Ospreys: Pro12 champions
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Ospreys pipped Leinster at the death to claim a dramatic 31-30 win in Sunday's RaboDirect PRO12 final at the RDS.
In his last game for Ospreys, former Wales wing Shane Williams scored the match-winning try in the 78th minute - duly converted by Dan Biggar - to help claim the spoils for the Welsh region in Dublin.
Both sides scored three tries, but the home side paid the price for a missed early penalty by Jonathan Sexton - a weak kick which proved the difference as Biggar's sole miss was a conversion, meaning he kicked 16 points to the Leinster fly-half's 15.
Leinster mostly paid the price for indiscipline though - Heinke van der Merwe and Nathan White both spending time in the bin - conceding two of three tries at points when they were a man short.
Ospreys have now won the 'Celtic' League twice in three seasons, having also beaten Leinster in the 2010 final.
The Welsh region went into the game on a six match winning streak, but they found themselves 17-9 down at half-time with Sean Cronin and Isa Nacewa going over for the hosts. Sexton also added a penalty while Biggar responded with three of his own for the visitors.
Despite two more three-pointers from Sexton in the second period, touchdowns from Ashley Beck and Williams saw the gap reduced to two points before Nacewa's second score seemingly sealed the victory.
But, after Biggar had kicked a fourth penalty, Williams went over for a converted try to deny Leinster a European and league double.
It was the Swansea-based outfit who opened the scoring thanks to a three-pointer from their fly-half. However, Sexton converted a penalty opportunity to level matters.
Biggar kicked a second from the tee, but it was the Irish province that looked the most threatening with ball in hand.
Having failed to secure the double last season, losing to arch-rivals Munster in the play-off final, Leinster seemed determined not to replicate that lacklustre performance. And Cronin went over for the first try of the match after a superb off-load from Brian O'Driscoll, Sexton converting, to forge them into the lead.
The visiting fly-half reduced the arrears with another successful penalty before Nacewa pounced on some slack Ospreys' defence to touch down straight from the restart.
Van der Merwe, in for the injured Cian Healy, was then sin-binned after repeated infringements in the scrum, but the home side held on until the break.
The Ospreys took advantage of the extra man two minutes into the second half when Beck crossed the whitewash.
However, their good work was undone when ill-discipline allowed Sexton to kick successive penalties and extend Leinster's advantage to 23-16.
Once again, the visitors hit back through a Williams try in his final game for the region, but Nacewa touched down to relieve the pressure.
Nathan White became the second player to be yellow carded for the Irish province and Biggar kicked the resultant penalty before Williams provided the perfect send-off.
The scorers:
For Leinster:
Tries: Cronin, Nacewa 2
Cons: Sexton 3
Pen: Sexton 3
For Ospreys:
Tries: Beck, Williams 2
Cons: Biggar
Pens: Biggar 4
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Cian Healy/Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White, 19 Brad Thorn, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 David Kearney.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 James King, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Comments
staph_glorious says...
Wasn't the van der Merwe binning Paterson's call? Poite was on the openside eyeing up White's bind. From this point on, he had to abandon that post and watch the blindside engagement, be it Paterson's or Clancy's view. It was a waste of what are established PRO12 referees. (As an aside, were they even the three/four most deserving of officials for this fixture?)
The scrum laws at present do a disservice to player and official. The IRB are indebted to their duties in maintaining the game's health, not alone the spectacle, and need to prioritise the resolution of the scrum over negligible kicking times and impossible TMO protocols.
Posted 17:16 28th May 2012
ShamanSheep says...
melkdave
If you go to the s4c website you can watch s4c live for free using 'clic', plus you can have it in English language (the website, not the commentary). Always handy, the channel is very committed to rugby, they show some french highlights from time to time too.
Posted 16:09 28th May 2012
Kevin83 says...
bruno74
What bearing had that comment on what leinster_goy previously commented.
You know a lot of accusations have been thrown at Leinster fans on the Forum but you boys (pembs, makemehappy, ShamanSheep) are veering very quickly toward being bad winners.
Thread carefully.
LeinsterGoy did us no favours with the PS paragraph but at least contributed constructively beforehand.
Posted 16:00 28th May 2012
bruno74 says...
@ Leinster Goy, last 3 losses to wales & last 3 losses to the Ospreys - see you next season - oh good luck against the All blacks should be another 3 losses
Posted 14:14 28th May 2012
pierredelot1 says...
