Leinster Weather Early Storm To Knock Out Champions

Leinster delivered one of their great Heineken Champions Cup comebacks to dethrone 2020 winners Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park and reach their fifth semi-final in seven years.

The visitors trailed 14-0 following an early Tom O’Flaherty brace, but they rallied superbly and replacement Ross Byrne shone with the boot, kicking 17 points in an eventual 34-22 win.

Despite losing captain Jonathan Sexton to injury, Leinster fought their way into a 20-14 half-time lead with wingers James Lowe and Jordan Larmour both touching down.

A Dave Ewers maul score closed the gap for Chiefs, yet the province were not to be denied. Larmour crossed again before Byrne fired over two closing penalties after 65 and 79 minutes.

The first scrum was a break-even contest, Exeter moving the ball right where Sexton and Hugo Keenan were undone by winger O’Flaherty’s speed and roll away from contact for a fine second-minute try.

Seven minutes in, Joe Simmonds shot between Tadhg Furlong and O’Loughlin, paving the way for O’Flaherty to step out of Larmour’s tackle for his second try, again converted by captain Simmonds.

Battling for a foothold, Leinster began to threaten. Larmour’s footwork was dazzling for a solid gain and when the ball was whipped left, Lowe’s power and Keenan’s grab almost yielded a try. Held up was the decision.

There was further frustration for Leo Cullen’s men when a tap-and-go from a scrum penalty led to Scott Fardy being held up. A subsequent penalty at the breakdown, forced by Jonny Hill, allowed Exeter to clear.

Crucially, Leinster got on the scoreboard in the 17th minute. Jack Conan’s charge from a quickly-taken penalty set the wheels in motion, and Keenan’s impressive offload fed Lowe for a score which Sexton converted.

Sexton’s departure for a HIA failed to knock Leinster off their stride, with Robbie Henshaw, the eventual Heineken star-of-the-match, carrying and rucking strongly, and the forwards getting the maul going.

The newly-introduced Byrne, Henshaw and Keenan all played key roles in teeing up Larmour to squeeze in at the right corner. The latter’s classy one-handed finish was followed by a masterful touchline conversion from Byrne.

Buoyed by Leinster drawing level on the half hour mark, hooker Kelleher clamped down on Hill for a penalty which Byrne expertly drilled over for a 17-14 lead.

Then it was the turn of Josh van der Flier, who also pulled out a big performance up front, to earn a penalty from Henry Slade for holding on.

Another bout of Leinster pressure failed to yield a try, with Luke Cowan-Dickie foiling them from a short lineout move. Number 8 Conan had some eye-catching carries, exploding into contact.

Exeter lock Hill conceded a penalty for a high tackle on Byrne who split the posts with the late kick, leaving six points between the sides at the end of a pulsating opening 40 minutes.

Worryingly, Leinster endured an early slump on the resumption. After a defence-splitting run by O’Flaherty Exeter’s power game produced the goods when Ewers was driven over from a lineout.

The try went unconverted – keeping Leinster in front – only for Simmonds to be back on target with a 47th minute penalty, rewarding the hard work of the elusive O’Flaherty again.

Nonetheless, when Ewers was guilty of taking Kelleher out off the ball, Byrne landed the penalty from 35 metres to make it 23-22.

From then on, Exeter were held scoreless as Leinster took it up a gear. Byrne flung a pass out for Larmour to brilliantly muscle past Stuart Hogg and O’Flaherty and reach over in a sliver of space.

The try went unconverted, and as the hosts attempted to respond, Leinster drew penalties through van der Flier and their scrum. Indeed, a high hit by Jannes Kirsten on Byrne allowed the out-half to stretch the lead to nine.

Although Chiefs returned to their familiar lineout maul and close-range hammer blows, Leinster stood up to it with replacement Ryan Baird and Henshaw making dominant tackles.

Baird, who rattled the Exeter lineout, van der Flier and Henshaw again had important defensive contributions, with Exeter left disappointed by accidental obstruction and then a Henry Slade pass which went into touch.

Even better followed for the Blues, a power-packed scrum penalty presenting Byrne with the clinching three-pointer in the final minute.

Leinster’s relentless defence looked like forcing a loose pass and try for Rory O’Loughlin until it was ruled out due to Andrew Porter’s tackle on Kirsten.

Still, the 12-point victory was a massive statement for Leinster to make at the home of the reigning English and European champions. Exeter were unbeaten in their last 11 Champions Cup clashes – winning their last eight at home.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Leinster head coach Cullen said: “We’re really pleased because it was a very shaky start, which reminded us of the last quarter-final that we played in (against Saracens) where we also had a very shaky start.

“But I thought the prep during the week was good from the players. They knew the enormity of the challenge it was coming over here.

“The players showed really good composure and I thought the bench added through the course of the game as well, which is important, so overall a great squad effort to get through.”

He added: “Johnny is okay there, so he’ll go through the graduated return-to-play (protocols). I thought it was a great credit to Ross when he comes in and is so composed the whole time, nailed his kicks, and steered us around the field. He was excellent.

“We’re lucky with the two of them, we really are, because they’re great generals for the group. They have dovetailed pretty well over the course of the week as well.”