Sean O'Brien: Man-of-the-match performance for Leinster

Leinster made it three wins on the bounce in the Magners League by battling their way to a 19-18victory over Edinburgh at the RDS in Dublin on Saturday night.

Edinburgh scored tries in each half from Tim Visser and Chris Paterson, but Leinster fullback Isa Nacewa kicked four penalties and converted Andrew Conway's first Magners League try to secure the narrow win.

Leinster were missing most of their internationals due to Ireland's training camp this week, their much-changed starting XV including half-backs Ian Madigan and Paul O'Donohoe. Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat gave Alex Blair, the youngest of the Blair brothers, his debut at outside-half, while Argentinian lock Esteban Lozada was a late inclusion for Fraser McKenzie.

Leinster saw plenty of ball in the opening half but Edinburgh carried more of a try-scoring threat. After Nacewa had booted the hosts in front, some quick thinking from Mike Blair opened the way for Visser to strike.

Leinster lost possession at a midfield ruck and, noticing a mismatch on the left wing, scrum-half Blair dinked a kick over the top for Visser to chase. Visser got to it ahead of the covering Richard Strauss, tapped it on and scored in the corner. Paterson missed the conversion and Edinburgh captain Roddy Grant was punished by Nacewa for coming in at the side of a ruck, briefly restoring Leinster's lead.

Another gap appeared out wide when Edinburgh's Alex Grove broke through a hole and almost linked with Jim Thompson for a try. The Scots had to settle for a penalty, Paterson doing the necessary after Mike Ross infringed at a scrum.

A darting run from Madigan, with Conway on his shoulder, saw Leinster click into gear. Their forwards were held up over the line, but with a penalty advantage Nacewa kicked them into a 9-8 lead at half-time.

Nacewa missed a long-range penalty just before the break, but it was his counter- attack which drove Leinster on for their only try, six minutes into the second half. A quick lineout and series of rucks followed before ex-Edinburgh lock Nathan Hines popped the ball to the onrushing Conway who beat Alex Blair's tackle to cruise over to the left of the posts.

Nacewa's conversion was cancelled out by a penalty from Paterson but the game opened up for Leinster again when replacement prop David Young was sin-binned for hands in the ruck, just seconds after being introduced.

Replays showed the culprit was actually hooker Ross Ford, but it did not matter as Nacewa landed the penalty for a 19-11 lead and the hosts looked primed to take further advantage.

To their credit, Edinburgh's defence held firm and they even snaffled a try while Young was off. Ford muscled past the otherwise excellent Strauss and Mike Blair's swift pass from the subsequent ruck sent Paterson cantering in under the posts.

Paterson converted his own try to make it a one-point game with a full quarter left to play. However, Edinburgh could not get back into scoring range and their best chance was spoilt by a ruck offence from replacement Mark Robertson.

Joe Schmidt's Leinster side went about securing the bonus point in a roundabout way, with Fergus McFadden and Ian Madigan crossing in the closing stages after early efforts from Shane Jennings and Isa Nacewa had them 14-0 ahead.

Cardiff rallied impressively in the third quarter, grabbing tries through Bradley Davies and Richie Rees, and a penalty from Dan Parks edged the Welsh region in front at 23-20.

But McFadden's try helped Leinster reassume control and it was fitting that young out-half Madigan scurried over for the clinching score.

Jonathan Sexton missed out on his first appearance of the season for Leinster when injuring himself in the warm-up, so Academy player Madigan stepped in at number 10 for only his second start for the province.

Cardiff travelled on the back of an encouraging bonus point victory over Edinburgh last weekend, and gave competitive debuts to prop Tom Davies and Kiwi flanker Michael Paterson.

The game was only four minutes' old when Isaac Boss managed to spring through a gap between Deiniol Jones and Bradley Davies, and feed the supporting Jennings for the opening try which man-of-the-match Nacewa converted.

Cardiff encountered scrum problems through the first half, so much so that newcomer Davies had to be replaced on the stroke of half-time.

