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Northampton lose yet again but the margin wasn't the rout predicted for bonus-earning Leinster
We came to see a burial and that is what we eventually statistically got, the Champions Cup hopes of Northampton packed away before Christmas after they followed up last weekend’s agonising home loss to Bordeaux with another setback at Leinster.
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That’s 13 times on the bounce now – including the off-pitch defeat they were unavoidably given at the start of October when last season’s Premiership round 22 fixture at Gloucester was cancelled through Covid – that they have lost and the pressure will now mount for the rot to finally stop with their Boxing Day league assignment at home to Worcester.
In the wake of the December 11 Franklin’s Gardens loss to the French, boss Chris Boyd bemoaned that his charges were coming up with new ways to lose and they produced another variation of that theme at the RDS, quickly falling 14-0 behind before gutsily making a commendable fist of their troubling situation.
Three tries they managed in riposte and it said much about how they fought for the jersey that Leinster were left kicking over 62nd and 72nd-minute penalties to see out their 35-19 win rather than running in an avalanche of tries which would usually be the last-quarter case in Dublin.
Much was made about Boyd making eight changes, following through on his suggestion post-Bordeaux to send ‘the youngsters’ to Dublin, but come the lunchtime kick-off at the sunny but empty RDS, it was Leinster who were ready to make the larger reshuffle of nine changes.
Two games, two bonus-point victories for @leinsterrugby ?
This score from Jamison Gibson-Park was vital against a spirited Northampton Saints side.#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/C3bGhAx1ry
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 19, 2020
The late cry-off of Caelan Doris with a calf issue shipped with Ireland against Scotland on December 6 meant a first European start for Josh Murphy and the realignment of skipper Rhys Ruddock to No8. With Ryan Baird also included, it heralded three first time European starters in total for the hosts, which reverted back to two just before kick-off when Ross Byrne was promoted from the bench to start in place of his rookie brother Harry, who pulled up lame in the warm-up.
If that late reshuffling was a problem, Leinster didn’t show it as they were two converted tries clear just 16 minutes in. The first on three minutes came courtesy of some no-nonsense backline running following a scrum on halfway, the surge ending with debut-making Murphy scoring after Garry Ringrose had set up camp with a ruck.
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A meaty penalty-winning hit by Fraser Dingwall on Byrne and HIAs for Ringrose and Jimmy O’Brien didn’t knock Leinster out of their early stride, Cian Healy burrowing his way over off second phase following a quickly tapped penalty.
Execution was an early issue for Northampton, possession being lost too cheaply, but they somehow overcame that shortcoming with tries either side of a Byrne penalty.
Having kicked a penalty to touch for their first visit to the enemy 22, Northampton lost the ensuing lineout. They were gusty, though, winning a penalty at the resulting scrum and opting to scrum down again, creating the space that helped get Dingwall over for the 22nd minute converted try.
Come 35 minutes, they had their second after Leinster conceded a scrum-five following a sloppy lineout. Off Tom James went and he had the gas and the physicality to power through the double tackle of Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier.
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The problem for Saints, however, was they couldn’t hold the 14-17 scoreline until the break, Ryan Olowofela agonisingly failing to net an intercept and the spill was fastened onto by Dave Kearney who scored in the corner.
Within minutes of the restart, Gibson-Park had exacted revenge on James off a scrum, darting in off set-piece ball to secure Leinster’s four-try bonus point. But Northampton were far from done, a Gibson-Park clearance kick getting charged down by the scoring Nick Isiekwe.
At 29-19 anything was possible and what followed was the most contested part of the match, plenty of messy to and fro where the scoring lull was only interrupted by Leinster twice playing it safe, calling on Byrne to give them points from the tee and keep at arm’s length a plucky Northampton side who were deemed to be fortunate Tom Wood wasn’t sanctioned for a breakdown clash with van der Flier.
LEINSTER 35 – Tries: Murphy (3), Healy (16), Kearney (40+2), Gibson-Park (43). Cons: Byrne (4, 17, 44). Pens: Byrne (28, 62, 72)
NORTHAMPTON 19 – Tries: Dingwall (22), James (35), Isiekwe (44). Cons: Hutchinson (23, 35).
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Great pass, GREAT line! ?@SaintsRugby backed their scrum instead of taking the penalty and are instantly rewarded as Fraser Dingwall touches down under the posts!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/dfnp8Z71wU
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 19, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments