinster tries set such a tone of accuracy that Munster sensed trouble. For Munster have over the season gained so much advantage from attacking the kick-off. Think of Leicester in the rain some years back when both Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan ploughed into Martin Johnson and co.

What about the Caveman Sébastien Chabal at Thomond Park?

Now you can understand what awaits the man who catches the kick-off. It takes a very brave man to rise high in Croke Park knowing what awaits him on terra firma.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the big day for so many of our club players with the AIL League finals. The ever-evolving face of professionalism is changing club rugby faster than can be controlled, where the game at lower level may never return to the glory days of over one hundred years prior to 1995 which warrants an article in itself. Pity all games aren’t in Thomond Park tomorrow, which would’ve been a nice reward for the players and their supporters.

Finally the upcoming Alan Quinlan case next Wednesday has the logistical hallmark of Operation Market Garden written all over it. Way back in 1944 Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery organised the largest airborne operation of all time. For logistical reasons, not unlike the ERC, Montgomery’s men unfortunately delayed but it was the bridge at Nijmegen that proved their Waterloo.

But back to parachuting!

Let’s hope the four wise men of the independent disciplinary committee on the hunt for Quinlan will land far enough from Ireland that’ll take them at least 16 weeks to make it back!