Fortune smiles on Leinster

MAGNERS LEAGUE: Edinburgh 19 Leinster 21: WITHOUT COMING remotely close to the form that took them to European glory last season, Leinster still secured victory over the Magners League pace-setters, Edinburgh, at Murrayfield on Saturday night to record a second successive away win.

Yet it might so easily have been otherwise. In a dramatic finish Edinburgh took the lead with just two minutes of play remaining but almost immediately a drop goal from Johnny Sexton restored Leinster’s advantage. Then with the clock showing 79 minutes 59 seconds Leinster were penalised and as Scotland’s prodigious goal kicker Chris Paterson lined up his 42-metre kick at goal it seemed all over for the visitors.

Amazingly the kick went wide, leaving Leinster jubilant. Afterwards coach Mike Cheika admitted: “Our win, I guess, was down to Chris Paterson missing a goal at the end of the match, which is unheard of normally. We played badly, our set-piece was poor in the first half but we showed a lot of courage and that has been a hallmark this season.

“At the end we showed poor discipline. We got back into the game and were given a second chance but almost threw that away. We rode our luck a bit today. It’s quite bitter-sweet, to be honest.”

If Paterson failed Edinburgh at the end, then Fergus McFadden certainly succeeded for Leinster, the outside centre kicking six penalty goals in an impressive display in front of the posts.

McFadden defended superbly in the first half when Edinburgh were monopolising possession but also produced a couple of attacking runs in the second half that helped build momentum.

Brian O’Driscoll is due to return for the big game this weekend against Munster which means McFadden is likely to step aside for the Lions centre. “Fergus kicked very well today but there is obviously more to the game than goal-kicking,” said Cheika.

Despite being under pressure in the first half, Leinster scored first through McFadden’s penalty, which was answered swiftly by a similar effort from Paterson.

Then when Leinster piled over at a ruck, Paterson was again on target and matters looked to be worsening for Leinster when their mobile loosehead prop Cian Healy was sent to the sin-bin for an offence at the breakdown.

Instead Leinster raised their game and after a series of short range drives by the forwards close to the Edinburgh line the visitors were awarded a penalty, turned into points by the reliable McFadden.

Two further successful kicks by McFadden gave Leinster a 12-6 lead before Edinburgh centre Ben Cairns scored the game’s only try from sharp handling by replacement John Houston and lock Craig Hamilton, Paterson’s conversion giving Edinburgh the lead.

McFadden piled on the points with two penalty goals only for Paterson to land a brace for Edinburgh before the dramatic finale.

EDINBURGH: C Paterson; M Robertson, B Cairns, N De Luca (J Houston 40), T Visser; P Godman, M Blair; K Traynor (A Jacobsen 50), R Ford (A Kelly 55), G Cross (D Young 72), C Hamilton, S MacLeod, A MacDonald, R Grant (S Newlands 63), A Hogg.

LEINSTER: R Kearney; S Horgan, F McFadden, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; S Berne (J Sexton 40), E Reddan; C Healey, J Fogarty (B Jackman 52). S Wright (M Ross 52), L Cullen, N Hines (D Toner 76), K McLaughlin (S Jennings 52), S O'Brien, J Heaslip.

Referee: T Hayes (WRU)