BEFORE SUNDAY’S game at the Stade Marcel Michelin a quick glance at the height and weight differences that Fergus McFadden and Eoin O’Malley were giving up to their opposite numbers made most Leinster supporters fearful of their survival at this level.
That will never be a concern again.
Aurelien Rougerie has 16 kilograms (two-and-a-half stone) and five inches on O’Malley, yet the 22-year-old centre didn’t look like an inexperienced middleweight when trading blows with this long established heavyweight, especially when attacking the Clermont Auvergne captain’s outside shoulder.
McFadden was giving up 10 kilos and two inches to Napolioni Nalaga but it was the Fijian winger that was forced to scramble backwards when O’Malley sent his Old Belvedere clubmate searing down the left touchline in the first half. The subsequent offload from McFadden found Jonathan Sexton, who was unlucky not to send Isa Nacewa in for a try that would have seen Leinster lead at the interval.
“It was a very quiet changing room,” said a disappointed McFadden. “We’re all very disappointed; the game was there for the taking at half-time and unfortunately they took their chances and we didn’t take ours. It’s not the worst-case scenario; at least we came out of the game with a point.
“I just think it was a game where they took their chances and we didn’t. They had two clear opportunities to score tries, and they took them. We made a few line-breaks but we didn’t make the best of them.”
There were other notable contributions from McFadden, like the power his low centre of gravity (sound familiar?) was able to muster to halt Rougerie in his tracks. “Going in at half-time, I thought we were very much in the driving seat. They looked like they were blowing, but they ran in the try early enough in the second half, and from there we were chasing it.”
Anthony Floch’s score on 53 minutes came after a period of relentless attacking from the French champions. That it came down McFadden’s wing is not a reflection on his defending, nor, he believes, should it shine a negative light on Gordon D’Arcy as the veteran centre has been one of the best tacklers for Ireland and Leinster this season.
“They had a bit of go-forward ball from pick-and-gos off the original line-break. We were down numbers, and I felt we didn’t get lads around the corner quickly enough. They had a lot of space out there. I came in on the winger (Nalaga) and unfortunately the 15 (Floch) stepped inside Darce and Isa.
“I didn’t really have a choice but to stick on him (Nalaga); the 15 was 15 metres to his right and I had to take a man. Unfortunately the 15 got in, in the corner.
“He (Floch) looked like he was going for the line; that’s why the lads were coming across so hard. Unfortunately he cut under and got in. But that’s it; we forget about it now and look towards next week.”
All told, the next generation of Leinster three-quarters stood up and were counted in the most intimidating of atmospheres. “The noise out there was unbelievable, it was actually deafening when they had a bit of go-forward ball, so hopefully next week when we’re in the Aviva the shoe will be on the other foot. It will make a massive difference when the crowd gets behind us.”
