JOR-DROPPING
Stunning interception try by pacey Larmour gets the European champions back on track in Bath
IF LEINSTER go on to retain their Champions Cup title in May, they will look back at last night’s win as a crucial step in their campaign.
The mark of a champion side is the ability to win ugly and get the job done when things aren’t going your way. Leinster had to negotiate difficult conditions, breakdown issues and a lack of fluency, but they came away with the win. That’s all that matters.
This was a gritty, hard-earned victory. Bath upset the odds and delivered their most aggressive and accomplished performance in what has been a patchy season thus far. Leinster had to grind this one out with Cian Healy, Man-of-the-Match James Ryan and Josh van der Flier putting in tireless shifts in the trenches.
Jordan Larmour’s intercept try ultimately proved the difference.
The sizeable Leinster support which made the trek from Dublin to Bristol yesterday morning endured a particular bumpy flight. It was a blowing a gale across the West Country all morning and the weather made for a tricky landing. Perhaps it was a sign of things to come.
The Recreation Ground is as picturesque a ground as you can find. Nestled along the Avon river, the Roman architecture that lines the city streets serves as a stunning backdrop. Bath were once kings of this land, but the club has fallen on hard times. They dominated the game in the ’90s and were the first English club to win the Heineken Cup in 1998. Those heady days seem a long time ago now.
Bruce Craig, a local who made his millions in the pharmaceutical industry, bought the club in 2010 and has been injecting serious funds into his new project ever since. For all that investment, the net result has been one Premiership final appearance.
Such is the depth in Leinster’s ranks, the visitors could lose Jack McGrath, Sean O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw and Joe Tomane to injury last month and barely miss a beat. They arrived here fully loaded with 11 of the heroes who defeated the All Blacks last month on board.
Bath, meanwhile, have been going through somewhat of an injury crisis. Their current casualty list is a stellar cast: Toby Faletau, Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson and Rhys Priestland are all out action.
They could call upon the services of Sam Underhill and Francois Louw, however. The all-action backrowers were everywhere during an attritional first half. Underhill set the tone with some thunderous hits in defence while Louw won three crucial breakdown turnovers. Leinster thrive off monopolising possession and bossing the breakdown but they met their match in twin-threat of Underhill and Louw.
The hosts were certainly up for the fight. The wet conditions and a heavy pitch made for a bit of a slog. Both sides were doing it tough with space at a premium.
Apart from Johnny Sexton’s penalty effort that hit the post, it was all Bath early doors. Todd Blackadder’s side deservedly took the lead after 22 minutes. Dan Leavy,perhaps showing some inexperience in the unfamiliar position of No8, was turned over at the base of the scrum and Bath’s forwards did not need a second invitation to attack.
Big carries from Tom Dunn and Dave Attwood laid the platform for tighthead Henry Thomas to muscle his way over the line. Veteran fly-half Wilson, deputising for the injured Freddie Burns, fired over the conversion to make it 7-0.
Leinster needed a foothold in the game and it came when Underhill coughed up possession. Noel Reid, deputising for Henshaw at inside centre, saw acres of space in behind and kicked through behind Joe Cokanasiga as Larmour gave chase. Sexton drilled the resulting penalty into touch.
Rhys Ruddock rose high to take the lineout and Cronin was driven over from the resulting drive. Sexton added the extras to make it 7-7. Thomas was having quite the game, the Bath tighthead running a brilliant line off Wilson to go 40 metres upfield but he could not link up his support. Another let-off for the visitors. Leinster hold onto the ball better than any team in Europe and they took Bath through 20-odd phases in the dying minutes of the first half. James Ryan, Dan Leavy and Ringrose all made big busts. Louw – who else? – would lift the siege with another turnover to send the Rec into raptures. Leinster got nothing all night, but were then handed a gift by the hosts in the 49th minute. Cronin’s wayward throw handed possession back to Bath but Wilson’s long pass was seen all the way by Larmour and the wing cantered in
from 50 metres. Sexton’s conversion gave Leinster the lead for the first time.
Wilson hooked a 52nd-minute penalty and there was a feeling that the tide was turning towards the visitors.
Cokanasiga could count himself lucky to concede just a penalty when he caught Luke McGrath with a high shot to the neck. After consolation with the TMO, referee Mathieu Raynal deemed the offence only worthy of a penalty.
Leinster weren’t helping themselves either.
James Tracy replaced Cronin on the hour mark and subsequently missed Ryan with his first lineout throw of the evening. Head coach Cullen had cleared the bench as Leinster looked to negotiate the final quarter.
James Lowe then lifted the siege with a brilliant kick and chase which culminated in the Kiwi winning a penalty on the deck after the backtracking Semesa Rokoduguni got isolated on the deck. Ross Byrne, who has replaced Noel Reid with 10 minutes remaining, stepped up to nail the 73rd-minute penalty. It gave the visitors vital breathing space, and ultimately the win.
Bath had plenty of fight left in them and went on one final assault. They had the final word thanks to a Wilson penalty on the hooter to secure a precious losing bonus point.
The sight of Sexton limping off towards the end of the game will be a cause for concern, but the reigning champions are back in business.