Leinster’s defence hold out Ospreys second-half revival

Leinster 19 Ospreys 16

Leinster’s defence saved this one for them. Leading 16-3 at halftime Ospreys came back in the second half and on a cold breezy day brought it down to a three point match.

Some inaccuracy in attack and a revival of sorts from the Welsh side put Leinster under more pressure than they should have felt in a match that stopped and started and was far from easy on the eye. Still Leo Cullen will be pleased to have closed it out and keep in touch with Connacht at the top of the Pro 12 table.

The first 15 minutes saw Leinster exclusively defend their line with Ospreys taking them through the phases. But the home defence was solid with Jordi Murphy cranking up his tackle count.

All that Ospreys took from that dominance of territory was a penalty from Sam Davies after four minutes for 0-3.

It was a break from Ian Madigan totally against the run of play that kick started the Leinster scoring on 17 minutes. The outhalf punched through in the centre of the paddock with Fergus McFadden in support. It was McFadden who made most of the ground up the middle offloading to is right for flanker Dan Leavy to take over the line for 7-3.

Madigan added the conversion and a quick penalty and from 0-3 down Leinster were suddenly commanding the scoreboard and leading Ospreys 10-3 with 20 minutes gone.

Leinster kept the points rolling as they pressurised Ospreys into giving away penalties. Madigan added another penalty on 29 minutes and a third on 32 minutes for 16-3.

Ospreys may have had a try late in the half had fullback Dan Evans let the ball out sweeping up the left but Leinster closed for the break on the attack and comfortably leading 16-3.

Davies opened the second half with an early penalty but for the next 15 minutes neither side could add to their score. Leavy then made a dangerous break into the Ospreys 22 and was clean through when he dropped the ball. Ospreys immediately hit back and when Dan Baker muscled through three minutes Ospreys were back in the match rather than Leinster being home and hosed.

A high tackle on Hayden Triggs gave Madigan another kick, which he landed for 19-13 before Osprey outhalf Davies kicked another for 19-16 with 13 minutes remaining.

Leinster opted to kick to touch rather than take three points on 73 minutes but Ospreys turned the ball over and the match took another momentum swing. Ospreys pressed and made the territory but couldn’t press it home, the Leinster defence holding until the end.

Scoring sequence -4 mins S Davies pen 0-3; 17 mins D Leavy try, Madigan con 7-3; 21 mins Madigan pen 10-3; 29 mins Madigan pen 13-3; 32 mins Madigan pen 16-3. Halftime. 47 mins Davies pen 16-6; 60 mins D Baker try, Davies con 16-13; 67 mins Davies pen 19-16;

Leinster: Z Kirchner; F McFadden, G Ringrose, B Te’o, I Nacewa; I Madigan, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross, R Molony, M Kearney, R Ruddock, D Leavy, J Murphy. R Strauss for Cronin and T Furlong for Ross 43 mins; P Dooley for Healy 46 mins; H Triggs for M Kearney 50 mins; L McGrath for Reddan 57 mins; D Ryan for Ruddock 72 mins; N Reid for Ringrose 78 mins.

Ospreys: D Evans; J Hassler, J Matavesi, O Watkin, B John; S Davies, R Webb; N Smith, S Parry, D Arhip, T Ardon, R Thornton, J King, O Cracknell, D Baker. Replacements M Fia for D Arhip 4 mins. A Arhip for Fia 12 mins; T Grabham for Hassler 15 mins; Hassler for Grabham 26 mins; A Beard for Thornton and J Spratt for Matavesi 40 mins; G Thomas for Smith and M Fia for Arhip 52 mins; S Otten for Parry and T Habberfield for Evans 54 mins; J Bearman for Cracknell 72 mins; T Grabham for Beard 79 mins.

Referee: I Davies (WRU)