Leinster (10) 37

Tries: C Healy, Horgan, S Keogh, R Kearney Cons: Nacewa (4) Pens: Nacewa (3)

Edinburgh (14) 28

Tries: Thompson, Robertson 2, Kelly Cons: Godman (4) Edinburgh's Phil Godman is tackled by Brian O'Driscoll of Leinster Leinster came from behind for a victory that sealed a home Magners League semi-final against Munster and ended Edinburgh's hopes of squeezing through. Two late converted tries by replacement flanker Stephen Keogh and full-back Rob Kearney helped the province secure top spot in the final league table. Edinburgh had led 14-0 through tries from Jim Thompson and Mark Robertson. Cian Healy and Shane Horgan replied for Leinster before Edinburgh got further tries from Andrew Kelly and Robertson. Stand-in out-half Isa Nacewa, filling in for Shaun Berne who sustained a knock in the warm-up, landed seven kicks from seven attempts. The first quarter was scoreless but that all changed in the 23rd minute when Edinburgh's Robertson put Thompson through for a try and Phil Godman added the conversion. Luck was then on Edinburgh's side as referee Peter Fitzgibbon missed a clear case of crossing and Robertson beat the first tackle to make it all the way to the line. Leinster's Jamie Heaslip in action against Greig Laidlaw of Edinburgh Leinster got on the scoreboard, four minutes before half-time, when Jamie Heaslip attacked off the base of a scrum, and his back row colleague Kevin McLaughlin took it on before prop Healy burrowed over from a ruck. Nacewa kicked the conversion and followed up with a penalty as Leinster ended the half on the attack, but facing a 14-10 deficit. They made a good start to the second period as Nacewa cantered through and passed for Horgan to score in the left corner. Nacewa added the conversion and a further penalty gave them 20-14 lead. Edinburgh responded in the 64th minute when the alert Kelly collected a loose ball off a ruck to muscle over under the posts. Godman converted and, just a minute later, added the extras to Robertson's second try as he sprinted through a gap between Horgan and O'Driscoll. But the long-time league leaders failed to panic and got back within scoring range. Nacewa kicked his third penalty, closing the gap to 28-23, and then visiting prop Allan Jacobsen and number eight Allister Hogg were sin-binned in quick succession for ruck offences close to their posts. In a nail-biting finish, Leinster drew level when Keogh, supported by McLaughlin, crashed over and Nacewa's conversion edged the hosts ahead. When Godman's snap drop-goal attempt was blocked by Kearney, Leinster sensed blood and the full-back won the race to Hines's hack through to register the bonus point. Nacewa drew over the conversion to complete his impressive 17-point tally. Leinster: R Kearney, Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Dempsey, Nacewa, Reddan, C. Healy, Fogarty, Wright, Cullen, Hines, McLaughlin, D. Ryan, Heaslip.

Replacements: McFadden for D'Arcy (63), Ross for Wright (58), O'Kelly for Cullen (78), S. Keogh for D. Ryan (48). Edinburgh: Thompson, Robertson, Cairns, De Luca, Visser, Godman, Laidlaw, Jacobsen, Ford, Traynor, MacLeod, S. Turnbull, MacDonald, R. Grant, Hogg.

Replacements: Kelly for Ford (61), G. Cross for Traynor (52), Newlands for MacDonald (33). Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Attendance: 11,836



Bookmark with: Delicious

Digg

reddit

Facebook

StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version