Man-of-the-match: Cian Healy
Leinster handed themselves a chance of progressing to the Heineken Cup knockout stages after beating Exeter 29-20 with a bonus-point on Saturday.
The five-point win means Munster must take the maximum against Racing at Thomond Park on Sunday if they are to dump out the champions.
Leinster are currently on 20 points with 12 tries to their name while Munster sit on 15 points (9 tries) and will thus know what needs to be done when they run out to face the Parisians in Limerick.
The champions crossed the whitewash before the break through Ireland duo Gordon D'Arcy and Rob Kearney before Brian O'Driscoll went over for their third while the fourth came in the 53rd minute through imposing number eight Jamie Heaslip.
Leinster made three changes to their pack which saw Richardt Strauss join Sean O'Brien and Kevin McLaughlin as the three newcomers from last week's win over the Scarlets. O'Driscoll returned to the back line, with Johnny Sexton joined by Eoin Reddan in an international half-back partnership.
Exeter meanwhile, had sold out Sandy Park for the final home game of their first venture into Heineken Cup competition, making three changes to their side which had lost in France last week. Injuries in the back line saw Sireli Naqelevuki and Ian Whitten return to the back line, with Dean Mumm introduced to the second row.
The Irish side scored first, with inside centre D'Arcy going over on five minutes, after great tactical kicking by Sexton had earned a line-out five metres from the Exeter line.
Both sides had chosen to forgo the opportunity of points from the boot, a tactic that paid off for the home side, with Neil Clark driving over the line from a line-out maul on 17 minutes.
The Leinster forwards piled on the pressure half an hour in, for Kearney to find the line after a good back line move.
Exeter's line-out driving caused further problems for Leinster just minutes later, as referee Romain Poite awarded a penalty try for the collapse of a maul. With Gareth Steenson converting, and then scoring a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time, the Chiefs were in command at the break by a margin of 17-12.
But with two converted tries in the opening stages of the second half, Leinster got their bonus point, and although they held a nine point lead, were never fully in charge.
Steenson reduced the deficit with a penalty on 69 minutes, and as Exeter sought the try which could have earned a home win, replacement flanker Tom White was yellow carded, and Sexton scored from the penalty to restore the nine point advantage for the visitors.
Although both sides were down to 14 men with the yellow carding of Isaac Boss three minutes from the end of the game, Leinster held on for the win, but now await for Sunday's result at Thomond Park to find out if they qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
The scorers:
For Exeter:
Tries: Clark, Penalty
Con: Steenson 2
Pen: Steenson 2
For Leinster:
Tries: D'Arcy, Kearney, O'Driscoll, Heaslip
Con: Sexton 3
Pen: Sexton
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Sireli Naqelevuki, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Kevin Barrett, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Dean Mumm, 4 Tom Hayes (c), 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 James Hanks, 20 Ben White, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Ignacio Mieres, 23 Nic Sestaret.
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Isa Nacewa, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Heinke Van der Merwe, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Shane Jennings, 21 Issac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (France), Eric Soulan (France)
Television match official: Bernard Dal Maso (France)
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Ashley71. Thanks. I Got it rather wrong. Was doing it from (poor) memory.
Posted 16:12 20th January 2013
Rosbif says...
100% agree lacroix. They have actually been fairly poor (by their own standards) for most of this season imo. Only a few bursts of energy in a few games. And a lack of clear thinking at critical points during games. With the pool they had, and the effective handicap placed on them by the IRFU player welfare program, and the French clubs "figuring out" how they have been playing the system these past few seasons (by resting players etc) and copying them, the crown has finally slipped.
That said, the very fact that so many rival fans around Europe will breathe a sigh of relief that they are out, just shows how dangerous we know they would be in April. Why? Well, I don't mean to re-open the T14 vs AP vs Pro12 debate, but it can only be that their domestic league allows them to concentrate on the HCup, keep their players fresh, and peak for important games.
I, for one, will miss seeing them play. But it's also nice to think someone else can have a crack at the trophy for once.
Posted 14:51 20th January 2013
lacroix says...
the reality is leinster were poor for a lot of this game...a few fits and bursts but actually rather lucky to get the bonus point here...and very lucky to get the losing bonus against clermont in which case that would be that. referee had a pretty good game- rather pathetic to blame leinsters shortcomings and unfairly discredit exeters good showing on that.
Posted 13:44 20th January 2013
shrimps says...
@ lardon
as sky correctly pointed out, he was illegally held by sean o'brien because he illegally broke from the scrum. I'd say on that occasion the penalties cancelled themselves out. leinster had dismantled the exeter scrum anyway, only illegal play would have stopped them going over the line.
great match overall but referee wasn't the best. ive said it before, he is probably the worst ref in top flight rugby right now. that said he didnt just guess at the scrum today (for the most part) but he was still very poor as usual
Posted 12:23 20th January 2013
Norm says...
Nothing as beautiful in life as the sight and sound of a gracious winner!
Posted 12:21 20th January 2013
jontheref says...
As a neutral, I thought Poite should have gone to yellow earlier, labouring why he wasn't going to with leinster, and then going straight to it for exeter!
Froggy, cannot agree he had a good game, as he allowed Cullen to dictate the pace of the game, by continually getting in front of him, and Exeter trying to go quickly.
he has tunnel vision, as he ignores offensive fouls, and PK's immaterial defensive ones!
Unfortunately, the gin soaked selectors think he knows what he is doing!
Posted 11:33 20th January 2013
froggy73 says...
@Sincero: "It's also logical to lay down your arms and surrender every few decades when the Germans invade" - don't make that inappropriate comment when you are in France. Your pretty face might get punched big time.
Posted 11:01 20th January 2013
Mr_Right says...
