A BLAST FROM THE PAST
Leinster show they can match their lauded 2012 champions
‘We had to rethink a lot of the things we were doing, it clearly wasn’t good enough’
THEY may not yet be the force of 2012, but Leinster are hurtling towards that standard. The last team from the province to win the European Cup completed successive triumphs under Joe Schmidt.
They had Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Eoin Reddan, Leo Cullen, Brad Thorn and Jamie Heaslip. Those players formed a column of class and experience that was unbeatable. The current team is closing in on that standard.
For Cullen and Thorn, they have Devin Toner and James Ryan. They thrashed the Scarlets with second choices at scrum half and No8, and the next three weeks should see Luke McGrath and Jack Conan fully fit for the final.
And in the centres, they have a duo that may lack the worldwide fame of D’Arcy and O’Driscoll but who look as if they could match anything achieved by their great predecessors. were fluid strong Robbie marvellous mover in Henshaw defence. in attack on Henshaw, Saturday, and and Garry deceptively meanwhile, the Ringrose latter a was Given the the best importance player on the of the pitch. match and the extent of his influence in providing Leinster with momentum, his display was excellent. But remember that it was his first game in 10 weeks, since injuring a shoulder against Italy in the Six Nations.
To recover so quickly, and play as he did against a confident, attacking side many expected to beat Leinster, was staggering. Henshaw (below) has occasionally wowed since joining from Connacht, but this match brought his elevation to Leinster leader, alongside Rob Kearney, Johnny ‘It was Sexton a serious and Toner. effort to get back in that time-frame,’ said Cullen afterwards.
‘When Connacht won the Pro12 [final] in Murrayfield, I said afterwards in the press I was glad that player was going to be in our team next year (Henshaw moved in the summer of 2016).
‘He has set a great example the way he goes about his business and a pleasure to have here.’
One of the irresistible clichés in rugby is picking alternative Lions teams — in particular a year after a tour.
It stretches hindsight to snapping point, of course, but by that measure Henshaw would be in a Test team picked today based on his form before the injury — and after, if his turn 25 until June 12. first get his ‘he been can ‘It shoulder,’ has better, is see 80 He working not minutes used is, he just said too, is on the Cullen getting working his Cullen, back and time skills he explained, is back going and instructive. and himself doesn’t from has you to physically. coming from James prodigy back Ryan He from continues is to faster his senior shoulder.’ and to fitter glide star unchecked, playing O’Brien so does well and eventually Dan that, Leavy when recover is Sean now a sustainable struggle to level start of a fitness, game for he will his province or his country at No7 if Leavy is fit. Sexton was immense, Kearney is playing to a remarkable standard given the amount of games he has in his legs, and Scott Fardy is an Australian import impressing so much that memories of Rocky Elsom’s 2009 influence are being stirred. Cullen and Stuart Lancaster are at the centre of this group’s development, and that is only down to Cullen’s humility. Not many coaches would work with such a renowned figure.
But it has transformed this province. If the form they showed in splintering the Scarlets is repeated, they are unbeatable.
There was more to their return to Europe’s steepest climbs than a rejigged coaching team, Cullen pointed out. When Leinster last ruled Europe, the elite featured English sides, as well as French aristocrats Toulouse.
The last half-decade has wrought bewildering change in the game.
New money feeds new ambitions, and for a while Leinster couldn’t adapt to that.
‘If you see some of the clubs (that competed) when Leinster were winning trophies, the landscape is completely different now, the likes of Saracens and Racing.
‘We had to rethink a lot of the things we were doing. It clearly wasn’t good enough for us so we had to get back to the drawing board and work incredibly hard.
‘Ultimately, it will be good for the club because it’s certainly had to focus a lot of minds for us to improve and get better. It’s nice to be back at this stage again.’
What distinguished their win two days ago was the ability to shift through different styles, as the day demanded. Scarlets would have been most comfortable with a style that reflected their own, a running game Leinster are certainly capable of rolling out.
And they did eventually — but only after they battered the Welsh side first. They made them defend in a manner the Scarlets might not have expected. Henshaw carried a huge amount of ball down the middle of their defence.
Leinster then attacked the subsequent rucks ferociously, and two tries in the first half an hour were the reward.
That obliged Scarlets to chase, but they couldn’t raise a gallop. Leinster streaked clear, and it is hard to see them being snared this side of Bilbao. LEINSTER: R Kearney; F McFadden (J Larmour 23), G Ringrose, R Henshaw, I Nacewa; J Sexton (capt, J Carbery 62), J Gibson-Park (N McCarthy 72); C Healy (J McGrath 54), S Cronin (J Tracy 58), T Furlong (A Porter 62), D Toner, J Ryan (R Molony 71), S Fardy, D Leavy (J Conan 67), J Murphy. SCARLETS: R Patchell; L Halfpenny, S Williams (S Hughes 75), H Parkes, S Evans (D Evans 75); D Jones, G Davies (A Davies 71), R Evans, K Owens (capt) (R Elias 53), S Lee (W Kruger 53), T Beirne, D Bulbring (L Rawlins 55), A Shingler (S Cummins 67), J Davies, J Barclay (W Boyde 71). Referee: R Poite (France).