Leinster v Tigers Match Report
By TigerR
April 11 2011
In Ireland everything is green. The grass is green, the seats at Lansdown Road are green, the souvenirs are green and the visiting English rugby teams are green.
England lost because they could not or did not know how to cope with the entirely expected form a mayhem that Irish rugby teams produce. Leicester Tigers lost because they have also forgotten some basics. For example Alesana Tuilagi, who showed Harlequins how to dive in at the corner last week, got his dive wrong at a crucial moment at the start of the second half when a try would have given Tigers the lead. Also the Leicester forwards were unable to get the referee, Nigel Owens, to spot some very obvious interference in the line out that starved Tigers of line out possession. Brian Moore in a national newspaper and the commentators on the highlights I watched on RTE said that punches should have been thrown. However, given the possibility of a yellow card in the modern game that may not have been the wisest move, but somehow something so easy for the referee to spot should have been made to enter the referee’s mind somehow.
But did the Tigers deserve to win? It was close, very close. There was no lack of effort or bravery. The Leinster forwards and backs were aggressive in the tackle and their backs the more inventive on show; they won the first half. Isa Nacewa was the man of the match for me; for an excellent all round performance and for the kick return that brought Leinster’s try only a few minutes after the Tuilagi knee went in touch in goal. Nacewa has pace and he has the ability to confuse defenders. He made it to the line almost untouched from half way by dint of feint and jink and dummy.
But how nervous the Leinster supporters that surrounded me became when Rob Hawkins cut an incisive line to scorch in from 5m. This followed some great team play from Tigers to force the ball to the Leinster line. With 5 minutes on the clock, the ferocity of the match was telling and Tigers had the edge, in desire and in fitness, just. Wave after wave of attacks were repulsed and one or two line breaks would have had Tigers in for a good shot at 17-17 and extra time. In truth Leinster held Tigers to the 22m line and one final knock on ended the match.
But what a cracker of a match. I did not regret the cost and time of my trip across the water even if it left me with a sense of the blues (both in the mood and in the sight of 70,000 supporters streaming happily away from the ground in their blue jerseys. My team did me proud, even if my jersey and they were at bit too green.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:17:21:04:10 by Stephen Bath.
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I had a good time. The Guiness was as good as I had remembered it being from 2005. I had some friendly discussions with some Leinster supporters, spent an hour with Jen., Andrew and George and did some touristy things. Most importantly had a proper long week end away from work!