The Lions aren’t enough to satisfy Keego so a little reminder of the end of May was needed…
The lions are boring me to death. There I said it!
Sky sports are a quality channel, but they are ruining it for me. So I decided I was ready to watch the rabo final today. I have been working up to it, but I hadn’t been able to get past the opening punditry without the nerves getting to me.
Here is how it went down in the Keego living room.
First thing I notice is that the crowd is drowning out Hook, Popey and Quinlan from the start. This makes for far better television watching than listening to nonsense. This game is not about the pre match ins and outs, it is about the blue army and the Ulster fans in the stands.
From kick off, Ulster look nervous. As they have done in every big game they have played in 4 years. They get exposed 3 minutes in, Captain Leo athletically wins a lineout, hands it to Jennings and he is lead to the try line by Mike Ross. It was like a conga line done by drunks at a wedding, they just marched through one player and over the line. Tries like this should not be conceded in a final. Sexton tucks away the conversation, a tricky one from near the touchline.
Ulster being about as disciplined as I was at school (that being not very) in the opening minutes have cost them another 3 points from the preds of Sexton, as well as another talking to from the ref. We are only 7 minutes in.
Ulster has their first attack from a scrum and press hard in the 11th minute. The blue army is at full voice at this stage. Ulster win two penalties from scrums and go for third time lucky, thinking that maybe a penalty try may be the result. Third time unlucky, Boss gets stuck in at the back of the Ulster scrum and Madigan clears, Ulster heads start to drop a little bit. The ref was harsh both on a Ross pulling down the scrum call and Boss being allowed go for the ball under Williams. Both calls leveled out.
Jennings appears to have been doing ballet in the last while, he has twinkle toes today. The game is moving fast, McFadden gives away a lineout at the end of the 13th minute. Ulster lineout, these do not worry the opposition this season. Best has not been throwing well at all at the business end of the season.
‘Piennar turns away and gets a face full of Boss’ Nugent is in fine form today. Leinster where strong in the scrum in the 15th minute. Boss is causing a lot of problems so far for Ulster. The crowd is so loud that Ulster cannot hear the lineout call; it is nearly stolen by Leinster but Bowe passes to Jackson and over to Diack and Sexton stops him enough for the rest of the Leinster defense to swarm and hold the ball up. Another victory for Leinster. Williams was one on one with Leinster and chose to pass, shows nerves.
The resulting scrum shows Leinster gaining momentum. Ulster refuses to let go of Boss and give away a penalty. Boss and Jennings playing blinders so far. Ulster is playing like the team we expected them to be, frightened and unasured.
The tempo has been fairly epic so far, 20 minutes in and the Ulster fans are rattled at their thought that the ref is showing bias to Leinster. Nonsense! Jackson puts the boot to the ball and finds touch in the 21st minute. Leinster is nowhere near being found out in the lineout. Sexton slow to get up off the deck, Piennar boots the ball down to inside the Leinster 22. Some kick. It is a game of back and forth, no team surging in front, the Leinster defense is a different level. Ulster is very slow to get the ball out to their running from any breakdown. Leinster has at least 2 players on Williams every time he gets near the ball. Ulster put their first points on the board in the 23rd minute. Jackson is not kicking today. Afoa is getting attention to his right leg. The Ulster fans do not get overly loud at the sight of their first points.
10-3 to Leinster after 24 minutes.
Sexton puts the ball out on the full from the kick off. He is looking a bit delicate. Scrum on the half way, 25 minutes in. Olding looks to be some player. Ulster is starting to go forward, Best flattens Strauss and the momentum is shifting. McLaughlin aims low on Williams and Ulster cough up another penalty. As soon as Ulster starts to gain momentum they give away stupid penalties. It is costing them big time.
Strauss down after being flattened by Best. He may not be able to throw straight, but he can run straight. Strauss back up to throw the lineout and Leinster win another penalty, or Ulster gives another one away in the 28th minute. Henry making a mistake that a 13 year old wouldn’t. Strauss taken off in the 28th minute for Cronin. That must have been some bang he took. Bleeding from the head.
Sexton up to kick in the 29th minute. A misfire from Sexton on a straight kick. He still looks a bit delicate. The Ulster fans cheer as if they have scored. It shows where their heads are in the 30th minute.
Leinster is getting across the gain line at every time, until Toner is robbed and the ball makes its way to Bowe, who loses the ball forward. The game is moving faster than I can type. Trimble nearly gets away but knocks on. Scrum in the 31st minute on the half way line. Finally the Ulster fans can be heard, but their team gives away another penalty, this time in the scrum. The area where they thought they would have the upper hand, they are losing their grip on.
Sexton calls the kick at goal. Some Ulster fans making noise while the kick is happening. No place for that. Big kick from the half way and the preds attached to Sexton make it 13-3 to Leinster in the 33rd minute.
Ulster goes forward from the kick off, some ferocity back in their game. Jennings gives away a penalty, Pienaar points to the posts and they have a kick to double their tally to 6. He does so in a way that keeps Jackson even further away from the kicking duties.
The game being played at a ferocious pace, Leinster charging from the kickoff. Ulster look more organized but Leinster keep tearing through them. Up to the Ulster 22. I am getting sore watching this game. A nice little fight between Afoa and Healy, penalty awarded to Leinster for more Ulster indiscipline. Sexton slots over another kick in the 39th minute. A lot of booing from the Ulster fans. There is no place for this. If you are an Ulster fan and booing at this point in the game I am calling you a football fan, not a rugby fan.
16-6 with 39 minutes gone, Strauss back on.
Half time thoughts: this is a ferocious game. Nonstop for 40 minutes. Awesome defence from Leinster and a lot of penalties given away by Ulster, stupid penalties. Leinster looking comfortable going into half time.
Tune in next time for part 2 of my commentary on a game that was played ages ago….
PART TWO WILL PUBLISH FRIDAY AT 6PM
Keego (@nkeegan): Blogger, former professional wrestler, sometime attempted rugby player (@TheThirsty3rds), professional procrastinator and attempted musician with a fondness for long walks on the bar, tea and the couch. Opinionated Leinster fan and constant gardener.