They fell further behind when slick hands from Richardt Strauss and Luke Fitzgerald gave Nacewa enough space to skip by Chris Czekaj for a try he converted himself.

Parks knocked over two successive penalties to close the gap, with Casey Laulala beginning to cause problems for the Leinster defence. But the hosts tightened their grip on proceedings, moving 20-6 clear for the break courtesy of a penalty brace from Nacewa.

The same player put in a try-saving tackle on Richard Mustoe as Cardiff began the second half with intent.

Scrum half Rees had sparked a superb counter attack out of the 22, and the Blues' new-found adventure was soon rewarded. Parks punted a penalty to touch, and lock Davies muscled his way over off the next phase.

Parks added the extras and after Leinster failed to convert a couple of promising attacking situations, the Blues squared the game at 20-20 thanks to a terrific team try.

Laulala's long pass set up an overlap on the right and a couple of well-timed deliveries from Davies and Mustoe sent Xavier Rush charging into the 22. The Cardiff skipper's brilliant offload out of the tackle then put Rees in behind the posts and Parks comfortably converted.

The Scotland international tagged on a penalty for good measure and suddenly Leinster were behind. But Schmidt's men were up for the challenge and they bounced back to deservedly take the spoils.

Replacement prop Cian Healy drew two defenders on a barge through the middle to tee up McFadden for a sprint in under the posts.

Nacewa converted and in the final minute, took his personal tally to 19 points as he topped off Madigan's fine snipe from outside the 22 which took the losing bonus point away from the Blues.

Nacewa said afterwards: "We're delighted to get the win. Obviously it was a bit disappointing to let them back in during the second half, but thankfully we held on and it was an important step forward for us."

Reflecting on his first victory as Leinster coach, Schmidt commented: "We created a few chances in the second half, but every time they attacked they seemed to have numbers out wide.

"If we take our opportunities it will take the pressure off us. I'm really pleased to get the win and I felt that the guys coming off the bench gave us that little bit extra.

"It was difficult for Ian Madigan to come on and play so late into the build-up but I thought he did well and credit to him for stepping into the breach. If you had offered me a bonus point before the game, I would have scrambled over hot coals (for it)!

"The bonus point was a bit fortuitous at the end but I'm delighted to be on the blue side of a win, for the first time. I thought that we showed nous and a lot of character out there and it was overall a really good effort."

When Dominic Ryan and Isaac Boss pounced for first half tries, it looked like Leinster, whose scrum had been proving dominant, would go on to claim their first win at Firhill Stadium in over four years.

But the province's stranglehold on the match was loosened in the third quarter as gutsy Glasgow began to make in-roads.

Missing eight of their frontline players and trailing 16-6 at half-time, the Warriors closed the gap to seven points while Leinster replacement John Fogarty was in the sin-bin.

They were back on terms when Canadian international DTH van der Merwe got a try his industry deserved. The 19-year-old Weir, only minutes on the pitch, added the levelling conversion with great aplomb.

As errors and indiscipline left Leinster struggling for possession, Glasgow engineered a drop goal chance for Weir and he took it, moving the hosts 19-16 ahead.

Number 10 Isa Nacewa looked to have secured a share of the spoils for Leinster when he smacked over a terrific penalty from the left.

But with time running out, a costly penalty at a lineout saw Weir boot the Warriors clear again. Nacewa drew a last-minute drop goal attempt wide of the posts, leaving Sean Lineen's side to celebrate at the final whistle.

A couple of key elements from last season's Glasgow team were missing for this league opener, with top points scorer Dan Parks having made the move to the Cardiff Blues and the 'Killer Bs' back row broken up by Kelly Brown's switch to Saracens and injuries to John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie.

Ruaridh Jackson was joined at half-back by tournament newcomer Henry Pyrgos, and Ryan Wilson, Calum Forrester and Richie Vernon combined in a new-look back row. Argentinian full-back Bernardo Stortoni took on the captaincy role, in the absence of Alastair Kellock and Chris Cusiter.

