Its Christmas time and while updates have been a little slower than usual here on Rugbydump, be assured that next year things will be back in full swing as the holiday season will be over. Your patience is appreciated. For now, heres some much requested highlights from Leinster’s great win over Clermont on the weekend.
It was a bitterly cold night in Dublin as a record crowd turned out to soak up the festive atmosphere and watch their side produce a superb performance to knock over Clermont with a 24-8 victory, laying down a serious marker for the rest of the Heineken Cup.
Two tries by Cian Healey and one by Sean OBrien meant that Leinster took a grip on pool two and contributed towards ruining Clermonts chances of an easy route to the next round. They missed out a bonus point, but importantly denied the visitors of one too.
“The win is particularly satisfying because we stopped them getting a bonus point, so in the head to head we are 5-4 in front,” said coach Joe Schmidt.
“This week we were up for it more. We really had the bit between our teeth and were charging at them. It was a bit of trench warfare and great footy from both sides. We did go a little flat in the last 20 minutes but I think the intensity we brought, particularly in the first 20 minutes of the first and second halves, might have drained us a little and we just lost our shape.”
Devon Toner was impressive on the night, which bodes well for his World Cup chances with Ireland for 2011. “Im just trying to do what I can for Leinster, Im not looking any further,” he said.
Leinster play Ulster in the Magners League on the 27th of this month, shortly after the festive celebrations take place over the next few days.
“Weve got Christmas Day off, but weve got a match on 27th December against Ulster, we have to prepare for that so we wont be eating too much,” Toner added.
As mentioned earlier, RD will be back in full swing shortly after New Years as once a year, things slow down a little around this time. All the best for the holiday season and if youre celebrating, we’d like to wish you a very merry Christmas.
Time:
04:51
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