SEXTON CONCERN AS LEINSTER CRUSH SAINTS
JOHNNY SEXTON’S second-half injury cast a shadow over Leinster’s thrashing of Premiership leaders Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens yesterday.
The out-half went off shortly after the restart with what appeared to be a right knee problem, though it made little difference to Leinster, who ran out comfortable seven-try winners.
‘He has a bit of strapping on his knee,’ said coach Leo Cullen. ‘He will get a scan tomorrow and we’ll see what sort of extent it is. He’s a little uncomfortable there at the moment.’
Sexton looks likely to miss the return fixture in Aviva Stadium next week, and new Ireland coach Andy Farrell will also be anxiously awaiting the results of the scan as he prepares for the Six Nations.
Lock James Ryan suffered a head injury and was taken off in the latter stages of the game. He will undergo the return to play protocols and could also miss the return fixture.
Cullen was happy with his side’s display. ‘We’re just trying to build cohesion with the guys coming back from the World Cup and that’s taking a bit of time. This was a positive step but we’ll get better each week and continue to improve,’ he added.
Northampton had been superb until colliding with Leinster, catching the eye with an attacking style that was matched by results in the form of six wins from seven outings.
But they were taught a lesson in European rugby by the four-time champions, who fielded greater firepower in most departments and who were able to call on a watertight defence to contain Northampton’s assault in the final half-hour.
A seventh win in eight meetings between the sides places the Blues in full control of Pool One.
It took only 131 seconds for Leinster to draw first blood as they pounced on a Northampton mistake in midfield, with full-back Jordan Larmour tearing downfield before sending James Lowe over.
Clean line-out ball enabled Saints to respond as Ahsee Tuala and Teimana Harrison made big carries through the middle and, when the move swept left, quick hands ended with Tuala diving over in the right corner.
Larmour’s scorching start continued as he took Sexton’s clever inside ball and stepped his way into space, offering scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park sight of the line only for Cobus Reinach to capitalise on a moment’s hesitation with a covering tackle.
Leinster were not to be denied however and, after several surges,
Rhys Ruddock forced his way over.
Dan Biggar’s accuracy from the kicking tee, combined with his cunning break-up field, helped Northampton regain the lead against the run of play – but they were unable to score again.
After a bright spell from Saints, when they profited from being more direct, Leinster built pressure once more and their power from close range was irresistible as prop Andrew Porter burrowed a path through the home pack.
The second half opened with another searing run from Larmour and his injection of pace was the prelude to waves of forward carries that ended when Cian Healy touched down.
It was the worst possible start to the second-half for the hosts and they were in danger of being blown away as Cullen’s men immediately renewed their attack through Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw.
This time Ross Byrne was on hand to finish and to compound home misery, co-captain Alex Waller was sent to the sin-bin for a shove from behind moments before the try was scored.
Sexton’s exit failed to affect Irish momentum but a setback did arrive in the form of a yellow card for Ringrose for his tiptackle on Biggar, who had recovered from a toe injury to take his place at flyhalf.
Leinster’s defence held firm as Northampton cranked up the intensity but a series of handling errors at key moments proved costly.
Ireland lock Ryan limped off but it made no odds as additional blows were landed when replacements Luke McGrath and Ed Byrne touched down. Northampton boss Chris Boyd admitted his side had received a ‘reality check’.
‘One of the spectators said to me as he walked past the box that it’s a part of the education. There are not many sides in the Premiership that can step it up like that,’ Boyd said.
‘We were in the game at half-time but I got the feeling they probably had more petrol left in the tank than we did. It was a reality check.
‘It’s a learning for us that there’s another level of physicality and fitness required if we’re going to compete with teams like Leinster.
‘When you play the best sides in Europe, like Leinster are, having Owen Franks, Courtney Lawes, Dave Ribbands unavailable makes a difference.
‘Leinster defended outstandingly well in that block. We didn’t ask enough questions of them and we were a little bit inaccurate because of the time pressure they put on us.’
Meanwhile, Boyd, who revealed that Lawes will not return until later in the month because of a hamstring injury, categorically ruled out signing England scrum-half Ben Youngs from Leicester for next season.
Reports have stated that Youngs could be joining Tigers’ bitter rivals.
‘I have never spoken to Ben Youngs in my life and we have
absolutely no interest in Ben Youngs at Northampton Saints. Is that reasonably clear?’ Boyd said.
‘We are looking for young guys with potential. Ben Youngs has been wonderful for Leicester and for England. Leicester are his club.
‘I am not interested in recruiting a 30-year-old from another club in England. You can put that one to bed. It is probably his agent looking for another 100k. Nothing to do with us.’
Northampton Saints: A Tuala (P Francis 57), T Collins, M Proctor, R Hutchinson, T Naiyaravoro; D Biggar (J Grayson 62), C Reinach (C Tupai 65): A Waller (F van Wyk 57), M Haywood (M van Vuuren 58), E Painter (P Hill 50); A Moon, A Ratuniyarawa; T Wood (L Ludlam 50), J Gibson (A Coles 62), T Harrison.
Yellow card: Waller (47).
Scorers: tries: Tuala. cons: Biggar. pens: Biggar 3. Leinster: J Larmour, D Kearney, G Ringrose, R Henshaw (R Kearney 74), J Lowe; J Sexton (R Byrne 43), J Gibson-Park (L McGrath 53); C Healy (E Byrne 53), R Kelleher (J Tracy 53), A Porter (T Furlong 53); D Toner, J Ryan (M Deegan 75); R Ruddock (S Fardy 55), J van der Flier, C Doris.
Yellow card: Ringrose (53). Scorers: tries: Lowe, Ruddock, Porter, Healy, McGrath, E Byrne, R Byrne. cons: Sexton (2), R Byrne (2). referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France).