IT WAS ANYTHING but pretty at the RDS as the European champions got off to an extremely shaky start before winning 9-6.
Here are our player rating for the Leinster team. Do you agree?
Ian Madigan – 6 Was extremely lucky to get away with flicking a chipped through ball out of play as he raced back to the in-goal area. Missed an audacious drop goal attempt from the halfway line.
Andrew Conway – 5 Gave the ball away sloppily to back-row Baxter on 65 minutes to put his side in trouble. Never imposed himself on the game.
Brian O’Driscoll – 6 Made a couple of huge hits, bouncing off Naqelevuki in one instance before grappling the ankles. Knocked on late in the game when trying to connect with a Heaslip pop pass.
Fergus McFadden – 6 Strong in defence and was needed out wide late in the first-half as the Chiefs pressed. A decent shift from the inside centre who could retain his spot even if Gordon D’Arcy is fit for next week.
Isakeli Nacewa – 6 Big defensive hit on Arscott in the first half. Stirring charges at, and through, the Chiefs defence as Leinster tried to edge ahead.
Jonathan Sexton – 5 Missed a straight-forward penalty early in the piece but made amends shortly after. Missed another simple penalty chance on 50 minutes but looked threatening in open play.
Eoin Reddan – 5 Struggled to replicate his man-of-the-match display against Munster but the shaky pack in front of him did not help.
Cian Healy – 6 In his 100th game for the province, Healy battled hard against a determined front row. Did not make any of his patented marauding runs and was replaced with 30 minutes on the clock.
Richardt Strauss – 5 An early knock on did not hinder his willingness to take on the ball. Gave away a sloppy penalty but improved as the game progressed. Some wayward lineout throwing too.
Richardt Strauss is collared by Simon Alcott. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Mike Ross – 5 Showed up in the loose on a couple of occasions and nearly limped out of the game after up heave upfield.
Leo Cullen – 5 Was part of a Leinster pack that creaked on occasions and was uncomfortable at lineouts. Took a lot of ball in hand as Leinster tried to eek out a win.
Damien Browne – 4 In ahead of Toner and blotted his copybook by giving away two silly penalties in the first half.
Kevin McLaughlin – 6 Came to the fore in the second-half when the nitty-gritty was needed. Will be relieved to see the Mieres’ late penalty skew right and wide.
Shane Jennings – 6* Fierce tackling, as ever, from the Dubliner but was matched early on by an eager Chiefs back row. Instrumental in the winning of the 9-6 penalty.
James Heaslip – 5 Fine burst with 10 minutes to go and almost connected with a charging O’Driscoll. Was outshone by his opposite number, Baxter.
Replacements
Sean Cronin (on for Strauss ’73) – 5 A late replacement for Leinster as they held on. One lineout throw that was claimed by Toner.
Heinke Van der Merwe (on for Healy ’52) – 6 Replaced Healy for the final half an hour and soon had staples in his forehead after conceding a penalty that made it 6-6. Brave grab of a loose ball late on.
Devin Toner (on for Browne ’52) – 5 Came on to win more lineout ball but did not make an immediate impact. Did well in the lead-up to the winning penalty.
