Leinster pushed to the Max as Deegan try proves crucial
LEINSTER withstood a fierce onslaught from Top 14 leaders Lyon to grind out a hard-fought Champions Cup win at the Stade de Gerland yesterday.
Leo Cullen’s men played much of the game without the ball, but their defence was up to the challenge as they repelled their French opponents’ powerful carriers.
The visitors scored the only try of the game through No. 8 Max Deegan, with Johnny Sexton kicking a conversion and two penalties on his second club appearance of the season.
Jonathan Wisniewski booted two Lyon penalties as they took a losing bonus point.
Sexton put the four-time European winners ahead from the tee after Lyon were penalised for a high tackle on centre Garry Ringrose in midfield.
The Ireland out-half had the opportunity to extend the lead after the hosts collapsed a maul from a line-out, but his penalty hit the left upright.
A wayward French pass saw Leinster intercept and lock James Ryan burst away before being brought down inside Lyon’s 22.
Cullen’s side refused to panic and recycled the ball for Deegan to score with Sexton subsequently converting.
Visiting wing Jordan Larmour was sent to the sin bin for picking the ball up from Lyon’s side of the ruck after Leinster had lost possession from their own put-in at a scrum.
Despite long periods of possession inside Leinster’s 22, the hosts were unable to make their pressure tell.
Last season’s finalists defended admirably despite conceding a couple of penalties under pressure to keep Lyon scoreless in a first half which ended with the clock in the
45th minute.
Lyon had two thirds of the possession and territory, but found it difficult to break down a resilient and stubborn Leinster defence which stood strong.
Leinster conceded consecutive penalties for collapsing the maul as Lyon forced their way into the 22 when the game resumed, but once again their defence made a crucial play. Cullen saw his pack force a turnover after the ball was unplayable on the ground.
The visitors had to make almost twice as many tackles, but always appeared to be in control when Lyon had the ball in hand.
The French outfit finally got on the board when Wisniewski slotted a penalty in the 67th minute after Leinster infringed at the line-out.
Sexton thought he had crossed for a game-winning try, but the score was chalked off after Garry Ringrose was penalised for preventing a possible tackle.
Referee Luke Pearce was playing a penalty advantage to Leinster, however, and Sexton kicked the penalty goal to extend his side’s lead to 10.
Wisniewski slotted a late penalty to ensure Lyon took something from the game, but Leinster’s impressive rearguard performance meant that was all they got.
It was Leinster’s second hard-fought win on the bounce, following last weekend’s fitful display at home to a resilient Treviso, when Ringrose’s hat-trick brilliance got them over the line.
With Northampton also going two-from-two following Dan Biggar’s match-winning kick in Treviso yesterday, it is all set up for a compelling back-to-back showdown between Leinster and the Saints (the 2011 finalists) and Cullen, though he can take satisfaction from this defensive performance, knows his men will have to show marked improvement next month.