Sexton stars as Leinster see off Sharks in thriller
THE Sharks played their part in a scintillating 13try tussle which Leinster clinically closed out for a bonus-point win at the RDS yesterday evening. A crowd of almost 17,000 enjoyed the gripping clash, played in perfect autumn conditions, with Johnny Sexton running the show on his first start of the season.
However, there was some bad news for the home side as Ryan Baird was removed from the pitch on a medical cart in the second half after he took a hard fall following a collision with two Sharks players in the air.
‘He’s okay, but it was a nasty enough fall,’ said head coach Leo Cullen. ‘I was chatting to him there, and he’s okay, and we’ll make sure he goes through the graduated return to play [protocols].’
Leinster also saw Rhys Ruddock and Luke McGrath leave the pitch for head injury assessments.
The Sharks, without their South African internationals, arrived in Dublin with two wins from two games on the road.
A breathless six-try first half ended 21-20 in Leinster’s favour, the Sharks twice taking the lead but Garry Ringrose’s second score edged the hosts ahead.
Jason Jenkins and Aphelele Fassi traded early seven-pointers and the South Africans surged thanks to back-to-back efforts from Werner Kok and Thaakir Abrahams.
Fassi and Abrahams went on to bag braces, but Leinster finished much the stronger as Andrew Porter, Robbie Henshaw, Rob Russell, captain Sexton – who converted all bar one of the eight tries – and John McKee all crossed after the break.
Second-row Jenkins crashed over after just four minutes to give Leinster the ideal start as Sexton added the extras.
However, they were forced into a reshuffle due to the enforced departure of Ruddock, a late replacement himself for Jack Conan, who had pulled out before kick-off. Martin Maloney came on at No 8.
Nice hands from Ben Tapuai and Boeta Chamberlain sent Fassi knifing through in the ninth minute, with Chamberlain’s conversion levelling it. Leinster conceded six penalties inside the opening 23 minutes, the latest one allowing Chamberlain to make it 10-7.
Brought on as a replacement for Jordan Larmour, who limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, Ringrose replied with a terrific seven-pointer, bouncing off one defender, sidestepping another and showing his strength to make the line.
However, Sexton’s conversion for 14-10 was followed by a first-phase Kok try, which saw Abrahams shine in the build-up, and Rohan Janse van Rensburg then sent Abrahams over.
Henshaw’s deft kick out to the right saw Ringrose complete his brace in the 37th minute, the conversion from Sexton giving Leinster a one-point interval lead.
Early second-half pressure put Porter over for a 46th-minute bonus-point try, only for the jet-heeled Abrahams to hit back with an early try-of-the-season contender.
From there, Leinster pushed on despite losing Baird.
Henshaw scored from Charlie Ngatai’s clever kick and Cormac Foley set up Russell for his first provincial try.
Sexton and Fassi exchanged chip-and-chase scores, before an ill-tempered spell saw Sharks centre Janse van Rensburg sent off for a high tackle on Ross Byrne. McKee mopped up with a 75th-minute maul try.
Cullen was pleased with how his side performed. ‘I thought we started with good intent, the guys
did a decent week’s work. We prepared well for this game, we knew it would be a good challenge.
‘The Sharks have that bit of cohesion and togetherness off the back of two wins, and with Noel [McNamara] coming back here, there were lots of factors we were concerned about.
‘They tested us out, and I thought the way we responded, scoring some great tries, there are lots of positive things in the game.’
The South African sides undoubtedly add an extra factor to a league which had often seen Leinster untested.
‘It’s a totally different ball game we’re up against in this competition,’ said Cullen.
‘The South African teams have picked up wins.
‘Even the Lions, who would have lost a lot of players to the likes of the Sharks, they picked up wins on the road, so they’re circling.
‘It’s created a totally different dynamic to the competition.’ LEINSTER: J O’Brien; J Larmour (G Ringrose 21), R Henshaw, C Ngatai (R Byrne 72), R Russell; J Sexton (capt), L McGrath (C Foley 40); A Porter (C Healy 62), D Sheehan, M Ala’alatoa (V Abdaladze 72); R Molony, J Jenkins; R Baird (J Ryan 49), W Connors (J McKee 74), R Ruddock (M Moloney 5).
ScoRERS – Tries: Jenkins, Ringrose (2), Porter, Henshaw, Sexton, Russell, McKee. cons: Sexton (7). SHARKS: A Fassi; W Kok, R J Van Rensburg, B Tapuai, T Abrahams (M Potgieter 68); B Chamberlain (N Fleurs 72), G Williams (C Wright 60); N Mchunu (D Bleuler 60), K van Vuuren (D Jooste 60), T du Toit (capt) (C Sadie 60); J Basson (R Hugo 16), H Andrews; J Venter, D Richardson, S Notshe (P Buthelezi, 60).
REd cARd: Van Rensburg 74.
ScoRERS – Tries: Fassi (2), Kok, Abrahams (2).
Pen: Chamberlain (1). cons: Chamberlain (2). REfEREE: Craig Evans [WRU]