Well…that’s it…I guess…
After all the fanfare and discussion, the controversy and hoopla, the farewells and the tributes; Brian O’Driscoll’s last ever game as a professional rugby player is finished. Well it finished, after 8 minutes. In somewhat of an antithesis to the fairy tale International ending in Paris on March 15th, our hero BOD limped out of the Pro12 final after just 8 minutes.
Sideshow over, full focus on Leinster and winning the silverware at stake so, for 72 minutes.
In a game that was really tense for at least the first hour, a moment of brilliance by Madigan to release Rob Kearney who fed Zane Kirchner to score before setting up the second for Shane Jennings meant Leinster led Glasgow 14-12 at the break. Finn Russell kicking superbly meant Glasgow were still in touch. They played most of the rugby for the first 40, but Leinster’s superb defense and experience limited the Scots to just 4 penalties, while Leinster punished probably the only two Glasgow mistakes with tries. From there, it was all uphill.
Glasgow came to Dublin with a plan to tire out Leinster with their pretty and effective offloading game, before unleashing Nakarawa and Matawalu circa 60 minutes to really stick the knife in. O’Driscoll gone after 8 minutes, Leinster going for the corner early and passing up 3 easy points, you’d think the first half really went Glasgow’s way. But no. The early loss of Dougie Hall was compounded mere minutes later by the loss of Chris Fusaro. A huge turning point in the game. Glasgow simultaneously lost their breakdown specialist and were forced to introduce their impact sub after just 24 minutes. With Tommy Seymour also struggling before the end of the half, and Leinster twice sucker punching Glasgow, it really was a nightmare scenario for Glasgow to go in 2 points down at the break despite far outplaying their Irish counterparts for 40 minutes. That they did not score in the second period was very telling.
A head injury to Shane Jennings sent Sean O’Brien off the bench. McCarthy and Toner slowing up was met with the introduction of former Club Captain and Leinster Legend Leo Cullen. Internationals Jack McGrath, Marty Moore and Isaac Boss also being introduced in the second half served to highlight just how far ahead of the rest of the league Leinster really are.
Kirchner and Gopperth had great games to give food for thought to some of the critical Leinster faithful. Healy, Heaslip, Ruddock and Toner got through tremendous amounts of dogged effort and hard work that it takes to win finals. Meanwhile Sean Cronin was absolutely everywhere in a storming Man of the Match performance.
Kirchner and D’Arcy ran in tries in the second half while Gopperth kicked 2 penalties to finish with a 34-12 scoreline which flattered the hosts, although the result was never in doubt after Kirchner added the third try.
And so, we finish the season with 3 trophies. The British and Irish Cup, The RaboDirect Pro12 trophy and, as given to us by Messers Penney and Boudjellal, the 6 Nations. Given that only the Heineken or Amlin cups would have added to such a haul, one would have to call this yet another successful season for the Eastern Province.
That this team now enters a period of transition there is no doubt. However, the front row, back row, scrum halves and back three are all top quality and there is depth. We may have a worry at 13, and hope Kane Douglas is the answer in the second row, but to me, Matt O’Connor’s first season has been a success. It is a lot easier to win games with a dominant pack and poor backs than it is the other way around, just ask Mr Wilkinson. Leinster have a lineout, a scrum, and a maul, that will bully, or at the very least get parity with, the very best in Europe. I believe the tries will come, that the talent in that back division will once again serve as a shining example that success doesn’t have to be bought.
Tonight, however, it would be only right to call the end of this season “fitting,” for two true blues, who have hauled the province kicking and screaming into this golden generation in which it now finds itself. We will never see another Brian O’Driscoll on these shores. He has firmly ingrained rugby as a primary sport in Ireland, he has provided us the memories, brought us the success and given us the belief that we can beat anyone, on any given day, if he is at his best. Leo Cullen, a man about who few words were spoken or written before this year. Came back from Leicester in 2008, a winner, knowing what it takes to win. He instilled that attitude in the rest of the side, leading to the most incredible performance, by any club, on a European level, that has ever been seen, between 08 and 2013. 3 Heineken Cups, an Amlin Challenge Cup and a losing semi final, to the eventual winners is stuff dreams are made of. No words will ever suffice to convey our gratitude to these two, but to put it simply: Thank you. Two legends, riding off into the sunset. Doesn’t happen too often, savour this day Leinster fans, it’s a special one.
Look O'Donoghues Talking 