JIMMY GOPPERTH TOOK possession of the ball for the first time on his home league debut and showed Leinster fans he was one of them.
He sent a steepling, crossfield kick from one wing to the next to put Ospreys on the back foot. The move, when pulled off correctly, is one that gets the crowd off their seats. it was a familiar sight for the past four years as Jonathan Sexton often located Isa Nacewa on the charge, most notably during the 2012 RaboDirect Pro12 Grand Final.
Gopperth successfully unfurled the same move from inside his 22 later in the half. It was a statement of intent — the Kiwi is here to play the Leinster way and add a flourish of his own.
The greatest impact Gopperth made in the Blues’ opening salvos was his excellent break for Dave Kearney’s try. Leinster had the numbers out on the left, thanks to swift passing from Ian Madigan and Gordon D’Arcy but Gopperth had lots to do when he received the ball:
Gopperth knew the break was on if he could beat his man and backed himself to do it, rather than going wide too early. He burst between two covering Ospreys backs and showed serious pace as he took play up to the Welsh side’s 10m line.
There was still a lot for Kearney to do but he ran a great angle before stepping his man and outpacing Dan Biggar to the tryline.
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Gopperth’s kicking style is a rudimentary one and he often strikes across the ball, keeping it at a low trajectory. He found his range eventually but missed two conversion efforts from just inside the touchline in a match where every point would eventually count.
He made up for his inaccuracies from the placed ball with a well-struck drop goal midway through the first half. Eoin Reddan dished a low-slung pass that he picked off his bootlaces and hammered over from the 22.
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The former Newcastle Falcon has stepped up comfortably from his season of Championship rugby and linked up very well with D’Arcy at inside centre. The wraparounds that became the norm in the Sexton era were evident too.
Luke Fitzgerald and Darren Hudson have been added to the list of Leinster injury worries and Lote Tuquiri may be drafted into action sooner rather than later. Madigan’s ability to cover positions across the backline may well see Gopperth continue at outhalf into October and in pole position to start the Heineken Cup clashes with Ospreys and Castres.
When South Africa’s Zane Kirchner was signed from the Bulls earlier this year, it was expected that he would fill the utility back roll so wonderfully covered by Nacewa. Gopperth’s fine start to the season hint at a man who is more than happy to take on the playmaking mantle.
