Exeter Chiefs rescue bonus point in defeat to Leinster
LEINSTER staged a stunning fightback after the break to recover from two firsthalf sin-binnings and claim a fourth Champions Cup win of the season, which all but ends Exeter’s hopes of a first trip to the knock-out stages.
Exeter led 17-3 after 32 minutes but Isa Nacewa’s assured goal-kicking and Luke McGrath’s secondhalf try saw Leinster maintain their unbeaten European status.
Exeter can now focus on the defence of their Premiership title, but their head coach Rob Baxter was delighted with the challenge his players faced.
“The guys should get better as a result of today. It’s a fantastic place to come and the closest to international quality we can get,” said Baxter.
“We’re annoyed with the soft points we gave up at the end of the first half, but we can see the improvements we have made over the last seven days.”
Exeter crossed for a try after just three minutes when Sam Skinner drove over the line. Gareth Steenson converted to make it 7-0 which signalled a real statement of intent from the Chiefs after Leinster put them to the sword last weekend.
But there was a double blow for the hosts as Jonathon Sexton had to exit the fray after taking a heavy hit in the build-up to the try. Ross Byrne replaced him but was soon injured too after a heavy collision with Nic White on seven minutes.
In the absence of Sexton and Byrne, kicking duties fell to captain Nacewa and he got Leinster off the mark in the 11th minute with a penalty from 40 metres after the visitors were penalised for going offside by referee Pascal Gauzere.
Healy was shown a yellow card in the 18th minute after a shoulder charge on Luke CowanDickie, a punishment that could have been a red considering the prop made contact with CowanDickie’s head when he hit a ruck.
Leinster managed to keep Exeter scoreless during Healy’s absence but shortly after his return, the Premiership champions pushed on. Steenson slotted a penalty from distance and Baxter’s men crossed for their second try of the evening on 31 minutes through Cowan-Dickie.
Scott Fardy became the second Leinster player to be sin-binned as he was punished for pulling down the maul from which Cowan-Dickie scored. Steenson converted the try to give the Chiefs a commanding 17-3 lead heading into half-time.
But despite their numeric disadvantage, Leinster finished the half strongly as Nacewa kicked two inspirational penalties from distance to make it 17-9 to the Chiefs at the interval.
Nacewa narrowed the gap further in the 56th minute with his fourth penalty of the evening and soon after he slotted another to bring Leinster within two points of the Chiefs.
The comeback was on and the decisive try came in the 66th minute as Dan Leavy thundered forward before offloading to Luke McGrath who darted clear to score.