Following a 41-17 victory for Leinster over Ulster, here are our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship clash at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The top line
Leinster extended their lead at the summit of the United Rugby Championship table as they went another step towards cementing number one spot heading into the play-offs.
Leo Cullen may have rotated for this encounter but they were still far too strong for Ulster as they romped to a dominant win. For the first time since late March, Leinster did concede a point when Jack Murphy kicked a penalty, but from thereon in there was only one winner.
Tries for Tommy O’Brien, who was exceptional, and Thomas Clarkson set them on their way and, although Cormac Izuchukwu responded for the visitors, they were awarded a penalty try just before the break which proved to be the killer blow.
A minute into the second period, Garry Ringrose pounced against 14 men and Ulster never recovered after that with Dan Sheehan once again showing his try-scoring prowess by touching down three times.
It duly proved that the massive gulf in class between Leinster and the other three Irish provinces remains and, if anything, continues to get wider.
Actual points
It feels rather patronising to congratulate a team for kicking three points but, considering how remarkable that Leinster defence has been, Ulster deserve credit for at least getting something on the board.
In the eighth minute, Murphy became the first player since Jordan Hendrikse, who converted Bongi Mbonambi’s try in the Sharks’ 10-7 loss in Durban, to breach that rearguard. Hendrikse’s effort was on March 29 and since then Leinster have kept Harlequins and Glasgow Warriors scoreless in the Investec Champions Cup.
Granted, Ulster were facing a weaker Leinster outfit than the one that was selected in Europe but Murphy’s three-pointer was just reward for a bright start. Ulster would also manufacture a fine try when Izuchukwu sped through a gap and touched down, but that was as good as it got.
They would create further chances after that but once again the hosts’ defence was immense. If the frontline is breached then the cover defence will ultimately track across and stop the attack with Jacques Nienaber bringing a Springbok-like mentality to the Dublin-based team.
The key moment
The last 20 minutes is obviously vital but the period either side of the break is when the best teams strike and change the game. The All Blacks were famously potent just before and after half-time during their glory years under Sir Graham Henry and Sir Steve Hansen, and Leinster have the ability to do the same.
On Saturday, the match was finely poised heading into the interval with the hosts just 12-10 in arrears. There appeared genuine hope for Ulster, but that evaporated following a penalty try on the stroke of half-time when David McCann was deemed to have collapsed a maul.
Against most teams it would not have been a disaster but, when you’re playing Leinster, it is and a minute into the second period, Cullen’s men took advantage of the extra man as Ringrose touched down. A lead of just two therefore became a 12-point buffer and they would go on to claim a comfortable win.
Who can stop Leinster?
Once again, the Irish giants rotated and once again it did not matter. At the moment, it’s as though Leinster can field who they want and pretty much expect to win, particularly at home. The squad is so strong, so deep and so connected that they just look unstoppable, with every player knowing exactly what their role is when they step out onto the pitch.
What’s more, the players will be fresh come the business end of the campaign as the continual rotation will enable them to be physically ready when the big matches come around. Of course, Leinster still need to be careful as they have been stung in the past – the lack of silverware over the past four years is testament to that – but this season feels different.
They have obviously always been a quality outfit but, with the additions of Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett, and the fact that Nienaber has had a full season with the squad, it is difficult to see past the Irish giants in either the URC or Champions Cup. They are surely on for the double.
Ulster’s play-off chances
Following this defeat – an eighth in 15 matches in the URC – they reside outside the play-offs in 10th position, but they are just three points behind the Stormers, who currently take the final place in the top-eight.
Ulster are therefore set for three huge matches as they look to provide some positivity in what has been another disappointing campaign. They still have a chance to make the end of season shake-up, but it is not the easiest run-in.
First up is the Sharks at Kingspan Stadium, a team that were perhaps fortunate to escape Edinburgh with a victory on Friday but who are pretty much back to full strength. In the Scottish capital, they fielded a staggering 12 Springboks in the XV and will be mightily tough proposition for the Irish province next weekend.
A loss there and you rather fear for Ulster’s chances as they finish with two away games against sides that are also chasing the top-eight in Munster and Edinburgh. They may need to win both of those which on current form appears unlikely.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/leinster-v-ulster-five-takeaways-as-jacques-nienabers-defence-finally-breached-but-hosts-victory-shows-the-gulf-in-class
