Leinster take control of Pool 3
Leinster showed all of their European experience to put themselves in control of Pool 3 after defeating Exeter Chiefs 18-8 at Sandy Park.
Exeter have been the Premiership’s best team over the past 18 months but they have struggled to match those performances in Europe.
That was once again in evidence, with the Dublin-based outfit displaying all their qualities in difficult conditions to take a five-point buffer into the interval through Johnny Sexton’s try and penalty.
Gareth Steenson’s three-pointer was the Chiefs’ solitary response before the break, but they improved in the second period and levelled matters via James Short’s effort.
The Chiefs ultimately made too many mistakes, however, and Leinster deservedly took the spoils through Isa Nacewa’s penalty and Jack Conan’s late score.
It was a brutal contest with Exeter defending manfully in the face of severe pressure, but the visitors showed why they have won Europe’s top-tier competition three times.
Leo Cullen’s men dominated the opening 20 minutes of the contest, controlling the battle via the intelligent work of their half-backs.
Leinster were unfortunate to see two potential tries chalked off when Sexton was deemed to have been in touch before Devin Toner was held up.
That setback could have frustrated the away side but, with their scrum also on top, they simply found another avenue for success. Cian Healy put tighthead Harry Williams under duress and referee Romain Poite duly ran out of patience, yellow carding the England international for a succession of infringements.
Although the Chiefs managed to hold out the next surge, the Irish province eventually breached their opponents’ barricade when Luke McGrath fed Sexton to score.
Exeter reduced the arrears through the boot of Steenson but Leinster were creating opportunities and their fly-half rewarded his team’s endeavour by kicking them 8-3 ahead at the break.
Rob Baxter needed a response from his charges and minutes into the second half they created a chance as good hands sent Jack Nowell free.
The British and Irish Lion was heading towards the line when he was caught high by Sean Cronin, leading to a yellow card for the hooker.
Leinster did superbly well to see out the sin-bin period but, following Cronin’s return, the Chiefs put together their most incisive move of the match.
Steenson was the instigator, sending Olly Woodburn through a hole, before the wing off-loaded to fellow back three player Short, who crossed the whitewash out wide.
Back came the visitors, however, and after 30 phases of attempting to barrel their way across the line Sam Simmonds conceded a penalty, which Nacewa converted.
Cullen’s team then followed up that mammoth effort with another 44 phases, pressure which yielded the decisive try as Conan touched down to complete a fine win.
The scorers:
For Exeter:
Try: Short
Pen: Steenson
Yellow Card: Williams
For Leinster:
Tries: Sexton, Conan
Con: Nacewa
Pens: Sexton, Nacewa
Yellow Card: Cronin
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 James Short, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (c), 9 Nic White, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Don Armand, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Jack Nowell
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Isa Nacewa (c), 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Scott Fardy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Michael Bent, 19 James Ryan, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordan Larmour
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Cyril Lafon (France), Stéphane Boyer (France)
TMO: Éric Gonthier (France)