Leinster (10) 37 Tries: C Healy, Horgan, S Keogh, R Kearney Cons: Nacewa (4) Pens: Nacewa (3) Edinburgh (14) 28 Tries: Thompson, Robertson 2, Kelly Cons: Godman (4)
 Edinburgh's Phil Godman is tackled by Brian O'Driscoll of Leinster |
Leinster came from behind for a victory that sealed a home Magners League semi-final against Munster and ended Edinburgh's hopes of squeezing through. Two late converted tries by replacement flanker Stephen Keogh and full-back Rob Kearney helped the province secure top spot in the final league table. Edinburgh had led 14-0 through tries from Jim Thompson and Mark Robertson. Cian Healy and Shane Horgan replied for Leinster before Edinburgh got further tries from Andrew Kelly and Robertson. Stand-in out-half Isa Nacewa, filling in for Shaun Berne who sustained a knock in the warm-up, landed seven kicks from seven attempts. The first quarter was scoreless but that all changed in the 23rd minute when Edinburgh's Robertson put Thompson through for a try and Phil Godman added the conversion. Luck was then on Edinburgh's side as referee Peter Fitzgibbon missed a clear case of crossing and Robertson beat the first tackle to make it all the way to the line.  Leinster's Jamie Heaslip in action against Greig Laidlaw of Edinburgh |
Leinster got on the scoreboard, four minutes before half-time, when Jamie Heaslip attacked off the base of a scrum, and his back row colleague Kevin McLaughlin took it on before prop Healy burrowed over from a ruck. Nacewa kicked the conversion and followed up with a penalty as Leinster ended the half on the attack, but facing a 14-10 deficit. They made a good start to the second period as Nacewa cantered through and passed for Horgan to score in the left corner. Nacewa added the conversion and a further penalty gave them 20-14 lead. Edinburgh responded in the 64th minute when the alert Kelly collected a loose ball off a ruck to muscle over under the posts. Godman converted and, just a minute later, added the extras to Robertson's second try as he sprinted through a gap between Horgan and O'Driscoll. But the long-time league leaders failed to panic and got back within scoring range. Nacewa kicked his third penalty, closing the gap to 28-23, and then visiting prop Allan Jacobsen and number eight Allister Hogg were sin-binned in quick succession for ruck offences close to their posts. In a nail-biting finish, Leinster drew level when Keogh, supported by McLaughlin, crashed over and Nacewa's conversion edged the hosts ahead. When Godman's snap drop-goal attempt was blocked by Kearney, Leinster sensed blood and the full-back won the race to Hines's hack through to register the bonus point. Nacewa drew over the conversion to complete his impressive 17-point tally.
Leinster: R Kearney, Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Dempsey, Nacewa, Reddan, C. Healy, Fogarty, Wright, Cullen, Hines, McLaughlin, D. Ryan, Heaslip. Replacements: McFadden for D'Arcy (63), Ross for Wright (58), O'Kelly for Cullen (78), S. Keogh for D. Ryan (48). Edinburgh: Thompson, Robertson, Cairns, De Luca, Visser, Godman, Laidlaw, Jacobsen, Ford, Traynor, MacLeod, S. Turnbull, MacDonald, R. Grant, Hogg. Replacements: Kelly for Ford (61), G. Cross for Traynor (52), Newlands for MacDonald (33). Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Attendance: 11,836
|
Bookmark with:
What are these?