Leinster's anguish was palpable at the final whistle at Donnybrook last night as they contemplated a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. On reflection, the courage, character and passages of enterprising rugby will offer scant consolation in the immediate aftermath.
It was cruel justice for a Leinster side who defied the physical disparity between the teams, competed wonderfully and put themselves in a position to create history by becoming the first side to beat the Australian schoolboys on Irish soil.
Unfortunately basic errors allowed Australia to remain within touching distance, a gap they ultimately breached when replacement centre Junior Pelesasa sliced through the midfield defence to cross under the posts, one minute into injury time. Warwick's conversion safeguarded the tourists from defeat.
There was still one final opportunity, two minutes later when Leinster were awarded a penalty on the Australian 10-metre line. Blackrock full-back Paul Drew took the responsibility but despite a fine strike saw his kick drift narrowly wide of the right-hand upright: justice had not been served.
Leinster will rue a hasty decision midway through the second half which costs them a try scoring opportunity. Centre Kieran Lewis conjured a fine break carried on by Drew and the home side careered into the Australian 22. Within metres of the visitors' line, Leinster were awarded two penalties in quick succession, the result of excellent scrummaging.
On receipt of a third, they elected to take a tap penalty and lost control of a promising situation. They were also guilty of too many fluffed clearances that failed to find the sanctuary of touch. Overall, though, there was much to savour. The scrummage was excellent, the tackling and fringe defence, wonderfully committed and it was only in the lineout that a lack of control was apparent.
It seems invidious to single out individuals but the back row and in particular the outstanding Shane Jennings proved core performers. Gavin Duffy defended resolutely while James Norton took his try brilliantly and generally appeared sharp.
The Australians were limited to snatches of their trademark flair behind the scrum but Pelesasa and full-back Tui Tulaia used power and pace to telling effect. They took the lead on 21 minutes with a penalty from Paul Warwick.
Leinster provided the perfect riposte with a stunning try. From a scrum on halfway, Jennings broke, fed Owen Brady who returned the ball to the number eight; with great vision and power he beat three tacklers and redirected the play, finding Duffy. The Roscrea centre threw a fine long pass to Norton whose speed and power saw him squeeze over in the corner.
Drew atoned somewhat for two earlier missed penalties by kicking an admirable touchline conversion. Warwick's second penalty on 32 minutes left Leinster with a narrow half-time advantage but the benefit of a strong breeze. Their failure to capitalise, other than Drew's second penalty, on early pressure on the Australians' line was to prove costly.
The visitors wrested the initiative in the last 10 minutes and Leinster were resigned to last-ditch defence. This they managed excellently until injury time when a loose kick pre-empted Pelesasa's try.
