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Ian Madigan’s peerless kicking sends Leinster past Bath into semi-finals Ian Madigan’s peerless kicking sends Leinster past Bath into semi-finals
(about 7 hours later)
The first of England’s quartet of quarter-finalists departed the Champions Cup, but not without a struggle based on wit and enterprise in Dublin. George Ford was at its heart, playing with calm authority and no mean speed to score the first of the game’s two tries and set up the other for Stuart Hooper.The first of England’s quartet of quarter-finalists departed the Champions Cup, but not without a struggle based on wit and enterprise in Dublin. George Ford was at its heart, playing with calm authority and no mean speed to score the first of the game’s two tries and set up the other for Stuart Hooper.
Bath went down running and passing. They were beaten by the boot of Ian Madigan on the scoreboard and by the pressure exerted by the Leinster forwards at the breakdown and scrum. In every sense, it was game of contrasts.Bath went down running and passing. They were beaten by the boot of Ian Madigan on the scoreboard and by the pressure exerted by the Leinster forwards at the breakdown and scrum. In every sense, it was game of contrasts.
There were grounds to believe that the feelgood factor of a Six Nations won in thrilling style by Ireland in March might spill over into April. Dublin was bright and dry, and the only thing stopping Leinster were their hands. Madigan seemed alive with a sense of adventure but his first attempt at a liberating pass went a yard – maybe two – forward.There were grounds to believe that the feelgood factor of a Six Nations won in thrilling style by Ireland in March might spill over into April. Dublin was bright and dry, and the only thing stopping Leinster were their hands. Madigan seemed alive with a sense of adventure but his first attempt at a liberating pass went a yard – maybe two – forward.
Related: Bath coach Mike Ford says ‘we should have won’ after defeat by Leinster
If that was the first little sign of adventure thwarted, the half ended with a more telling picture of a winter game not quite ready to surrender its grip. Fergus McFadden came off his wing to bury Anthony Watson in a man-and-ball special that left the full-back shaken and the crowd well stirred. Watson had earlier provoked their indignation by taking out Rob Kearney in the air as the Leinster full-back leapt to catch a restart.If that was the first little sign of adventure thwarted, the half ended with a more telling picture of a winter game not quite ready to surrender its grip. Fergus McFadden came off his wing to bury Anthony Watson in a man-and-ball special that left the full-back shaken and the crowd well stirred. Watson had earlier provoked their indignation by taking out Rob Kearney in the air as the Leinster full-back leapt to catch a restart.
Watson spent 10 minutes in the bin and the rest of the game in the bad books of the crowd. Incidentally, the tactic that led to his temporary absence was surely a little dubious, sending a kick-off towards one of the best catchers of a ball in the northern hemisphere. It is doubtful that Watson with his challenge was making some sort of gesture at the folly of kicking to Kearney, but it was worth making anyway.Watson spent 10 minutes in the bin and the rest of the game in the bad books of the crowd. Incidentally, the tactic that led to his temporary absence was surely a little dubious, sending a kick-off towards one of the best catchers of a ball in the northern hemisphere. It is doubtful that Watson with his challenge was making some sort of gesture at the folly of kicking to Kearney, but it was worth making anyway.
Bath had plenty of opportunities to employ a different type of restart. They conceded five kickable penalties and Madigan punished them with every one. He needed a bit of luck with just the one – it required a kindly rebound off the post to go over. Such good fortune eluded Ford, who missed with his first long penalty and rapped the post with the conversion of his own try. The ball did not go in-off.Bath had plenty of opportunities to employ a different type of restart. They conceded five kickable penalties and Madigan punished them with every one. He needed a bit of luck with just the one – it required a kindly rebound off the post to go over. Such good fortune eluded Ford, who missed with his first long penalty and rapped the post with the conversion of his own try. The ball did not go in-off.
The try at least was a thing of considerable beauty, Ford finishing a move started by Horacio Agulla with a counter from a high kick, continued by a surge from Francois Louw and ending with the outside-half dummying and accelerating past the forwards left marking him. Spring rugby – but soon shrivelled by the accumulation of Madigan’s nipping penalties.The try at least was a thing of considerable beauty, Ford finishing a move started by Horacio Agulla with a counter from a high kick, continued by a surge from Francois Louw and ending with the outside-half dummying and accelerating past the forwards left marking him. Spring rugby – but soon shrivelled by the accumulation of Madigan’s nipping penalties.
