The Leinster so many fans hold dear resurfaced at the Aviva Stadium this evening and they gave European champions one hell of a tilt… for an hour at least.
Leinster showed promising signs of life, this evening, before they flat-lined in the group of death.
Four successive defeats have seen the three-time winners eliminated from the Champions Cup before Santa even loaded up his sleigh. The hosts led 16-5 at the break only to lose 20-16.
Leo Cullen’s men were far from perfect but displayed more courage, vim and daring in their opening 40 minutes than they had for most of a troubled season.
Leinster started brightly and could have had a try were it not for a mix-up between Eoin Reddan and Jamie Heaslip. They soaked up Toulon’s first foray upfield before Johnny Sexton dinked over a penalty.
It said a lot for the import of this game, in the eyes of many Irish fans, that Sexton’s penalty was disrupted by hundreds streaming in, 10 minutes into the game.
Leinster’s 3-0 lead was soon enhanced when, with Toulon No.8 Duane Vermuelen in the sin bin, they refused kicks at goal and pushed for a try. Josh van der Flier looked to have mauled over but referee Wayne Barnes saw enough and awarded a penalty try. Sexton’s easy kick made it 10-0 after 18 minutes.
Toulon, as is their match-winning wont, came back into the game before the half-hour mark. The hosts soaked up a raft of pressure but steady handling and cool heads saw gaps appear out wide. Juan Smith cantered over and made it 10-5.
The ball was back in Leinster’s court and they ran with it. Rhys Ruddock made a superb line break and ploughed into the Toulon 22. A knock-on stalled momentum but Leinster maintained pressure and did not leave Toulon’s patch without getting on the scoreboard.
Sexton’s second, and third, penalties made it 16-5 and reminded fans of the days – not so long ago – when their side could scalp the great and good.
Well run dry
Toulon were hardly going to be garbage forever but they tried their damnedest for the best part of an hour before their pack turned the screw.
Drew Mitchell was denied by the TMO and a shelled pass but the pack took over and, on 59 minutes, Barnes awarded a penalty try. The conversion made it 16-12 and Leinster looked out of attacking gas but were clinging on for dear life.
15 minutes on the clock and Toulon struck again. The same maul that did the damage at Stade Felix Mayol last weekend punctured Leinster and replacement hooker Anthony Etrillard scored in the right-hand corner. The visitors led 17-16 with time running out.
Toulon stretched their lead with a penalty from Tom Taylor and were unlucky to have a Mamuka Gorgodze effort ruled out. It mattered not as they finished with their boot on Leinster’s throat, deep in the home side’s half.
