Leinster have secured a home quarter final versus Bath thanks to a 20-20 draw against Wasps. Munster finished off their European season scoring nine tries in a win against Sale Sharks. Ulster also had a convincing win over Leicester Tigers while Connacht will face a trip to Gloucester in the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup after another comeback win with La Rochelle their latest victims. Here is the Irish Provinces Review after Round Six in Europe.
Irish Provinces Review After Round Six In Europe
Leinster
Leinster blew a 14 point half time lead against Wasps but still managed to clinch a home quarter final thanks to the 20 all draw and other results going their way. They will welcome Aviva Premiership high flyers Bath in the first week of April.
Matt O’Connor’s side were well in control of the Wasps game at half time thanks some enterprising play and some atrocious discipline from Wasps. The home side could and perhaps should have had Ashley Johnson sent off after six seconds for tackling Dave Kearney in the air. A yellow card was all Jerome Garces and the TMO felt was necessary.
Leinster took full advantage of their one man advantage and Fergus McFadden scored their first try soon after the sin binning. Isaac Boss added a second try while another Wasps player, Lorenzo Cittadini was enjoying another 10 minute rest on the sideline.
Wasps fought back in the second half with tries from Matt Mullan and Nathan Hughes and with the game reaching the final minutes, both sides had drop goal chances with Andy Goode missing one with the last play of the game. But it was Leinster that topped the group and thanks to Montpellier’s shock win against Toulouse now face Mike Ford’s Bath in the quarter final.
Munster:
Munster finished their European campaign with a nine try demolition of an understrength Sale Sharks side at Thomond Park on Sunday. The home side led 13-10 at half time thanks to Simon Zebo’s early try which was converted by Ian Keatley. The Irish out half then added two further penalties.
After a quiet enough first half Thomond Park sprung to life thanks to a returning try from crowd favourite Keith Earls. He took a sumptuous line onto Ivan Dineen’s offload and managed to run in from halfway. A tiny glimpse of what Earls can do and a note of how much Munster have missed him.
In all Munster scored eight tries in the second half. Earls, a penalty try, Pat Howard, Zebo’s again, Duncan Williams, Tommy O’Donnell and two from Andrew Conway saw Munster rip Sale to pieces leaving a final score of 65-10 to the home side.
It was a hollow win in a lot of ways for Munster but fans will be encouraged with Earls’ performance and especially by Ivan Dineen’s display after he came on early in the game for Denis Hurley. One sad note after the game was the realisation that it could be the final time Munster fans see Paul O’Connell in action at a European game for Munster. It is expected that one of the true greats of Irish rugby will retire after the World Cup.
Ulster:
Ulster got back to winning ways in style as Darren Cave’s first half hat trick helped his side beat Leicester Tigers by 26-7. Craig Gilroy scored Ulster other try while Ruan Pienaar converted three of the four tries.
It was a satisfying end to what has been a disastrous European Champions Cup season for Neil Doak’s side only winning two of their six games. They have also suffered a further blow this week with the news that defence coach Jonny Bell will move to Gloucester at the end of the season. He has already been replaced by former Brumbies coach Joe Baratkat.
A bit of good news for Neil Doak in the Tigers game was the return of Iain Henderson. The second row/blindside flanker has been a major loss for the team since he had hip surgery in September. He put in a fantastic performance on his return and is now part of the extended Irish Six Nations Squad.
Ulster’s main goal for the remainder of this season is to ensure qualification for next season’s Champions Cup. They sit in fifth place in the Pro 12 table, five points behind leaders Ospreys. A good second half of the season should secure at least a top 5 place.
Connacht
Pat Lam’s Connacht have qualified for the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup thanks to another sensational away win in France. Losing by four points with five minutes left in the game Connacht got tries from Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy which saw them win the game 30-20.
The win sets up a tough away quarter final in which they take on Gloucester. It is testament to the way Connacht have played this season that they will strongly believe they have every chance of winning this game.
It has been a fantastic season so far for Connacht and Pat Lam’ signing on for another three years shows that the province have every intention of building on their encouraging first half of the season.
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