Magners League: Round 5 Review
The Magners League takes a two week break now while the focus shifts to the European competitions, so it is perhaps appropriate that the league leaders at this point in time as the current Heineken Cup holders, Leinster.
Leinster’s stunning 30-0 defeat of defending Magners League winners, Munster, in the battle of the champions at the RDS on Saturday night was the first time their visitors had been nilled in the history of the competition.
It was also Leinster’s biggest win in this famed interprovincial derby since their 32-0 triumph in 1958.
Michael Cheika’s fired-up charges took over top spot from fellow Irish province Ulster, who temporarily found themselves at the summit following their bonus point 45-24 victory over the Scarlets on Friday night.
The leaders going into this round, Edinburgh, could not reclaim top spot at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, the Ospreys also racking up a bonus point in their 31-10 win.
A late try from Sam Warburton spared Cardiff Blues’ blushes at the Cardiff City Stadium in the second game on Saturday evening where the Blues were only eight minutes away being held scoreless by Glasgow Warriors.
The remaining game of the round saw early season leaders Newport Gwent Dragons claim their third victory of this campaign – 23-10 at home to Connacht – to keep themselves in the top half of the table.
Dragons out-half Shaun Connor, along with Allan Jacobsen of Edinburgh, played in their 100th Magners League game this round.
2009/10 MAGNERS LEAGUE – AFTER ROUND 5:
TOP TRY SCORERS –
3 – Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Fionn Carr (Connacht), Nick Williams (Munster), Tim Visser (Edinburgh)
2 – Aled Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ashley Smith (Newport Gwent Dragons), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), Jerry Collins (Ospreys), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Denis Hurley (Munster), Alan MacDonald (Edinburgh), Mark Robertson (Edinburgh), Timoci Nagusa (Ulster), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Nikki Walker (Ospreys)
TOP POINTS SCORERS –
65 – Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) (4 conversions, 17 penalty goals and 2 drop goals)
61 – Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) (2 tries, 12 conversions and 9 penalty goals)
56 – Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) (4 conversions, 15 penalty goals and 1 drop goal)
49 – Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues) (1 try, 4 conversions and 12 penalty goals), Ian Humphreys (Ulster) (1 try, 7 conversions and 10 penalty goals)
38 – Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (7 conversions, 6 penalty goals and 2 drop goals)
35 – James Arlidge (Newport Gwent Dragons) (1 try, 3 conversions, 7 penalty goals and 1 drop goal)
32 – Ian Keatley (Connacht) (1 conversion and 10 penalty goals)
30 – Jeremy Manning (Munster) (3 conversions and 8 penalty goals)
BEST PLACE-KICKERS –
100% – Tomas O’Leary (Munster) (2 successful kicks from 2 attempts)
87.5% – Chris Paterson (Edinburgh) 21/24)
86.36% – Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) (19/22)
84.21% – Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues) (16/19)
83.33% – Stephen Jones (Scarlets) (5/6)
76.47% – Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (13/17)
75% – Fergus McFadden (Leinster) (6/8), Jason Tovey (Newport Gwent Dragons) (3/4)
70% – Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) (21/30)
RESULTS ROUND-UP –
Friday, October 2, 2009 at Ravenhill
Ulster (16) 45: Timoci Nagusa(T), Willie Faloon(T), Ian Humphreys(4C/4P), Andrew Trimble(2T), Ian Whitten(T)
Scarlets (12) 24: Jonathan Davies(2T), Stephen Jones(C/4P)
Attendance: 8,141
Ulster v Scarlets Match Report
Saturday, October 3, 2009 at the RDS
Leinster (13) 30: Gordon D’Arcy(T), Shane Horgan(T), Brian O’Driscoll(T), Jonathan Sexton(3C/3P)
Munster (0) 0: –
Attendance: 18,500
Leinster v Munster Match Report
Michael Cheika Post-Match Interview; Tony McGahan Post-Match Interview; Nathan Hines Post-Match Interview
Saturday, October 3, 2009 at Cardiff City Stadium
Cardiff Blues (0) 5: Sam Warburton(T)
Glasgow Warriors (11) 21: Johnnie Beattie(T), Thom Evans(T), Dan Parks(C/3P)
Attendance: 9,185
Saturday, October 3, 2009 at Rodney Parade
Newport Gwent Dragons (13) 23: Joe Bearman(T), James Harris(T), James Arlidge(C/2P), Shaun Connor(C/P)
Connacht (10) 10: Miah Nikora(T/C/P)
Attendance: 5,331
Newport Gwent Dragons v Connacht Match Report
Sunday, October 4, 2009 at Liberty Stadium
Ospreys (24) 31: Dan Biggar(4C/P), Tommy Bowe(T), Lee Byrne(T), Ryan Jones(T), Jonathan Thomas(T)
Edinburgh (10) 10: Phil Godman(C/P), Tim Visser(T)
Attendance: 7,033