Brave effort: Exeter pushed Leinster all the way
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Leinster were made to work very hard to grind out a 9-6 victory over Heineken Cup newcomers Exeter Chiefs in Dublin on Saturday.
Three Jonathan Sexton penalties proved enough to secure the result as the defending champions struggled to tame their visitors.
It could have been worse for Leinster but Argentina international Ignacio Mieres missed a last-minute penalty that would have snatched a draw for Exeter.
Led by man-of-the-match Tom Hayes, the Chiefs played the better rugby for much of a tryless Pool Five opener and looked right at home in Europe's top tournament.
Sexton twice put the home side in front with the boot in a cagey and low-scoring affair at the RDS Arena, once after 10 minutes of the first half and then again midway through the second half.
But Exeter were dogged throughout and never allowed the reigning European champions to get away from them, with Gareth Steenson matching his opposite number kick for kick.
The 28-year-old fly-half kicked penalties in the final minute of the first half and within just a couple of minutes of the Ireland number 10's second successful attempt to keep the home fans on the edge of their seat and fearing a shock upset.
The Chiefs were making it an uncomfortable afternoon for Leinster and a measure of the hosts' desperation was on show as full-back Ian Madigan decided to take on a drop goal from the halfway line.
Sexton did step up to restore order with his third penalty of the day in the final 10 minutes and the Irishmen looked to have done enough to scrape a narrow win to start the defence of their Heineken Cup crown.
Leinster did hold on and they did get off to a winning start but Exeter came within a whisker of coming away from Dublin with a draw that few would have argued that they deserved.
The tireless work of the Chiefs' pack was rewarded with a penalty just inside the Leinster half as the clock ticked over 80 minutes but, with Steenson off the field, Mieres was unable to convert it and the competition holders breathed an almighty collective sigh of relief.
The scorers:
For Leinster:
Pens: Sexton 3
For Exeter:
Pens: Steenson 2
Leinster: 15 Ian Madigan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Damian Browne, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Leo Auva'a, 21 Jordi Murphy, 22 Isaac Boss, 23 Fionn Carr.
Exeter: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes, 3 Carl Rimmer, 2 Simon Alcott, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Chris Whitehead, 17 Chris Budgen, 18 Ben Moon, 19 Ally Muldowney, 20 Dean Mumm, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Ignacio Mieres, 23 Sireli Naqelevuki.
Venue: RDS
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Jean-Luc Rebollal (France), Cyril Lafon (France)
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui (France)
Timekeeper: Andrew Baird (Ireland)
Assessor: Clayton Thomas (Wales)
Citing commissioner: Ray Wilton (Wales)
Comments
TVaddict says...
@papachinzo
lol! You must be a troll! No one with any logic would have that opinion!
Anyway, on the sentient level, Leinster got away with murder today. Even the commentators thought so! A shame that the ref had to dominate the outcome. Trips, in at the side, etc... loads of yellow cards gone amiss...
Anyway, Exeter are an England team to be proud of. Total dedication and commitment. Hopefully they can keep this up for the other games!
Posted 03:07 14th October 2012
J_HDK says...
Lawynd. You're very funny. So, the referee going up to the TMO and after much deliberation that is shown clearly on the replay that it was infact a 22m dropout, NOT a 5m scrum OR a penalty try, You are still not happy? Classic troll.
Posted 23:30 13th October 2012
damo says...
Leinster got out of jail, one positive McFadden is playing out of his skin as the top number 12/13 ireland have at present him and Cave would be a gr8 pairing!!!!
Good to see Conway get game time if it continues he will shock everyone as he is world class
Posted 21:50 13th October 2012
lawynd says...
@papachinzo - did you conveniently forget how lucky Nacewa was to remain on the field for a deliberate trip early on, that the referee was stood right in front of? Or the very lucky penalty Leinster were given which should have been a knock-on and scrum put-in to Exeter? Or the 22 drop-out which should have been a 5m scrum at best, penalty (and possible penalty try) at worst?
I guess you did.
Posted 21:03 13th October 2012
Crunchfit says...
I would have said Exeter were lucky to not have more penalties given against them. That said, Leinster were let off the hook with that last missed kick. Poor play overall from Leinster and good play from Exeter, especially in defence. A slightly different team for Exeter may have won it I think. They have a good chance at home, a very good chance. Well played Exeter. Leinster and Scmidht need to step it up.
Posted 20:08 13th October 2012
J_HDK says...
Yes, very poor performance by Leinster.Still a bit of a horror show with handling and some poor kicks by BOD. No rhythm going this season. So many injuries. Exact opposite of last season.
lol at the Leinster haters. Referee missed plenty of going straight off their feet at the ruck by Exeter too. Scrum refereeing was hilarious.
However, I feel that if Exeter had started Mieres and brought Steenson in later.. could have been a different result considering Leinster's form atm.
Posted 19:29 13th October 2012
papachinzo says...
Referee was AWFUL!!!! Exeter got away with murder in the Ruck and at Scrum time, Almost all of their line-outs were crooked too. Well done to Leinster for not blowing up and keeping calm. A win is a win.
Posted 19:16 13th October 2012
lacroix says...
leinster didnt deserve that...as melkdave says very very lucky to get some decisions and they don't look like champions . hard luck exeter. hopefully we'll see leinster dismantled by clermont and scarlets.
Posted 18:52 13th October 2012
Rosbif says...
Montpellier last year. Exeter this. That's two mighty get-out-of-jails.... Oh well, I guess there is plenty of room for improvement. But if Leinster don't get started soon, they could be looking at an away QF at best, or not making it out of the pool at worst.
(at least there shouldn't be too many complaints about the French ref this time, unlike in the Pro12 final!!)
Posted 18:17 13th October 2012
new_j4a says...
@Sincero, Even in the cultural wasteland that is Dublin, are people willing to pay to watch this excuse for rugby? And are they able to pay....themselves, I mean,...without the "sincerely" outstretched begging bowl? Perhaps the history of telegrams to the German embassy will help?
Posted 18:14 13th October 2012
paddy91317 says...
Wake up call....thanks exeter
Posted 18:05 13th October 2012
leinster_goy says...
the worst i've seen Leinster play in the Heino for long time. play like that and we can kiss 3 in a row goodbye
don't wan't to take anything away from exeter though. they were dogged and never let Leinster play the game they wanted. on a side note, i think that the vast majority of Leinster fans did not undersestimate or disrespect exeter over the past week and had a feeling that they would cause us real problems. so it came to pass
Posted 17:52 13th October 2012
melkdave says...
Well imo a very lucky win for Leinster,referee missed a couple of comming in from the sides into the ruck ,from Leinster,and laying just a second to long on the wrong side for my liking.But those are the rubs of the green.,Exeter showed they arnt here to make up te numbers and are going to be real challangers in the group.Up in Leinsters faces all match,offloading ,and kept possesion well,going through the phases.Deserved a draw atleast ,and i was heartbroken the final penalty dint net them it .As to Leinster retaining their title ,cant see it on that performance or on present league form ,to be honest.Scarlets arnt going to be easy either ,despite being thrashed by Clearmont today.Who because of the bonus point look favourites to win the group atm,as to second well anyone from 3 imo ..
Posted 17:51 13th October 2012
nabberuk says...
Feel sorry for Exeter, clearly didn't get the decisions they deserved from the ref.
Posted 17:44 13th October 2012