Poite is a terrible referee. At least some of the others who often get things wrong are still consistent. With Poite you just don't know what's going to happen. It was still a great game to watch and fair play to Exeter for not rolling over, I think they made a lot of people stand up and take notice of them after their first H-cup season.
Very few people are mentioning the possibility of Sarries losing to Edinburgh, I know everything points to a Sarries win but still Edinburgh are more than capable of beating them if they get a few things sorted out.
Regardless of who goes through the quarter finals look great. I love the format of this competition and all the permutations, please don't change it by reducing it to 20 teams.
Posted 11:00 20th January 2013
Headhunter99 says...
@TVaddict - your spot on with these comments, how can Leo Cullen be clearing out at a ruck when he behind the hindmost Exeter player and pulling that player over his own in goal line ? Its a penalty and possibly a yellow card.
Leinster are a fine team with a number of brilliant players but their cheating tactics are now becoming all to regular.
Posted 10:59 20th January 2013
Qkram79 says...
Leinster are falling into the same trap
Munster did. Had some success and then become arrogant and despised by the rest of Europe. I really hope they get nothing this year purely based on how bad their supporters are. Reading this thread helps you understand why they are hated.
Posted 10:07 20th January 2013
froggy73 says...
@papachinzo: please try to be honest. Referee was not shocking at all. Especially on the last 5 minutes when he spotted a couple of mistakes from Exeter that some other referees like Clancy would have missed and Exeter would have maybe then scored a try.
I really don't understand that culture of always blaming the ref, especially when if had a good game.
Posted 07:58 20th January 2013
the_side_step says...
If leinster qualify(hoping munster don't get the bonus point) they could have a good show with this competition!!! strange how a few people can completely change that team!! if they were at full strength early on they would probably still be odds on to win!! Regardless this is still a team full of quality!! im not sure joe would even worry if sexton left for france(dont think it will happen) he has a brilliantly capable option in maddigan who seems to have a an ability to score tries like no irish man has everv had before( I'm not a football fan but ole gunner solsjear comes to mind)!! if this year only turns out to be a reshaping i don't think any leinster fan is worried about whats coming!!if ruddock can play second row he has to play 6 nations his talent is just on another level!
Posted 07:16 20th January 2013
kybone says...
What a brilliant game!! Great atmosphere too. Leinster played like the champions that they are, and the Chiefs were simply outstanding considering that they had nothing but pride left to play for. I remember during the first weeks of the season many people were laughing at the fact the Prem had a 'club like Exeter, representing them in the HC. 'They won't be able to compete', 'they're completely out of their depth', 'they'll get destroyed'- these were the kind of comments that some on here were making. Well, no-ones laughing at the Chiefs now. More than comfortable in this kind of company. As for Leinster, have they done enough? We eagerly await Sundays games. I love the Heineken Cup!
Posted 06:43 20th January 2013
ashley71 says...
@armchairgeneral:
it's probably going to be toulon v toulouse/leicester & saracens v ulster...
the likely seedings:
1. harlequins: 28 pts (28 tries)
2. clermont auvergne: 28 pts (23 tries)
3. toulon: 23 pts (22 tries)
4. saracens: 23 pts (assuming bonus point win) with a minimum of 14 tries
5 .ulster: 23 pts (12 tries)
6. leicester/toulouse (toulouse could finish as high as 4th if they get a bonus pt win!)
7. montpellier: 22 pts
8. munster if they get a bonus pt win against racing metro: 20 pts (leinster if they don't!). leicester could squeeze in too in the unlikely event that they beat toulouse without a bonus point but toulouse get 2 bonus points (highly unlikely!)
the other 2 1/4 finals will be harlequins v munster/leinster & clermont v montpellier.
Posted 04:11 20th January 2013
merv says...
I must say when your own team isnt playing Romain Poite's refereeing is entertainment. Anything could happen!
Posted 00:44 20th January 2013
TVaddict says...
You know what I'd love. To see a Leinster try without a throng a foul play before it. I know that is ridiculous, as ridiculous as the idea of a successful Irish economy. However I believe it is possible with the liked of Healy, Ross, O'Brien, O'Driscoll. Sexton, Kearney to put together an attack that actually plays legal rugby. As opposed to the shamble, ref pressurising, ruck rule abuse that is the Leinster attack. Obviously it's not Leinster to blame, the officials should penalise them for breaking the rules. If Leinster player was ever penalised for playing the ball of their feet consistently then blow me down. Pulling defending players back. Taking players off the ball out. They are a disgrace. It's a shame that so many players I love (the ones I mentions earlier) have to be associated with such tripe.
If they get through I'll be both happy and sad. Happy so many players I love to see are getting to play more high grade rugby. But sad to see the fouling, abuse of the rugby rules, Leinster style keep going. Better to let it die, and let good players play the game they love, than the filth they play. They are the equivalent of the bankers that got us into the economic crisis. They say they did nothing wrong, they played by the laws, but in effect their rubbish is what devalues the game.
Posted 00:32 20th January 2013
munster30 says...
@JamieTheProp
No hard feeling Jamie, we don't like you either
Posted 00:21 20th January 2013
carpelone says...
I think that Leinster is already in, right? Whatever happens in the MUN - SAR game.
Posted 23:37 19th January 2013
Sincero says...
It's logical for Racing to send thirds to Limerick. Not honourable. It's also logical to lay down your arms and surrender every few decades when the Germans invade. For shame.
Posted 23:22 19th January 2013
lardon says...
"Exeter meanwhile, had sold out Sandy Park for the final home game "
As a season ticket holder at Sandy Park let me correct you... It wasn't a sellout.. 600 odd short
@Papchinzo
So did Leinster.. Scaysbrook held in by O'Brian when Heaslip went over.
Posted 22:33 19th January 2013