Mike Reidy
For only the third time in 30 years a European final went into extra-time, and for the third time in a row Leinster lose in the final.
Who would’ve thought that a tryless game of rugby could be so entertaining for 80 minutes
Anyway, what a great final it was at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the two top teams in Europe going at it for 100 mins . First of all Congratulations to Toulouse, it’s hard to argue that they were deserving winners, they played the better rugby over the 100mins.
The tone was set in only the second minute , with an unbelievable try saving tackle on Dupont by Gibson Park, Indiscipline was the killer for Leinster , going 6-0 down to 2 Kinghorn penalties in the first 10 mins , one from the halfway line.
Leinster responded well , getting 3 penalties in succession, but choosing to go to the corner , which in hindsight, may not have been the right decision, The fourth penalty award was converted by Ross Byrne , with Kinghorn and Byrne exchanging one more each before half time . 9-6 to Toulouse.
Leinster never took the lead in the game and frustratingly did not take their points when they were on offer.
The breakdown was a contentious issue all day , with Leinster choosing to not put many bodies to secure rucks , in turn conceding several breakdown turnovers , some one could say illegally , with side entries, something referee Carley chose to ignore.
By full time the score line changed pretty much penalty for penalty and ended at full time 15-15 , with Frawley missing a drop goal attempt in the final minutes with his effort drifting a metre wide.
So extra time, which started badly for Leinster , with James Lowe going to the bin for 10mins in the second minute, by the letter of the law , the correct decision. Then with Frawley down injured and Leinster down to 13 , Toulouse struck with the first try of the game , converted , and then another penalty putting them 10 ahead.
A red card for a head hit on Cian Healy , meant Arnold was off for the rest of the game and we had James Lowe back on. JVDF scored a try , converted by Frawley. I personally thought that with a man advantage and only 3 points down for the second half of extra time Leinster would prevail but alas it wasn’t to be , with a couple of more penalties converted by Ramos 31-22 final score .
Questions post match
The handling errors were very uncharacteristic and that needs to be sorted.
Should Leinster have resourced the breakdown with more bodies , giving JGP more protection?
Should Leinster have taken 3 kickable penalties , instead of going into the corner ?
Absolutely no doubting that we witnessed one of the best Cup Finals even without a try in normal time , but it’s hard not to think that for Leinster, it was another one that got away .
People suggesting Leo Cullen’s time is up is a little premature however it’s fair to say that success in the Remaining URC is almost imperative.
Next up in the URC – Leinster v Connacht, Friday evening in the RDS while Munster are up against Ulster on Saturday in Thomond.