Five-Try Leinster Book Final Place

Leinster dethroned defending Amlin Challenge Cup champions Biarritz to move within one win of their third European title in as many seasons.

Joe Schmidt’s men ran out comfortable five-try 44-16 winners at a sold-out RDS, where the province will host Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup decider on Friday, May 17.

Two tries from man-of-the-match Jamie Heaslip book-ended a evenly balanced first half, with Leinster’s precise passing and finishing being the difference at the break.

Dimitri Yachvili’s third penalty in the 37th minute left Biarritz just 10-9 behind, only for Leinster to dazzle in the Dublin sunshine with two late tries.

Jonathan Sexton and Heaslip went over in a blockbusting three-minute burst, the former adding the conversions for a sudden 24-9 interval advantage.

The sin-binning of Takudzwa Ngwenya, early in the second period, signalled the death knell for Biarritz who will miss out on Heineken Cup rugby next year.

Isa Nacewa and Brian O’Driscoll added two more tries for the runaway semi-final victors, with Arnaud Heguy’s consolation score cutting the margin to 28 points.

The hosts had to absorb a bright early spell from Biarritz, but a well-worked lineout move caught the Basque side out for Heaslip’s opening try, five minutes in.

Richardt Strauss threw deep to Devin Toner who palmed the ball down for the onrushing Nacewa to charge over the 10-metre line and Heaslip’s timely support run saw him cross to the left of the posts.

Sexton converted but as Leinster pressed during a high-tempo spell, the fit-again out-half badly hooked a penalty that went wide to the left.

Sexton was back in the thick of the action on the quarter hour, setting up a brisk O’Driscoll break and getting the return pass – only for Ngwenya and Jean-Pascal Barraque to hold him up past the try-line.

Ngwenya soon burst into life in attack, charging downfield to set up an 18th minute penalty that Yachvili comfortably converted for 7-3.

Biarritz, with the breeze behind them, make further inroads, capitalising on a stuttering Leinster lineout as Imanol Harinordoquy, Thibault Dubarry and Pelu Taele made the hard yards.

Their tight driving led to Yachvili’s second successful penalty, however Leinster quickly returned the favour – Cian Healy carrying effectively before a close-in Sexton penalty punished a Biarritz offside.

Good feet from Heaslip, carrying more in the injury-enforced absence of Sean O’Brien, saw him break Biarritz’s hold on possession and territory as he powered over halfway.

Leinster won a subsequent penalty but Sexton’s instinctive punt to the left corner for Nacewa was knocked on under pressure by the winger.

A sweetly struck penalty from Yachvili, whipping the ball over from distance, made it a one-point game until Leinster found an extra gear in the closing minutes of the half.

O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney combined smartly to unlock the visitors’ defence and put Sexton stepping over for the province’s second try.

The third followed in injury-time as Heaslip reacted quickest to a loose ball at the side a ruck and his angled run from the 22 doubled his try tally.

Biarritz watched Yachvili miss a long range penalty on the resumption, and the title holders’ hopes were soon extinguished by Ngwenya’s sin-binning and Leinster’s ruthlessness on the ball.

Ngwenya chased back hard to deny Ian Madigan a certain try after an interception, however the American international failed to roll away and earned a yellow card.

Leinster took immediate advantage of the extra man, showing their potency again and again from turnover ball. Sexton popped over a penalty and then a delightful interchange between Sexton and Nacewa outfoxed three covering defenders and produced a deserved try for the latter.

Sexton’s withdrawal allowed Madigan to slot back in at out-half, and the recent Ireland debutant kept the scoreboard running in Leinster’s favour with a well-hit conversion and penalty.

Rob Howley headed up the watching Lions party and he would have been pleased to see O’Driscoll nab a try, finishing off some good work from Nacewa and fast-breaking replacement hooker Sean Cronin.

The performances of Heaslip and Sexton, and possibly the versatile Madigan, will also give the Lions management food for thought ahead of Tuesday’s squad announcement.

Biarritz battled on and with 13 minutes left hooker Heguy broke free from a ruck on the Leinster 22 to register their lone try.