Turning point: Rob Kearney breaks clear to set up Cian Healy
Leinster are still on track to defend their Heineken Cup title after beating Clermont 19-15 in Sunday's semi-final in Bordeaux.
Leinster will now face Ulster in an all-Irish final at Twickenham on Saturday, 19 May - the team from Dublin's third final in four years.
The match was billed as the 'game of the season' in Europe and the capacity crowd at the 34 500-seater Stade Chaban-Delmas were certainly treated to a tussle of the highest quality.
Clermont led 12-6 at the interval of a cut-and-thrust encounter but Leinster ruled in the second period and took control thanks to a try set up by Rob Kearney and scored by Cian Healy.
The French side looked to have snatched victory in the dying moments however but Wesley Fofana lost control of the ball in the act of crossing the try-line.
The game ended with les Jaunards camped under the posts but referee Wayne Barnes handed a decisive penalty to Leinster, much to the displeasure of the booing French fans, who felt that the Englishman already owed them two yellow cards.
Glorious sunshine had replaced the rain of the earlier in the day and Jonathan Sexton put Leinster on the board first from the kicking tee. But his effort was cancelled out by a penalty from opposite number Brock James to leave matters all-square at the end of the first quarter.
Leinster skipper Leo Cullen was lucky not to see yellow after landing a punch on Lionel Faure. If anything referee Barnes's decision to let Cullen off the hook was probably influenced more by theatrical manner in which the loosehead went to ground rather than the weak punch itself.
Clermont enjoyed a strong 15 minutes but their only reward was another penalty from James to which Sexton replied three minutes later.
But the French side were slowly but surely beginning to control the tempo of the game and were enjoying the lion's share of field position. Clermont finished the half the stronger of the two teams and two more penalties gave l'ASM a deserved six-point lead at the break.
Europe's defending champions started the second period in perfect fashion however as Kearney burst through a gap in the inside channel from Richardt Strauss's clever pass to set up a try for Healy.
Sexton's conversion put Leinster one point ahead before Kearney stunned Clermont when he slotted a long-range drop goal!
Almost immediately James had a chance to cut the lead to a single point but pushed his penalty attempt wide to awaken the ghosts of that fateful day in Dublin two years ago. The Australian didn't waver with his next kick though, leaving the scores at 16-15.
Sexton held his nerve to split the uprights from out wide going into the final quarter to restore the four-point gap as Leinster plied the pressure.
The closing stages were filled with drama and the TMO was called upon when Sexton sent a penalty attempt directly over the top of the outside upright. Leinster were denied the three points, setting up a grandstand finish as Clermont went in search of what would surely be a winning try.
Fofana and Clermont celebrated what they considered a five-pointer, but the video referee correctly ruled against them.
With just seconds left, Leinster survived a monumental final assault to advance to Twickenham after an epic battle.
Man of the match: The best full-back in Europe at the moment, Rob Kearney didn't put a foot wrong and produced a seven-minute spell that changed the complexion of the game.
Moment of the match: In an extraordinary finale, Fofana thought he had scored two minutes from time as he twisted out of Gordon D'Arcy's tackle, but as he landed on his elbow he lost his grip on the ball, which squirmed out of his hands as he tried to ground it.
The scorers:
For Clermont:
Pens: James 5
For Leinster:
Try: Healy
Con: Sexton
Pens: Sexton 4
The teams:
Clermont: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Elvis Vermeulen, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Julien Bardy, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic , 22 Regan King, 23 Jean-Marcel Buttin.
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Isa Nacewa, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Nathan White, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Kevin McLaughlin 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Comments
curates_egg says...
@crunchfit spot on - I left the game thinking Leinster were marginally on the right side of the calls. Having watched it again, I think Barnes did a decent job. Sure he missed a few calls but definitely on both sides.
For balance: Rougerie could have been binned for killing the ball on his 5 yard in the first half. Yer man who bashes the face off Cullen at the end and (possibly) makes contact with his eyes should have been given a red and get cited.
However, Barnes let calls go on both sides to keep the game flowing. Decent game from Barnes in a cracking and fierce contest of rugby. One-eyed internet keyboard-jockeys should spend more time at games than on their laptops watching youtube highlights.
Posted 17:58 02nd May 2012
crunchfit says...
Just watched the match again there. There was a pretty big headbutt on Leo Cullen during that period of pressure on Leinster at the end of the match. Much worse than what Cullen did.
Cullen was in a vulnerable position, low to the ground with the post behind him, in a ruck. The Clermont player comes from a distance and charges at Cullen, striking him with quite a bit of force in the head with his own head. He wasn't provoked, but specifically targeted Cullen.
I don't have a problem with the lack of card / penalty, seeing as Cullen did get lucky not getting the yellow. It's just odd that people make a big deal about Cullen's strike early in the match and completely ignore a much worse offense, on a player in a vulnerable position in a very important moment in the match.
A truly neutral fan would have at least mentioned this if making a point about Barnes' refereeing, instead of referring to the Cullen incident only. There's not too many of them around here though.
