AWESOME BLUES
Leinster book their place in ChampionsCupfinal... now it’s over to Munster
AT LANSDOWNE ROAD THE prospect of an all-Ireland Champions Cup final is just 80 minutes away after Leinster destroyed the Scarlets in Lansdowne Road. Now the expectation falls on Munster as they face Racing 92 of Paris in the second semifinal in Bordeaux today.
The winners of that match will go in as underdogs after Leinster’s awesome effort in yesterday’s encounter.
Leo Cullen’s team swept away their vaunted Welsh rivals, scoring five tries in a 38-16 triumph in which Johnny Sexton, James Ryan and Robbie Henshaw were excellent, and Scott Fardy was named man of the match.
‘We’ll watch with great interest and try and put a plan together based on what we’re seeing,’ said Cullen of
today’s decider.
‘It’s a great challenge. A final in Spain, it’s unusual but it’ll be a special day, we hope. We just need to do everything we can to give ourselves the best chance.
‘We’ve had two great days here but it’s a very different challenge now to go away to Spain.’
Munster face not only the prospect of tackling one of the French super-clubs, but they must also do so in temperatures expected to hit 28 degrees.
The needle didn’t climb that high in Dublin 4 yesterday, but conditions were perfect for a crowd of over 48,000 to watch Leinster return to the ruthless form that made them champions three times in four seasons between 2009 and 2012.
After the Grand Slam success and with Leinster and Munster formidable in the Pro14 as well, it is shaping up to be another extraordinary season for Irish rugby.
‘It’s human nature, you get really greedy. You want more,’ said Rob Kearney of the chase for more success.
‘We’re in a club and surrounded by so many ambitious, competitive people. The team is doing really well, chasing silverware, and there’s nothing worse than watching that from a couch.
‘Winning is such a great feeling, and the more you win, the more you want to win, and the more trophies you get, the greedier you are for more.
‘It’s greed, in a nice way.’
The only blot on the Leinster victory was an injury Fergus McFadden sustained in scoring their third try. They look certain to be without Sean O’Brien for the final after he had surgery on a shoulder injury on Friday.