Sexton fast becoming O'Gara's heir
It might have been the closest run of the three Irish wins but, given the circumstances, Leinster's victory at Edinburgh deservedly took pride of place in another positive weekend's progress ahead of the fast-approaching Heineken Cup.
Yes, Leinster got lucky right at the death, when Chris Paterson shaved the wrong side of the post for his only miss of the day in a match that lacked quality but certainly not intensity and commitment. But defensively Leinster were superb and, though held try-less, were still more than deserving of the late dollop of luck that came their way.
The moral remains the same -- the harder you work, the luckier you get. Given the manner in which Leo Cullen and his men dug out this latest success, what we are witnessing now is a squad with an edge. The departed Rocky Elsom certainly contributed to the tough collective resolve and winning ethic at the province last season but, under Michael Cheika's patient tutelage, that is now ingrained throughout the squad.
Munster, however, will test it to the limit on Saturday at the RDS but I defy anyone to question the depth of character in this Leinster squad. They didn't play particularly well at Murrayfield but, when it comes to getting the right result, they now have that professional 'winning' formula.
They have too, in Jonathan Sexton, a playmaker growing in confidence and experience. He is already more important to Leinster than Ronan O'Gara is to Munster, given the quality (Paul Warwick and Jeremy Manning) in reserve down south.
Neither Shaun Berne nor Isa Nacewa possess the fundamentals for out-half. Nacewa is an outstanding broken-field runner, albeit primarily from full-back, while Ian McKinley, though still learning the trade, appears the most promising and next in line to Sexton.
Sexton too has still a lot to learn and much to prove at the highest level but, encouragingly for Declan Kidney, the last six months has seen him grab his long-awaited Leinster opportunity with confidence and conviction. He is learning not to get riled by the opposition, while the quality of his high-hanging 79th-minute restart -- chased down by Shane Horgan, Cian Healy and Devin Toner amongst others -- highlighted that still-developing appreciation of concentration in a crisis. It is what makes great out-halves great and Sexton has the potential to be just that.
Recent evidence points to Irish rugby having its first challenger to O'Gara since David Humphreys in his prime. And there are others too. Healy, for one, is ready, with the Munster match a massive challenge in that regard. However, he must rein in that tendency for giving up cheap time in the bin. Playing it close to the edge is one thing but, when tapped by the referee, shipping yellow is stupid in the extreme. And if Sean O'Brien can nail down a back-row slot then he too must enter the frame for Kidney.
Kevin McLaughlin and Stephen Keogh offer very real and practical back-row alternatives but right now there is something about O'Brien, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip in terms of hardened balance as a combination.
Behind the scrum, Brian O'Driscoll, in for the highly impressive Fergus McFadden, should be the only change to the finishing back line in Edinburgh. Horgan and Luke Fitzgerald should nail down the wing slots, with Fitzgerald's power and aggression in the tackle up a notch from last season. His time in the centre will come but, for now, going head-to-head with Dougie Howlett down the flank will do.
As for Munster? It was 40 minutes of revving followed by 40 minutes of relentless power, blowing well-organised, in-form opponents away. It was hard not to feel for the Dragons, given the level of their first-half defensive heroics, but Munster don't do sympathy. I pity Tony McGahan's task of picking 22, never mind 15, to run out at the RDS. He is truly spoilt for choice and, though level with Leinster on Magners League points, one suspects the reigning champions are ahead in terms of sharpness and preparation.
Jean de Villiers had a comfortable run-out in Cork. He will clearly bolster the defensive solidity down that 10/12 channel. If fit, Keith Earls will come into the frame either at left wing or full-back, although were McGahan to give Felix Jones and Denis Hurley the nod at full-back and left-wing respectively there would be few complaints.
Up front, Denis Fogarty continues to impress and, while clearly in Jerry Flannery's shadow, he looks the real deal. As for the back row? Even without Alan Quinlan, David Wallace and Denis Leamy, how would you pick three from Tommy O'Donnell, Donncha Ryan, Nick Williams, Niall Ronan and James Coughlan?
And what of the remarkable Tomas O'Leary? He has still to tidy up his speed and efficiency of clearance at the break-down, but his sheer physical presence adds further still to the central spine of the side. That said, with Peter Stringer and Toby Morland chipping away, he will need to be at his pre-injury best.
Williams' hat-trick of tries naturally grabbed the headlines but, much like Heaslip at Leinster, it is the adopted Kiwi's appetite for work off the ball that makes him a real candidate for first-up selection. Sunday might have been mapped for De Villiers' maiden outing but, perhaps even more significantly, it marked the day Williams finally arrived.
Ulster, meanwhile, made it successive victories on the road with a comprehensive mauling of Connacht at the Sportsground. Brian McLaughlin is making slow but very definite progress and with a level of humility in stark contrast to his immediate predecessor. They were as good as they needed to be in Galway, where Connacht simply failed to show. A four try-defeat to the Irish side they have targeted to challenge for Heineken Cup qualification is tantamount to disaster.
It leaves Ulster with two away wins and two bonus points. It also leaves them in fourth spot behind Munster and Leinster with Connacht, for whom Saturday's trip to Newport has that must-win look about it, in that all-too-familiar territory propping up the table.
- Tony Ward