For New Zealander Joe Schmidt's first competitive game in charge, Leinster were captained by young flanker Sean O'Brien who is back fully fit after breaking his leg in March. Full-back Luke Fitzgerald also returned from a long lay-off, his last competitive game being Ireland's Test against Australia last November.

New signings Isaac Boss, Heinke van der Merwe and Ed O'Donoghue made their senior bows for the province, while prop Simon Shawe took the step-up from All-Ireland League level.

Nacewa and Fitzgerald had early runs before Glasgow were penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck, allowing centre Fergus McFadden to kick Leinster into a third minute lead.

A Thom Evans burst got the Warriors within scoring range off the restart and Jackson punished a Leinster offside with his first points of the match.

The action was error strewn at times and when a Glasgow attacking move broke down, Leinster sensed their first opening. Centre Eoin O'Malley hacked on and was unfortunate to be penalised for a knock on before Shane Horgan edged towards the try-line.

Glasgow recovered from a shaky scrum in their 22 and a tremendous touchfinder from Jackson gave them the territory they needed.

Still, Leinster looked the more creative and when Jamie Heaslip broke from a scrum and offloaded to the supporting Boss, the visitors covered 60 metres in the space of a few seconds. Glasgow conceded a penalty which McFadden converted for 6-3.

Four minutes later, Glasgow skipper Stortoni had to be sharp to clear up as Nacewa went the aerial route, hanging the ball up for young winger Niall Morris to chase. The Warriors lost possession, and from the ensuing scrum, Dominic Ryan had a try ruled out for a forward pass from Heaslip.

A superb penalty from Jackson, from wide out on the right, showed his place-kicking ability, but the remainder of the first half largely went Leinster's way.

Glasgow's set pieces difficulties transferred to the lineout in the 26th minute, and the visitors took full advantage.

Fergus Thomson threw long at a short lineout, Heaslip read it and bounded forward into the Glasgow half before passing to the left for Ryan to gather and impressively beat the cover to the try-line.

McFadden's conversion attempt was off target, and Glasgow, with Pyrgos passing well, managed to build through the phases. A neat incision by van der Merwe, coming off his wing, forced Leinster to scramble back towards their whitewash. However, a subsequent knock on spoilt a great position for Lineen's men.

From a Glasgow scrum, Leinster manufactured their second try. The Scots were again disrupted in the set piece, O'Brien kicked the ball free and Boss chipped forward for Heaslip to chase. Glasgow's rearguard wilted under the pressure, with Evans and Federico Aramburu failing to clear the danger and the advancing Boss stretched out his arm for the touchdown.

The try went unconverted and Glasgow enjoyed a decent spell in the minutes leading up to half-time, helped by strong runs from Graeme Morrison and Richie Gray. A try went a-beginning, nevertheless, when a well-worked short lineout from hooker Thomson was called back for a crooked throw.

It was a gradual turnaround in the second half. It started with a purposeful maul from the Leinster forwards, but the third quarter was bossed by Glasgow - the hard work put in by Calum Forrester, Tom Ryder and Vernon forcing the visitors onto the back foot.

van der Merwe continued to look lively out wide, and there were cracks beginning to appear in Leinster's armoury. Replacement hooker John Fogarty was barely a minute on the pitch when he got involved in a scuffle with Stortoni and was yellow carded for punching.

Jackson missed the resulting penalty. He converted an easier opportunity, from almost in front of the posts in the 55th minute, to close the gap - a powerful surge from number 8 Vernon was the key play in the build-up.

Leinster were losing their discipline at the breakdown, and although Jackson missed a shot from the ten-metre line, the momentum was clearly with the Warriors.

As Lineen dug into his bench, the vocal home crowd really got behind Glasgow and some slick passing paved the way for Weir to send big winger van der Merwe crashing over in the right corner, past the despairing Boss.

Weir, who came on for Jackson, followed up with a fine conversion, and carries from Richie Gray and Vernon helped create the space for the Scotland Under-20 international to clip a drop goal over, suddenly making it 19-16.

