Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DAN & BLAST
Leavy’s disallowed try proves decisive as brave Blues fall just short
IT was agony for Leinster in Lyon as Dan Leavy’s disallowed try proved the turning point in another enthralling semi-final against Clermont.
Five years on from their thrilling Bordeaux encounter, this time it was the French side who felt relief as they celebrated at the end as Leinster reflected on what might have been.
Leo Cullen’s men staged a superb comeback after finding themselves 15-0 down and all at sea in the opening quarter.
But instead of taking the lead for the first time in the 56th minute, they moved further behind in a crucial 10-point swing in Clermont’s favour.
Dan Leavy’s try was disallowed after TMO Jonathan Mason ruled that the Leinster flanker had impeded Aurelien Rougerie at the start of a scintillating counter-attack.
Footage showed that Leavy had held on to the veteran centre in the ruck, allowing Fergus Mcfadden room to initially launch the attack.
Camille Lopez nailed the resultant penalty for Clermont and instead of Leinster taking a 19-15 lead they found themselves 18-12 behind.
Then a drop goal by Lopez 15 minutes from time looked to have ended the province’s hopes for a second time, only for Garry Ringrose’s wondrous try opening the contest up again.
Ringrose – who missed out on a Lions pick last week – stepped, weaved and dummied his way over for a magnificent individual score.
Johnny Sexton’s conversion made it a two-point game with 10 minutes remaining.
Clermont had buckled under such pressure in the past but they finished strong in front of 30,000 of their supporters at Stade de Gerland.
Fritz Lee’s breakdown penalty win was capitalised on by Lopez and, after Scott Spedding missed a long-range penalty, the ice cool out-half stepped up to nail his second drop goal.
Crucially that made it a two-score game and though Sexton provided a last glimmer of hope with a 79th minute penalty to make it 27-22, there was no fairytale last match-winning play from the three-time champions.
Sexton blamed the defeat – his first at the semi-final stage – on Leinster’s awful start.
They needed a quick one but instead found themselves 15-0 down after 13 minutes – and with captain Isa Nacewa in the sin-bin.
David Strettle was Leinster’s early tormentor, providing the clever kicked assist for flanker Pecili Yato’s seventh minute try.
The 33-year-old winger was held back by Nacewa three minutes later and referee Nigel Owens showed the Kiwi the yellow card.
Clermont cashed in as Strettle ran outside Leavy and inside Joey Carbery on the right flank for his side’s second try.
Strettle then prevented a Leinster try in the 25th minute, forcing Carbery into a forward pass to Nacewa who had the Clermont line at his mercy.
With so many rookies at this level, the province had to box clever early on but instead played into Clermont’s hands.
Hooker Richardt Strauss mangled three lineout throws – the third
resulting in Strettle’s try. Clermont’s hunger was evident in how they attacked the breakdown and the absence of Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’brien was badly felt.
Clermont’s intensity had to drop but when it did, Leinster initally couldn’t take advantage.
But Morgan Parra missed a penalty as half-time approached and finally there was encouragement in additional time as Sexton cut the deficit to 12 points.
They were like a different side in the second half and a close-range
Sexton penalty as Leinster off-loaded up the pitch suggested they could stage a famous comeback.
Suddenly the superior force, a third Sexton penalty on the hour put his side within striking distance.
As Leavy finished off the lightning counter that involved Mcfadden, Robbie Henshaw and Sexton, it looked good for the Blues.
But it didn’t stand, and ultimately Clermont had the mental fortitude to prevail.