Leinster learn their lesson and close out gritty win over Sharks in Durban
IN FOR A PENNY: Scott Penny of Leinster scores a try. Pic: INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
These trips to South Africa for understrength Leinster sides are supposed to be all about learning and Leo Cullen’s side certainly showed they suffered a harsh lesson last weekend when the Bulls pulverised their scrum to score a winning try with the clock in the red.
But they didn’t blow it this time. Indeed, not only did they get the ball away from a scrum in the danger zone in the closing stages, they ransacked a maul when the Sharks came back with a penalty down the right wing.
It is only Leinster’s second URC win in South Africa but this is a particularly sweet one in Durban, not least after what happened in Pretoria last week.
The fact that it was achieved against a side led by double World Cup winning skipper Siya Kolisi adds considerably to the value of the victory, not least after losing for the first time this season last weekend.
Whether any of these have played their way into the Champions Cup squad for the Harlequins game next weekend remains to be seen but Max Deegan led from the front and veteran Cian Healy grafted for over an hour in 28 degrees South African heat before being called ashore.
The Sharks, who went into this contest having won all six home URC matches at Kings Park this season, pounded the Leinster line in the opening minutes but could not find a way through a fine defensive effort.
That set the tone for the game, with Leinster disciplined in their defence and the Sharks, despite all the talent on board, lacking ambition and struggling for a game plan.
Even when the South Africans got into promising positions they were regularly guilty of poor handling and it was no surprise when it was Leinster who hit the front after 19 minutes.
Leinster mounted a sustained attack which led to Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse being binned for cynical play as the visitors pressed towards the line.
His opposite number Fintan Gunne, starting his first match for Leinster with a fine display, flew a superb pass wide for academy winger Henry McErlean, on as a temporary replacement, to score in the right corner for what turned out to be the only score of the opening half.
Leinster struck a telling blow eight minutes after the restart when Ciaran Frawley put Scott Penny away for a try. That made it 10-0 after Frawley’s conversion came back off the woodwork.
Sharks finally got in for a try off hooker Bongi Mbonambi after doing the simple things well in the build-up and Jordan Hendrikse converted to cut the gap to 10-7 after 52 minutes.
Frawley did well to deny centre Ethan Hooker but the Sharks were poor in the lineout and the loose and Leinster did more than enough in the end to score a fine win.
B Mbonambi. Jordan Hendrikse
H McErlean, S Penny.
Y Penxe (S Masuku 64); E Hooker, J Julius (F Venter 58), A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse (B Davids 70); O Nche (N Mchunu 66), B Mbonambi, V Koch (R Dreyer 66); J Jenkins, E van Heerden (C Rahl 66); J Venter (M Tshituka 62), V Tshituka, S Kolisi (capt).
J O’Brien; T O’Brien (H McErlean 12-26), L Turner (R Byrne 51), C Tector, A Osborne (McErlean 75); C Frawley, F Gunne (O Coffey 78); C Healy (M Milne 62), J McKee (L Barron 62), T Clarkson (R McGuire 76); D Mangan, B Deeny; A Soroka (A Spicer 78), W Connors (S Penny 29), M Deegan.
B Breakspear (Wales)