Nacewa's penalty in return was a high quality score and for a short while, it seemed that the game was destined to end in a draw.

A lineout infringement offered Weir the chance to kick his side ahead again and he coolly did so, making it three years in-a-row that Glasgow have won their opening league fixture.

Summing up his feelings on the game, new Leinster supremo Schmidt said: "It was certainly a game that got away from us after half-time.

"We're really disappointed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and it was a case of us making errors which enabled them to keep the pressure on (in the second half).

"There were moments in the game when we had chances; a forward pass that was given which denied us a try.

"I was really pleased for Dom (Ryan) and I thought he played very well. I didn't know him before I arrived but he has performed well during pre-season and carried that into tonight.

"The boys are very frustrated in there and they feel as though they let themselves down. It's up to us now to take it on the chin and get ourselves in order for next week."

 

Consistent: Isa Nacewa

Club name Leinster

- 2010/11 Season Preview -

Last season So close yet so far was the story for the Dubliners as a Heineken Cup semi-final exit and defeat in the Magners League final left something of a sour taste in the mouth. It was also Michael Cheika's last term at the helm before his move to Paris so it was a disappointing end to his five-year spell at Leinster - even if they did very well to make Europe's final four after losing to London Irish in Round One. However, it paints a picture of what Cheika brought to the RDS in his stint that they would be unhappy not to lift any silverware. Not a bad season at all for Leinster.

This season Like the other teams in Pool 2, Leinster will find European life very difficult alongside Clermont, Saracens and Racing-Metro. Quite simply this is the 'group of death' as the French champions meet finalists from England and the Magners League and it is very possible that 2010/11's competition winner could come from this Pool. The Dubliners have brought in a decent trio for the new season in Ed O'Donoghue, Isaac Boss and Heinke van der Merwe to replace the retired Mal O'Kelly, Chris Whitaker and now Cheetah CJ van der Linde. A promising year indeed.

Coach: Joe Schmidt coached Bay of Plenty in 2003/2004. While at the Steamers he won the Ranfurly Shield with victory over Auckland and enjoyed one successful title defence before losing to Canterbury. Schmidt joined Auckland Blues in 2004 and stayed there for three years, his final year saw the side knocked out in the semis. He then joined Clermont and finished Top 14 runners-up twice before winning the coveted title in 2010.

Captain: It's another campaign as leader for Leo Cullen in 2010/11 and he has been doing a stand-up job since he made the move from Leicester back in 2007. Cullen was born in Dublin which makes his job extra special to the 32-year-old, who combines well with Brian O'Driscoll.

One to watch: With so many Ireland starters in their back-line, much more responsibility will be laid at the door of Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa this season. The former was arguably getting back to his best form in the second part of 2009/10 while the versatility of Nacewa will be key.

In: Ed O'Donoghue (Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ulster), Heinke van der Merwe (Golden Lions), Joe Schmidt - Head Coach (Clermont Auvergne).

Out:CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), Simon Keogh (Released), Chris Keane (Released) Malcolm O'Kelly (Retired), Girvan Dempsey (Retired), Bernard Jackman (Retired), Michael Cheika - Head Coach (Stade Francais), Chris Whittaker - Team Manager (Stade Francais), Alan Gaffney - Backs Coach (IRFU), Kurt McQuilkin - Defence Coach (Retired), Kyle Tonetti (Sale Sharks).

Home ground: Royal Dublin Society - capacity of 18,500

Travel connections: By train you would take the Dublin DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) service also operates from the City Centre to Ballsbridge. By bus take the RDS is serviced by bus routes number 7, 5 and 45, which stop outside the Main Hall Entrance to the stadium on Merrion Road. These bus services can be availed of on Nassau Street outside Trinity College. Outside Trinity College, take Nassau Street (N11) for about 150 metres then turn right following the signposts for the R118. Follow the R118 (also locally known Mount Street; turns into Merrion Road) for around 2km. The RDS Showgrounds will be situated on the right-hand side.