So here we go, the second half is about to kick off. It is 16-6 to Leinster and I have just come back from the kitchen with a full fresh pot (FRESH POTS!), lets gitter done!
Leinster kicking off playing towards the Southside (which as we all know is the best side). Best with a lineout, no fear as he throws to the front. Ulster gets the ball to Williams who is stopped by 3 Leinster players. The game is still being played at a ferocious pace. Less that 2 minutes in Ulster give away yet another penalty. Play stopped because of a knock to Madigan. I think he has appeared weaker since changing his hair to a more civilian style, I do not think he knows the story of Samson. The realization that Ulster pressure is still yielding zero points must be getting to them at this stage.
Leinster full of running, Cullen even putting the wheels in gear, two advantages. The indiscipline from Ulster is becoming a joke. Finally a card is show to Ulster as Diack is given a yellow for going off his feet AGAIN! If this keeps up they may not have enough players on the pitch to finish the game.
Penalty to Leinster, more booing from Ulster fans which is again deplorable! Sexton puts the preds on the ball and increases the lead to 19-6. It looks like an insurmountable climb for Ulster at this stage. Boss has been epic in the opening minutes of the second half. Ulster look rattled, almost as if they are lucking their way through. Jackson has an awesome run and is held back by his throat by Isa Nacewa in his last Leinster game. It was a desperate tackle from Isa, and it may be the beginning of a momentum shift. Fair play to Jackson, he scared the Leinster defense to death there. Ulster takes the 3 points from Piennar.
19-9 to Leinster.
Ulster have nothing to lose here, they need to just go for it. Play on instinct. Leinster lose a lineout, Piennar boots it down the pitch aimlessly. Another Leinster lineout, nearly stolen by Ulster. Ulster looks like a different tea in the last few minutes. Conway collects a high ball and momentum shifts again. If I had hair I would be pulling it out at this stage, I do not so I am pulling……..The blue army are in full voice, Drico runs n head first and the ball is turned over. Madigan is caught by Bowe, momentum really shifting. Bowe has been immense for Ulster all day. Piennar steps up for another penalty, 19-12 and there is one score in it. Madigan was made to look like a little boy by Bowe in the last play.
Another long kickoff results in Piennar putting the boots to the ball and gaining a huge amount of ground. Strange call from Leinster for the second time in the half. Ulster looking likes a different team in the 52nd minute. Looking more robust. But they cannot stop Healy getting over the gain line. Ulster turn over, the luck appears to be going their way just before the 55th minute. A Goodman slip leads to an Ulster lineout in the Leinster 22 area. The Leinster give away a penalty for playing on the ground, this really is battle stations for Leinster. Piennar steps up to take the kick, they do not feel the need for a lineout, and they probably have no trust in it at this stage. It is now the Ulster fans who are singing, for the first time all day. Death, taxes and Piennar. He has the radar working today. The score creeps up to 19-15 to Leinster.
Nacewa back on at 55:35. Another long kick off from Sexton. ANOTHER return kick from Piennar into the exact same spot as previously. Ulster are aiming at the Leinster lineout. The Leinster lineout has creaked but once today. Ulster couldn’t even contend for it. Jennings must have had spinach at half time; he is still rattling forward and smashing through tackles. Leinster looking like they have a bit more energy now. Running the ball with calm, while the Ulster defense works well. Sexton nearly breaks through with a cheeky little dummy. Ulster appear to be glassy eyed, not knowing how to stop Leinster.
That last passage of play shows how much Sexton will be missed for the next two years.
Dear IRFU, you couldn’t run a bath, let alone a provincial team.
The rds sounds absolutely massive in the 58th minute. Blue army definitely winning that battle. The ref has been consistent all day with the breakdown and the scrum, nothing either team can complain about as we approach the hour mark.
Boss has been eating Williams’ shoelaces all day. There have been no weak performances from Leinster today. Everyone has been immense and very disciplined. Whereas Ulster just can’t stop giving away penalties. The nerves should have worn off by this stage.
Sexton aiming at the sidelines instead of kicking at goal. Confidence is growing on the blue side. The preds of Sexton get every single inch out of the kick, lineout nearly on the Ulster try line. 61 minutes gone. The captain calls the lineout on himself, Ulster disrupt the maul but they cannot stop the church. Frightening tackling on the Ulster try line. You really feel that Leinster must score; it looks like Heaslip sneaks over. We go to the TMO.
The heart beats a bit faster, ‘is there any reason I cannot afford the try’, Heaslip and Toner pushed through three Ulster defenders and the TMO awards the try. A huge point in the match. Leinster withstood the Ulster onslaught; Ulster didn’t have the balls to try the lineout when they needed the points. That is the difference between the two sides, the size of their genitals.
