JACK & CHILL AT CRUNCH MOMENT
A SCARY thought occurred to Jack Conan as he made the crucial tackle that turned the tide Leinster’s way in Saturday’s final.
What if he was the man to lose the Champions Cup for his province?
Back row Conan came on for Jordi Murphy in the 62nd minute and, 14 minutes later, he tackled Teddy Thomas into touch to earn a Leinster lineout.
Soon after, the Blues forced a penalty and
Isa Nacewa slotted over the winning score with 90 seconds remaining.
“I potentially thought I was going to tackle him high because there were a lot of those kind of ‘seat-belt’ tackles, and people got done for it,” said Conan.
“He tried to fend me off and I blocked him down and luckily got underneath his arm. It was legal and it was low, but it was on the verge.
“That was the kind of moment you hope won’t come your way, that you
will lose the game for the lads off the bench.
“I would have been absolutely miserable – so I’m happy I got that one right anyway.”
Then, in the closing seconds, Leinster had to keep their discipline to avoid conceding a penalty that would have forced extra-time.
In the end, Racing were forced to go for a risky drop-goal that Remi Tales missed.
“It’s tough,” said Conan. “We were extremely eager to get off the line and make hits but it was a difference of inches.
“If you go a step offside and the whistle is blown then you’ve lost the game for the lads.”