There was the promise of something more fruitful from Leinster immediately after the break – well, once they recovered and reshaped after McFaden’s exit with the dreaded concussion after colliding with Kyle Eastmond’s shoulder. They nearly worked McFadden’s replacement, Zane Kirchner, over in the corner, only for Micky Young to make a fine covering tackle in the corner. Seconds later, Kearney was just wide with a long drop-goal attempt.There was the promise of something more fruitful from Leinster immediately after the break – well, once they recovered and reshaped after McFaden’s exit with the dreaded concussion after colliding with Kyle Eastmond’s shoulder. They nearly worked McFadden’s replacement, Zane Kirchner, over in the corner, only for Micky Young to make a fine covering tackle in the corner. Seconds later, Kearney was just wide with a long drop-goal attempt.
The danger was that the sparkle had not produced points, a fact underlined when Ford ghosted trough again and slipped a sweet pass to the supporting Stuart Hooper from the second row. Ford converted from close-range and Bath were three points adrift. Spring rugby – swiftly followed by a chilly penalty conceded at the scrum and landed with a thump by Madigan for six out of six.The danger was that the sparkle had not produced points, a fact underlined when Ford ghosted trough again and slipped a sweet pass to the supporting Stuart Hooper from the second row. Ford converted from close-range and Bath were three points adrift. Spring rugby – swiftly followed by a chilly penalty conceded at the scrum and landed with a thump by Madigan for six out of six.
Madigan’s half-dozen against Bath’s enterprise. Watson ran out of deep defence, any thought of giving him the bird now giving way to the notion that here ran a very dangerous player – only for a long pass to be dropped by Agulla, who berated himself.Madigan’s half-dozen against Bath’s enterprise. Watson ran out of deep defence, any thought of giving him the bird now giving way to the notion that here ran a very dangerous player – only for a long pass to be dropped by Agulla, who berated himself.
Edgily the game moved into its closing chapter, the only generosity on offer being the reception afforded by the crowd to Peter Stringer, who became the third Ireland scrum-half of the day – after Isaac Boss and Eoin Reddan (all of them now behind Conor Murray).Edgily the game moved into its closing chapter, the only generosity on offer being the reception afforded by the crowd to Peter Stringer, who became the third Ireland scrum-half of the day – after Isaac Boss and Eoin Reddan (all of them now behind Conor Murray).
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The little things now mattered more than the greater spectacle. A penalty was awarded to Leinster – and applauded as a try – in their own third after Ford had pinned them back in the corner. A penalty then to Bath, after another attack initiated by their outside-half. With six and a half minutes to go, Ford lined up the kick. Over it went – three points the difference.The little things now mattered more than the greater spectacle. A penalty was awarded to Leinster – and applauded as a try – in their own third after Ford had pinned them back in the corner. A penalty then to Bath, after another attack initiated by their outside-half. With six and a half minutes to go, Ford lined up the kick. Over it went – three points the difference.
Another penalty soon came the visitors’ way, won by Louw over the ball at a ruck. It was too far out to permit a shot at goal, but it meant that Bath could remain on the attack until two and a half minutes remained. And then a pass to Matt Banahan was forward. The clock stopped for a specific injury to Jamie Heaslip and for everyone to have a general breather before the last blast.Another penalty soon came the visitors’ way, won by Louw over the ball at a ruck. It was too far out to permit a shot at goal, but it meant that Bath could remain on the attack until two and a half minutes remained. And then a pass to Matt Banahan was forward. The clock stopped for a specific injury to Jamie Heaslip and for everyone to have a general breather before the last blast.
Heaslip, conspicuous all day – in a way that Sean O’Brien was not – had to dig the ball out of the scrum that followed. Slowly, slowly it emerged – so slow that Reddan’s kick was charged down. A scrambled chase after the rebound led to a 22 drop out, which led breathlessly to a final penalty so close to overtime that the issue was settled.Heaslip, conspicuous all day – in a way that Sean O’Brien was not – had to dig the ball out of the scrum that followed. Slowly, slowly it emerged – so slow that Reddan’s kick was charged down. A scrambled chase after the rebound led to a 22 drop out, which led breathlessly to a final penalty so close to overtime that the issue was settled.
Leinster travel away for the semi final, to a south coast somewhere – either Brighton or Marseille. Summer rugby perhaps. More likely, they will keep their game tight and insulated, a winter game that has brought them this far.Leinster travel away for the semi final, to a south coast somewhere – either Brighton or Marseille. Summer rugby perhaps. More likely, they will keep their game tight and insulated, a winter game that has brought them this far.