Sexton is up for the conversion, from nearly the entrance way on to the pitch. Sexton pulls a tough kick left. That kick may have put the game beyond Ulster, but they are not out of it yet. Henderson on for Diack, who has been the reason for a lot of Leinster points today.
A big tired scrum in the 64th minute results in a knackered looking Ulster trying to spread the ball wide. The Leinster line is being lead by O’Driscoll and the attack is stopped fairly easily. Leinster have the put in on their 22. The ref looks like he is about to jump into the scrum. Heaslip runs the resulting penalty given against Ulster. Still some ferocious hits going in and we are nearing 70 minutes gone. Leinster rolling forward through some bruising forward running. Absolutely no fear on either team. Ulster wins a penalty at the breakdown, maybe their first at the breakdown all day.
Piennar calls for the ball; they feel that there is enough time left to win the game. Just inside the Leinster half, by my reckoning it is a kick of 15 miles. Healy giving Piennar the evils while he lines up the kick. RDS falls silent and the white side of the stadium erupts. That was some kick! With that kick Piennar has destroyed Paddy Jacksons chances of playing 10 for Ireland.
24-18 to Leinster. Another long kickoff and ANOTHER long kick back from Piennar to the EXACT same spot for a Leinster lineout. What is the definition of insanity again????
The Leinster lineout has only lost one today. Jennings breaking through tackles and Leinster are looking like champions here. Still running as if it is the first minute. Amazing to see players this big run this hard for this long. Ulster given a penalty, Piennar ready to put the boots on it, fires the ball just up to the Leinster 22. We are in the final ten minutes. I have only seen one player take a knee with fatigue. This is an insane showing of fitness from both teams. Williams lines up the whole Leinster team and flattens them all, Ulster up to the Leinster 22. A knock on causes Ulster another penalty. How many penalties have they coughed up today? It really is the sign of a team worried, they have been all day. No team should be this indisciplined in a final.
Quinn Roux and his lovely hair come on for Toner, who has been immense in the business end of the season.
Not a cloud in the sky as we have 7 minutes left. (While watching this my cat is getting sick on the floor, I am busy so the wife can clean it up). Ulster wins a scrum from a knock-on in the middle of the pitch. Anscombe is off his chair and looking worried. Ross replaced by Jamie Hagan, another player who failed to live up to potential this year, but has finished strongly. Too late unfortunately. It shouldn’t take a move away to get you playing well.
The time is ticking on, just over 5 minutes left. A strong blue scrum and some fierce fighting on the ground result. Ulster hangs on to possession and win a penalty. They cannot kick the 3 points, surely? He is going for the corner, fortune favours the brave. That is a ballsy decision. Fair play to them for making it. They know the lineout is horrible; it is down to Rory Best.
Awesome shift by Healy, McGrath on for the church.
Best with ball in hand, you can see him defecating on himself with nerves. Call mix up twice. They win the line out, barely. Williams given the ball, he is taken down, this is insane. Blue line intact until Jared Payne skips 2 tackles. Ulster looking ominous here. O’Driscoll makes a tackle he shouldn’t make and Ulster cough up another penalty. 77:42 gone, Ulster just do not have the ability to work under pressure.
The Ulster fans boo, but there really isn’t anything to boo about. Sexton kicks the ball to the half way and the blue army is starting to celebrate with 90 seconds left. This is an amazing game of rugby. McLaughlin wins the line out; you assume that Leinster will keep the ball at the back of the maul for 60 seconds. They are trucking forward. Amazing energy levels here. The forwards are demoralizing Ulster here. They are trucking forward and breaking tackles.
20 seconds left. Ulster just cannot get near the ball.
10 seconds left, ball still on the Leinster side
5 seconds left. Leinster have the win. They just need to get rid of the ball and O’Driscoll boots the ball into the bus depot in Ballsbridge and the game is over!
JAYSUS THAT WAS SOME GAME!
Ulster where great all season, they just appear to struggle when the pressure is on. This could really scar them for the future. Every pressure game in 5 years have been too much for them.
As for Leinster. What can be said? Every player that took the pitch played to near their max. They played like champions and on that performance, they would have beaten the two French sides in the Heineken final that took place the next day.
So there you have it, that is the end of the season for me. It is down to the Irish players starting for the Lions on Saturday to keep me interested.
As usual, if you want to debate/abuse/discuss this post with me, then tweet me @nkeegan and for more of the same why not roll over to www.thedailyclothesline.com
I hope you are all getting sunburnt as I type this.
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.
