IMMORTAL, HEROES, LEGENDS

Super Blues write name into history books

HATS OFF to Leinster – whose beret good performance earned them a nerve-jangling, recordequalling fourth final victory in Bilbao.

The Blues left it late at the San Mames Stadium, taking the lead for the first time with two minutes left having failed to fire for long periods.

An absorbing encounter was in the melting pot right to the end as Racing’s Remi Tales (right) – a late call-up to the bench after Dan Carter withdrew late with a hamstring injury – lined up a drop-goal that would have put the final into extra-time.

But the French international was well off-target and Champions Cup glory belonged to the Irish province, who made it nine wins from nine in Europe this season.

And now they join Toulouse at the top of the pile in European rugby’s premier club competition.

Racing, with former Munster star Donnacha Ryan in their ranks, arrived onto the pitch wearing berets just before kick-off.

And that wasn’t the only offscript moment as the Parisiens, in their second final, took the game to the hot favourites – only for Leinster to keep their nerve in a hair-raising finale. Fittingly Isa Nacewa, in his last European game for the province, slotted the final two penalties to clinch the victory.

In fairness to Racing, they expertly absorbed a couple of seismic shocks just before and after kick-off. First came the news that former All Black outhalf Carter was off the bench.

Then, in only the third minute, Racing lost their starting no 10 Pat Lambie with a twisted ankle.

So Tales was on but, with influential scrum-half Maxime Machenaud also out through injury, the Top 14 outfit had to rely on their secondchoice no 9 – Teddy Ibaren – and thirdchoice out-half.

In fact Ibaren, 27, had a stormer of a game, kicking all his side’s points - out-scoring Johnny Sexton, who was facing his former club.

Ibaren’s third minute penalty was the start Racing wanted and Ryan led the lineout pressure on Leinster from the off.

Racing were relieved when the Nenagh man was able to continue after a heavy 11th minute fall following a line-out tussle with his former Ireland second row partner Devin Toner. A 15th minute Sexton penalty restored parity but Scott Fardy collapsed a maul six minutes later and Ibaren converted the penalty. Leinster sensed a big opportunity in the 32nd minute when they were awarded a penalty in the Racing 22. But following Sexton’s quick tap, Leavy was penalised for holding on – copping a bloody forehead for his troubles. Nevertheless the sides were level at half-time, Sexton converting a 38th minute penalty when Luke Mcgrath’s attempt to find his halfback partner was thwarted by Leone Nakarawa’s deliberate knock-on. Leinster needed a fast start to the second half but Nacewa sloppily kicked straight into touch – and then a mistake by Leavy handed their opponents precious momentum. Ibaren made it 9-6 in the 46th minute but Sexton was gifted a difficult chance just inside the Racing half soon after. The Dubliner, howevwer, slipped and struck wide.

Strangely, Nacewa kicked straight into touch again from the restart – but Sexton levelled it up in the 53rd minute, when Ryan was pinged for a no-arm tackle on Cian Healy.

A brilliant James Ryan lineout steal put the Blues back on the charge three minutes later.

Leavy’s high tackle on Henry Chavancy handed Ibaren a similar long distance chance - with the same result. But with nine minutes left, sub Andrew Porter was penalised and Ibaren nailed the kick.

The lead lasted four minutes this time, Nacewa stepping up to slot the penalty over with Racing offside as Sexton felt the effects of a bang.

Crucially, Leinster looked in control in the closing minutes. Jack Conan put Teddy Thomas into touch and, as the Blues rumbled forward, Racing were again blown up for offside.

Nacewa popped the close-range penalty over, but there was still time for Racing to get into position for an equalising drop goal.

Unlike Sexton in Paris back in February, Tales couldn’t deliver and Leinster’s coronation followed.

Now Leinster join Tolouse at top of pile in European competition