Posted 15:37 02nd May 2012
curates_egg says...
I can only echo what AdamK wrote. The Clermont fans were superb and extremely gracious in defeat - not one I spoke to blamed the ref (as they recognised there were dodgy calls on both sides) and were happy to have been part of a superb rugby rugby spectacle.
Even though I was part of them, I thought the Leinster fans were also outstanding. Outnumbered 10-1, we managed to silence the Clermont fans for large periods of the match.
This was an outstanding rugby spectacle, enjoyed by two outstanding and mature sets of fans. Those keyboard jockeys moaning about the ref should get a life.
Posted 09:31 02nd May 2012
crunchfit says...
@makemehappy
Just making a minor point in support of the captain of the team I support in response to comments which I find a bit inaccurate. The incident happened in this match, this is a review of that match, so I commented. It's not confusing at all really.
Posted 19:17 01st May 2012
makemehappy says...
@Crunchfit - I must admit I'm confused why you commented in the first place, but nevermind. At the end of the day, the main issue regarding that game was that Barnes was a bloody idiot. I wish I knew what criteria they use to select such idiots. Must be able to misinterpret or fail to follow rules. Must have no feeling for the spirit of the game. Must be able to impact upon the result of the game (usually by ensuring the worst team wins). You can't beat the Specsavers sponsorship of refs in the Rabodirect - just says it all!
Posted 18:52 01st May 2012
Rosbif says...
strange, there was a similar "punching" incident in the other semi. wonder how stefan terblanche felt seeing leo cullen not carded?.. after his own slap on ross ford caught romain poite's attention from the sideline....
Posted 15:57 01st May 2012
crunchfit says...
@makemehappy
It's just strange that I said it was a yellow card, and you responded by quoting laws supporting what I just wrote, but making your point as if I didn't. I then point out that I have the same opinion of the required sanction as you and then say it deserved that sanction and you again make a similar point as before. Maybe it's not a reading issue, but I'm a bit confused by your responses...
Anyway, I still know it's against the laws but my point is calling it a punch makes it sound worse than it is. Nothing to do with laws. Agree or disagree with that, but that's all I'm saying.
Posted 15:41 01st May 2012
makemehappy says...
@crunchfit - it is very easy to read, but it remains important that you don't end up worrying about whether its a strike or a punch. Its the same thing in the eyes of the law! Would anyone really argue about that point - no because it is pointless. Simple, so no hard feelings. At least we both agree it had to be a penalty and a yellow card.
Posted 13:18 01st May 2012
adamk says...
Not really gonna comment on the Barnes thing. He made bad decisions for both sides. Both sides had to deal with him. The penalty count was 13-12 at the end of the game. It couldn't have been more even. Yes Leinster were lucky at times, but so were some of the Clermont penalties (pinging Leinster for ruck issues when Clermont were doing the exact same). But I digress, the real winner here are the Clermont fans.
I was in Bordeaux, and part of the Leinster fan's march to the stadium, and the welcome we got from the Clermont fans was unbelievable. It was like coming to the final point in a marathon; we were cheered for, sang for, given wine, bread, and made feel incredibly welcome. It was unreal. And ofcourse then they displayed a 'yellow army' march of their own, which put us to shame. Unreal atmosphere, like a festival or something...
Posted 12:54 01st May 2012
Toulousain says...
Sorry, I'm late for these comments. I was too occupied singing with a yellow vuvuzela (!!) surrounded by both Clermont and Leinster fans after the game. Great spirit, even from Clermont who are sometimes difficult when they lose. Leinster fans were mostly very relieved and happy. They realised they could easily have lost in those last moments. Vern Cotter's face at the end was a picture.
What you don't see on TV is that the pitch has a weird slope away from the middle, like the crown of a small hill. It's deliberate for the football, to keep the pitch dry. But it means the ball naturally rolls into the corners. Also the wind became very strong in second half behind Leinster. With Parra injured (so he cannot kick) and Byrne off the field, only Brock James was kicking for Clermont, and Buttin was only running out of his 22. On Leinster side, Sexton, Kearney and Nacewa were all kicking long. So 2nd half territory was all for Leinster. The drop goal was amazing!
My feeling is Barnes is not a bad guy on purpose. Clermont is used to scaring the referees at their home. Barnes did not like the crowd putting pressure. So he maybe was too careful. The game seemed to stop too much when Clermont were in possession. The rucks were bad and slow. Clermont really missed Vosloo. And Parra is not fast with his pass anyway. Reddan arriving in second half gave Leinster good tempo. Thorn and Strauss really played well in the combat.
Sorry not to see a French team in final. But Clermont will come back next year. Good luck Leinster against Ulster. A bientot!
Posted 12:26 01st May 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Well Blame the ref, I certainly agree re Rolland, but I felt that Barnes didn't do badly. He has not had a great season, but neither have Clancy or our Welsh friend. Seems the only consistent one has been Joubert so the panel had better up their game ay.
Posted 10:16 01st May 2012
blametheref says...
