Leinster 22 Chiefs 17
Leinster 22
Exeter Chiefs 17
Mark Stevens at the Aviva Stadium
Exeter’s search for a first European win over Leinster will continue for a day or two yet, but the Chiefs will ultimately be kicking themselves after letting a golden opportunity pass them by.
For at least an hour, Rob Baxter’s men were the dominant force in Dublin, producing a solid shift in this pulsating Round Four encounter.
Sadly, their hopes of downing the three-time champions at the Aviva Stadium evaporated late on as Luke McGrath’s late score, plus the boot of Isa Nacewa, ensured the home side maintained their unblemished record in Pool 3.
Up until then, tries from Sam Skinner and Luke Cowan-Dickie, as well as seven points from Irishman Gareth Steenson, had put the English champions in fine fettle and on course for claiming a notable scalp.
Facing one another just six days after Leinster ended Exeter’s year-long unbeaten home record, the Chiefs arrived in the Irish capital not only looking for revenge for that defeat, but at the same time bidding to re-ignite their European aspirations.
Baxter made five changes to his starting line-up, drafting in Ben Moon, Tomas Francis and Skinner up front, while behind international duo Jack Nowell and Lachie Turner helped to form two thirds of the back three alongside the retained Olly Woodburn.
Leinster, meanwhile, made just one enforced change to their starting line-up from that which won at Sandy Park. With Rhys Ruddock out with a hamstring injury, Josh Van Der Flier filled the void in the back-row vacated by the Irish international.
With personnel in place, it was the Chiefs who flew out of the traps like a seasoned greyhound. Just three minutes had elapsed when the visitors landed their first telling blow. The pack laid the foundations, driving deep into the Leinster 22, before a simple pick-and-go approach created the opening for Skinner to drive over by the posts for the game’s opening try, converted by Steenson.
It was the dream start for the visitors, but for Leinster the early try was just the least of their problems as in the build-up to the score, prized playmaker Johnny Sexton was floored by a heavyweight collision. Although the Leinster physios did their best to try and patch-up the clearly dazed Irish and Lions fly-half, his afternoon was done and dusted.
It meant an early introduction into the fray for replacement Adam Byrne, but he was soon joining Sexton on the sidelines - albeit briefly - as both he and Exeter’s Nic White were sent for HIA checks following a clash of heads.
With both sides having forced to re-jig things, it was Leinster who hit back on 12 minutes when the Devonians were pulled up for infringing at a ruck. With Sexton and Byrne both off, it was left to Leinster skipper Nacewa to assume kicking duties - and the experienced winger made no mistake, dispatching the penalty for his side’s opening points.
The Chiefs, though, were looking the more dominant outfit and when they saw a close-range line-out chance go begging, they were handed a boost when home prop Cian Healy was yellow-carded for a reckless charge at Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Although Baxter’s side did not capitalise initially, they restored their seven-point buffer when Steenson slotted a successful penalty just before the half-hour mark - and the Ulsterman was on hand to add the extras to Exeter’s second score just a minute later.
Great work on the floor from the lively Matt Kvesic saw him win the Chiefs a turnover penalty, that was duly booted to the corner, and from the resultant line-out it was Cornishman Cowan-Dickie who emerged from a mass of bodies to take the plaudits from his team-mates following a well-constructed driving maul.
Some 14 points to the good, the Chiefs - and the healthy travelling Tribe - were in prime position heading towards the break. However, the concession of two penalties just before the interval allowed Nacewa to strike twice and cut Exeter’s advantage to just eight points at the break.
HALF TIME LEINSTER 9 EXETER CHIEFS 17
They were soft scores to concede and it gave the Irishmen a much-needed boost as they headed for the dressing rooms. On the resumption, the Chiefs again started brightly, but whereas everything was sticking during the first period, now the visitors were guilty of failing in their end execution.
Leinster happily soaked up the early pressure, before the boot of Nacewa again struck, landing a fourth penalty to keep his side firmly in touch.
After such a strength-sapping first period, so the draining effects on both sides started to kick in. As benches started to empty, introducing fresh stock into the heat of battle, so it was Leinster who started to click into gear.
Momentum within the contest was beginning to switch and when Nacewa landed a fifth penalty just past the hour mark, suddenly the ‘Blue Army’ in the vast expanses of the Aviva started to turn up the noise.
Exeter did their best to try and wrestle their way back into the contest, but too often they were guilty of either spilling the ball in contact or releasing pressure with an ever-mounting penalty count.
As frustrating as it was for the Chiefs, they were just about hanging on to their precious lead. That was until with 14 minutes remaining, the hosts fashioned space for replacement flanker Dan Leavy, who galloped clear of the Exeter cover before shipping a simple offload to McGrath, who was able to scoot his way over the line for the try, which Nacewa converted with ease to put his side in front for the first time in the contest.
The 19-point swing was certainly impressive from Leinster, but still there was time for the Chiefs to try and fathom a winning score late on. Baxter’s side duly huffed and puffed through Simmonds, Nowell and the ever-willing Olly Woodburn, but it would be to no avail.
Indeed, one late chance saw them win a penalty which, as they so often do these days, they kicked deep into the Leinster 22. However, the resultant set-piece saw the Chiefs pulled off for obstruction, thus allowing the ‘Boys in Blue’ to not only clear the danger but, more importantly, masterfully see out the dying embers to claim a priceless victory.
For the Chiefs, it’s back to the bread and butter of the Premiership next weekend at Northampton, although they know they could - and probably should - have been heading to the East Midlands having pocked a notable European scalp.
Now third in the standings with just two rounds remaining, the Chiefs know nothing less than maximum hauls against Montpellier and Glasgow Warriors will be enough for them to keep their European dream alive.
Leinster: R Kearney; F McFadden, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, I Nacewa (capt); J Sexton (R Byrne 3, J Larmour 7-16), L McGrath (J Gibson-Park 74); C Healy (J McGrath 56), S Cronin (J Tracy 74), T Furlong; D Toner (J Ryan 56), S Fardy; S O’Brien (D Leavy 56), J Van Der Flier (J McGrath 19-28), J Conan. Replacement (not used): A Porter.
Try - L McGrath; Conversion - Nacewa; Penalties - Nacewa (5)
Yellow Cards: Healy, Fardy
Chiefs: L Turner (J Short 74); J Nowell, H Slade, I Whitten (S Hill 63), O Woodburn; G Steenson (capt), N White (W Chudley 7-18, 63); B Moon (A Hepburn 56), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 66), T Francis (H Williams 53); M Lees (J Hill 61), S Skinner; D Armand, M Kvesic (T Waldrom), S Simmonds.
Tries - Skinner, Cowan-Dickie; Conversions - Steenson (2); Penalty - Steenson
Referee: P Gauzere