When it comes to refereeing scrums it seems things are getting worse rather than better. Main reason is that most referees never got near the front row as players and only understand the basics about what goes on. You only have to speak to a good specialist to understand that the front five is a defferent ballgame. Poite had a go which is more than can be said for many top rated referees of late, the trouble was he just wasn't decisive enough.(especially at the end of the first half) Also since the advent of professianalism the scrum has slowly gone down the pan. We don't want to end up with non contested scrums, we don't want to see crooked feeds, but unless the authorities get it back to being a reasonably fair contest (Probably the best they can do) the game is going to suffer. Ireland recently also Scotland have failed to find props capable of holding the set up. Australia since pre 2003 couldn't hold up a washing line and yet for game after game referees ignored it. If these guys can't do it then lets get officials who really understand whats going on. Officials do the game a great disservise by not officiating properly as lets face it more than 50% of the players are part of it. At junior level we have to be careful how we teach and train the players, but at the top they should be refereed accordingly. Todays administrators are allowing the game to drift toward Rugby League (Great game but a different code) if thats what they want then why don't they say so. At least the old school tie will be out of the window.
Posted 13:59 28th May 2012
ShamanSheep says...
Oh the bitterness - leinster_goy -
'P.S. it is quite laughable that i and others are being accused of arrogance/cockiness. take a look at the comments by pembs and makemehappy, it seems the welsh are the ones getting a bit high on success (although 3 losses at the world cup doesn't really qualify as "success" to me)' - brilliant, I love it, if ever there was a small minded local councilor in the making it's you.
Posted 13:47 28th May 2012
jontheref says...
DaveJ
Fair comment about the booing, I got it from the TV, so wrongly assumed it was because of Leinster losing.
As I've said earlier, incredible that Leinster were one point from a double, after the win last week.
Glad to see some gracious comments from both sides, and some one eyed ones too!
Posted 13:40 28th May 2012
melkdave says...
@TO ALL
Thanks for the S4C tip i did see it but unfortunatly i can only get it on BBC i player and it wasnt available live..and afraid ive got Virgin cable so no S4C there at all why i have no idea lol.Did listen to it though on BBC cymru radio .but sad to say my welsh these days is almost non exsistant lolBut i got the gist of the game and it really sounded a cracker of a match.Did manage to sign up to pc satalite finally though to my chargin the match was over .OH well hopefully next year i will see the match.Just wish the PRO12 would get a tv deal with ESPN or SKY ect would make life alot easier lol.Again thank you for the help
Posted 13:22 28th May 2012
pembs says...
@ leinster goy, I'm not cocky mate just a realist. We lost 3 games at the world cup because we went much much further than you. You are right though that's not a fair measurement of success. Multiple grand slams is though
Posted 13:11 28th May 2012
ThinkingGame says...
@leinsterblue, rockman, Kevin83
But that's the point. In the real world, atrocious refereeing happens and playing two finals in two weeks is a tough ask. There are a few Leinster fans here who should have kept that in mind when posting during the week.
It just seems to be the pattern this year, going right back to the RWC Quarter Final, that many of the Irish posters on here spend a week talking up their own players and chances, talking down the opposition and then spend a week making excuses and slinging insults after the game. Welsh supporters will bite back at those posters simply because after 3 Grand Slams, 4th at the World Cup and with 5 league titles in Welsh teams' possession they feel plenty of grounds for arguing that Welsh rugby > Irish rugby. It's not an argument aimed at you guys, because you're not the ones arrogantly proclaiming the opposite.
@sextons_on_fire
You are however. Munster home twice, and away. Leinster away twice, and at home. Ireland home last year, away this year and in NZ in between. 8-0. Keep telling yourself that beating Glasgow, Montpellier, Bath, Cardiff, Clermont and Ulster makes you some invincible powerhouse of rugby. No-one's buying it.
Posted 13:02 28th May 2012
makemehappy says...
@olearyc5 - sorry you are wrong on all counts. Thanks for the racial comment about the Welsh! What does that say about a certain irish person?
Posted 12:57 28th May 2012
makemehappy says...
@Sincero - sorry you are having it - just listen to the game again (booing is booing)
@J_HDK - you are right there shouldn't be - the ref did say 'blood bin' - as for the tip tackle - sorry it was 180 degrees - as I said very unfortunate though!
Posted 12:55 28th May 2012
Norm says...
Great day for Shane Williams what a player, retiring? Why?
Dont think this would even dent the most sane mind that Leinster are far in front of the pack in Europe and I am watching with interest where the next challenge will come from. I hope north of the border but David Humphreys will need to get busy! More likely to come from France but without a doubt they are and will continue to set the standard.