@Pierrdelot1
That's a cheap shot regarding accusing critics of Barnes being critics just because he is English...in the main it's rubbish, maybe there are a few who have that stance but most commentators on these boards take him at face value. I find him too flakey as a ref and in my case I can tell you the ref I least prefer and have been vocal about is Alain Rolland, a former Leinster and Irish player, and I support both Leinster and Ireland.
Posted 09:02 01st May 2012
J_HDK says...
@makemehappy
Unfortunately after your nice quotation of rules it appears that you do not understand what admonish means.
Posted 21:18 30th April 2012
crunchfit says...
@makemehappy
By that definition brushing or touching your hand against someone with a clenched fist is a punch. That's obviously not the case, but by your definition / the definition you are using, it would be. There's an obvious flaw there. Dictionaries are great, but common sense helps. Anyway, not much point going down that road. So I'm just going to leave that at that.
I'm not sure if you read what I wrote properly. I didn't argue about the legality or that it was a strike. I actually said it was a strike and a yellow card ("A strike? Yes. A yellow card? Yes") so I don't understand why you are responding to what I wrote with quotations of laws. My point, which you seem to have missed, was that calling it a punch makes it sound worse then it was, despite the fact it deserved the sanction I previously said it did.
I'm not sure what in that paragraph lead to that type of response, but if you're going to go down that road, at least read what I wrote properly. It's only 4 lines, it's not that hard. Anyway, no hard feelings.
Posted 20:39 30th April 2012
makemehappy says...
@crunchfit - fist was clenched and made contact - that is a punch. We all know it didn't cause injury, but Barnes had to award a penalty. You don't want to go into an argument about how hard a punch is or whether it was a push with a clenched fist. It is simply a punch. Some quick definition searches will say it is a blow with a fist.
The IRB confirm - (a) Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s). - sanction a penalty.
They also state - (a) Any player who infringes any part of the Foul Play Law must be admonished, or cautioned and temporarily suspended for a period of ten minutes¿ playing time, or sent-off.
So that just leaves a simple choice - yellow or red. It is just logical.
You'll get terribly tied up in life if you try to confuse matters in such ways - its a punch.
Posted 18:21 30th April 2012
pierredelot1 says...
I get the feeling that too many of you don't like Barnes reffing simply because he's English. Had a pretty good one here. Got all the controversial ones right that I saw. Pity that he hasn't received any post match compliments from you Leinster boys, after all you've been slagging him off for years. One minute you are complaining that he blew too much and the next that he missed too much, better make your mind up or go on a refereeing course. No its not easy. But in the end Clermont had the opportunities but didn't take them, whilst Leinster did. Had Clermont gone back to basics for the whole of the second half they would have ground Leinster into the mud. This leinster front row is great in the loose but less than ordinary in the set, Healey on the hoof, is good to watch, but as an out and out scrummager, no thank you. The result makes Irelands six nations failure more of a suprise to some, personally I think next year they'll be even worse. Can't see Ulster beating them though.
Posted 18:09 30th April 2012
Rosbif says...
@Ybgurrrrr.....hehehe, it pains me to say it, but, in the NH vs SH debate, one cld argue the two best players on the pitch were thorn and sivivatu (and i'm not going to mention the coaches - ooops, just did), followed closely by hines and strauss.....
Posted 18:07 30th April 2012
crunchfit says...
@froggy73
Of course there aren't too many Irish complaints, the Irish team won. Be careful, you might look stupid if you say something like that and ignore the blatantly obvious...
@RobinMasters
Firstly, he's half French, half Irish. Secondly, he wasn't involved in this game. He was refereeing the Toulon Stade match. And players from the Republic of Ireland aren't British.
@makemehappy
I wouldn't call that a punch. A strike? Yes. A yellow card? Yes. Not a punch though in my opinion. It was more of a push with a closed hand than a punch. I don't even think he tried to actually punch the player. It doesn't matter too much, it's just I don't think it was as stupid a mistake as it is made out to be by calling the strike a punch.
Posted 15:54 30th April 2012
blametheref says...
....same goes for you Rosbif, always find your posts interesting, up to the mark and unbiased...keep them coming.
Have to say something regarding D'arcy who so many have been negative about on these boards...Both he and O' Driscoll were up against one of the best 12 & 13 combos in world rugby and jointly they didn't give them breathing space, it was key to a Leinster win to stop both these, so Leinster can count themselves lucky D'arcy was there as Fofana can usually turn opposite 12's inside out...if he's not played against with accuracy, guile and precision...D'arcy's off the ball work was incredible and it was he who took Fofana down when he missed fumbled that missed try. In the final, expect D'arcy and O' Driscoll to show their class in attack against what has to be a lesser centre partenership for Ulster than Fofana and Rougerie
Posted 13:38 30th April 2012
RobinMasters says...
Aren't there any SH refs? How come Mr Rolland was on the line out? I thought he was Irish... And how about Italian refs? Too latin to be neutral, hey? Well, let the British referee the British, and the British shall win, as long as the British don't mind... Having said that, we saw a good game, and the best team won as usual.
Posted 13:17 30th April 2012