Marzie
Undertsand your point but sad reality is the game needs revenue and as with the Premiership, this format stops many end of season games becoming dead rubbers, harsh if you are the league leader but whether it be the rabo or premiership, the intensity it brings to those mid table matches keeps people interested and bums on seats. Sadly this format doesnt make any difference in NZ they support from the bar stool!( that ones just for you ABlack)
Some really good and some really sad posts on here. Well done to those who can engage about the issue of scrummaging and how the game is refereed, it is shocking and it needs addressing.
To all you nananana na na ha ha LOL we won this you won that, RWC, HC and you only won it because of SH players zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Posted 12:31 28th May 2012
marzie says...
Oops! Second place beats first place I should say. It should be first place straight to the final and second plays third to join them. Still not technically a league as such, but a little fairer and meritorious to the top-placed team.
Posted 12:12 28th May 2012
leinster_goy says...
@howrtings
i agree with a lot of what you say but the fact is this - the scrum is the way it is because of one thing: health insurance. modern rugby unions, particularly the IRFU, are protecting themselves against damages claims from props who turn up once they are retired and complain that their C1 to C4 is permanently banjaxed and that they want to be compensated for it. so the authorities have cashed in and taken precautions against any kind of civil action. if you look closely, the scrum has been almost totally depowered in ireland, from the schools level right up to the provinces. the AIL these days is more like bastardised rugby league. is it any wonder there are no tighthead props in the country
it is clear that "crouch, touch, pause, engage" is farcical and needs to go. however, that should definitely not provide cover for de-powering the scrum totally, as many critics (like matt williams) are actually advocating. this is union, not league. the scrum is an important aspect of union and it gives small, fat, ugly guys the chance to shine. but i fear that modern props are actually happy with the state of the scrum. constantly collapsing and resetting wastes time and is a valuable tactic for teams like the ospreys. think about it - you never hear a prop come out and criticise it (unless i'm wrong, though i certainly haven't heard anything).
basically, there are vested interests here on and off the pitch and i cant see things changing any time soon
P.S. it is quite laughable that i and others are being accused of arrogance/cockiness. take a look at the comments by pembs and makemehappy, it seems the welsh are the ones getting a bit high on success (although 3 losses at the world cup doesn't really qualify as "success" to me)
Posted 12:00 28th May 2012
howrtings says...
@ All:
There is a major issue with Rugby at all levels at the moment, namely the Scrum. We can stand around and blame every single Ref that finds it hard to adjudicate the scrum, or else we can make changes and make them fast.
It is without doubt the most difficult area to referee and the Props themselves have to take alot of the critisim for that. The way they carry on at scrum time is getting comparable to a premiership footballer thowing himself to the ground every time there's a gust of wind.
The props are purposely collapsing scrums, wheeling scrums, driving up and accross purely on the basis that they know there is a 50/50 chance they will get the decision from the ref.
How do we fix this problem....very simple....abolish the engage. Have the packs lean in and then when the ball is in the scrum only then can the packs drive....problem solved and we will not have to endure nearly 10 mins of every match being wasted to reset scrums.
What do you think?
Posted 11:26 28th May 2012
marzie says...
So fourth place beats first place despite first place finishing the league nine points clear of everyone else yet being made to play an extra two matches wrapped around a Heineken Cup final? That's fair.
Posted 11:25 28th May 2012
Carpelone says...
@ Crunchfit
Gracious comment and a very good loser.
Leinster season remains fantastic and the rugby played highly enjoyable.
How comes that Leinster was not able to produce the same level of rugby for two games in a row?
It happened last year to Leinster, but also in the past years to Leicester. I think that it is bot a mental and physical factor for that.
Only few teams can do that.
Posted 11:22 28th May 2012
pembs says...
@ sextonsisaverage, who won hahaha? Come back to me next to me you finish in the last 4 of a world cup or win multiple grand slams (so never)
Posted 11:16 28th May 2012
rockman says...
Heres the thing for all the Leinster bashers on here, the Heineken cup final is the pinnacle of club rugby in the northern hemisphere. To play another final a week later is a huge ask. This Leinster team is outstanding and although i do say well done to the ospreys on their victory, it was only a shell of the Leinster Team that they faced. The Heineken Cup Final takes a lot of of you, if the Ospreys or any other Welsh side ever made it that far they would know this.
Posted 10:54 28th May 2012