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**dudeabides** · 05-08-2010, 03:29 AM

In Round 18...

Ospreys v Dragons:

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Ospreys secured a home tie in the Magners League play-off semi-finals with a 42-10 bonus-point victory over the Dragons at the Liberty Stadium in the last match of the regular league season.

The hosts saw off their Welsh regional rivals by five tries to one with skipper Ryan Jones, Dan Biggar, who scored 22 points, Nikki Walker and Ryan Bevington adding to a first-half penalty try which highlighted the Ospreys' dominance up front. The home side fielded 15 full internationals in their starting line-up, while the depleted Dragons had 14 players out injured including openside flanker Gavin Thomas, who pulled out of the side before the kick-off.

Ospreys put the Dragons on the back foot with Biggar kicking penalties after five and eight minutes and a penalty try after three five-metre scrums cemented their lead. Biggar and his opposite number Jason Tovey swapped penalties in the space of two minutes but the remaining 12 minutes of half were forgettable as the Ospreys chose to get embroiled in a kicking game rather than put it through the hands.

The Ospreys forward dominance was evident nine minutes into the second half when Ryan Jones went in for a pushover try. A poor line-out from the Ospreys allowed the Dragons to pounce for their only try, which was scored by scrum-half Wayne Evans. And with prop Aaron Coundley in the sin-bin for continual collapsing of the scrum the Ospreys scored two more tries for Biggar, who finished off an impressive counter attack, and Walker. The icing was put on the cake five minutes from the end when replacement prop Bevington went over in the left corner.

Glasgow v Scarlets:

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Glasgow secured a 37-32 bonus-point win over the Scarlets in a free-flowing encounter at Parc y Scarlets to maintain their outside hopes of a home semi-final. The Warriors, with fly-half Dan Parks outstanding, must now hope Scottish rivals Edinburgh can do them a favour against Leinster in Dublin on Sunday after the Ospreys notched up the bonus point they needed against the Dragons.

Parks kicked 17 points, while opposite number, Wales and Lions No.10 Stephen Jones, landed 22 for the home side to write himself into the Scarlets' record books as their leading points scorer of all time. Glasgow had gone into the game having already secured their place in the inaugural end-of-season play-offs.

The visitors outscored their hosts four tries to three with winger DTH van der Merwe and flanker Calum Forrester crossing in the first half and centre Hefin O'Hare and fullback Bernardo Stortoni added further scores after the break. Tries from fullback Dan Evans and winger Lee Williams saw the Scarlets go into the break just one point adrift and despite taking the lead early in the second half thanks to Jones they were unable to hold off their play-off bound rivals.

Ulster secured eighth place in the table with a thumping six-try 41-10 bonus point win in their final game over Connacht, who finish bottom of the table for another season. Tries from Simon Danielli, Ian Humphreys, replacement Andi Kyriacou, Ian Whitten, Dan Tuohy and Jamie Smith brought the home side back-to-back league wins.

It finishes off what has been a disappointing season for Brian McLaughlin's squad, although they were too strong for Connacht on their coach Michael Bradley's last game in charge. The only low point was a suspected ankle injury to Rory Best which saw the Ireland hooker leave the field early in the second half and could have an impact on Ireland's tour to New Zealand and Australia next month.

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**dudeabides** · 05-09-2010, 03:35 PM

Cardiff v Munster:

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Munster have booked their place in the Magners League play-offs despite slipping to a 13-12 defeat to Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The reigning champions had too much grit for the Blues, who began the day chasing an unlikely double after booking their place in the European Challenge Cup final with victory over Wasps last weekend.

The home side required a bonus point win to progress to the finals but were found wanting against an under-strength Munster outfit who nevertheless exhibited all of the spiky determination that has become their trademark.

Blues centre Jamie Roberts scored the only try of the game in the first-half and Leigh Halfpenny booted the winning points from inside his own half in the dying seconds, eclipsing 12 points from the ever-reliable boot of Ronan O'Gara. There were nervy moments for Munster in the closing stages as Edinburgh took Leinster to the wire in Dublin, but a late flurry from their rivals in blue secured their passage.

Munster dominated the early phases and almost pounced for the opening try with Nick Williams' break from a ruck. Cardiff scrambled frantically and after a scintillating break from his 22 by Xavier Rush, Ben Blair sent his first penalty attempt wide of the uprights. Blair's recent profligacy with the boot continued with his next attempt but the former All Black finally found his range from dead in front to secure a deserved lead. Unfortunately for the home faithful the Blues' advantage was short-lived as O'Gara levelled the scores with his first effort.

Munster piled the pressure on with a powerful kick chase and were just denied by Darren Allinson's interception of an O'Gara chip. The Blues won a penalty in the shadow of their posts and opted for a quick one, Leigh Halfpenny streaking away before kicking long. With a big territorial gain the Blues attacked with renewed vigour. Ceri Sweeney and Deiniol Jones stretched the visitors before Casey Laulala's blindside burst opened the space for Roberts to power over.

O'Gara immediately reduced the arrears with his second penalty and after more pedestrian play from the Blues he slotted his third to close the gap to a single point. Laulala sent a wonky drop-goal wide of the uprights as the Blues forced the play, replacement Dafydd Hewitt also blowing a chance before the break when presented with a sniff of the line out wide. With nerves creeping in for the home side O'Gara kept his cool to secure a half-time advantage with his fourth penalty.

O'Gara took all of the pace out of the game by arrowing kicks to the corners in the opening stages of the second-half and the Blues grew increasingly anxious as time ticked away. Williams continued to prove a menace at the breakdown and Cardiff were unable to create any momentum against the organised defence of the visitors.

Munster cranked up the pressure by swarming all over the home side as they looked to clear from a scrum close to their try-line, but a knock on spared the Blues as David Wallace looked to punish their lack of accuracy. Then, a moment of stupidity from Marcus Horan, slapping the ball from Darren Allinson's hand, saw the Ireland loose-head sent for 10 minutes in the bin.

The Blues poured forward in pursuit of a try after a strong break through midfield by Sweeney, but Laulala's grubber rebounded favourably for Munster and Peter Stringer hacked clear. Halfpenny gathered but was turned over, with O'Gara electing for a cross kick to Lifeimi Mafi rather than a shot at goal.

The fly-half took the conservative option moments later after the ball had eluded Mafi but could not find the accuracy to extend the lead to five points. Moments later the Blues fired a warning shot across the bow with a break by Roberts, which ended with Munster's replacement No.8 John Coughlan beating Hewitt to a well judged chip by Martyn Williams. Munster kept scrapping to the final moments but Halfpenny's massive kick secured the spoils for the Blues in this battle, if not the war.

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**dudeabides** · 05-09-2010, 05:00 PM

Leinster v Edinbourgh:

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Leinster secured a Magners League play-off semi-final with Munster after a dramatic win over Edinburgh at the RDS

Two late converted tries from replacement flanker Stephen Keogh and full-back Rob Kearney helped Leinster secure top spot in the final league table and home advantage in next weekend's semi-finals.

The result, coupled with Munster's bonus point loss in Cardiff, sets up an intriguing all-Irish semi-final and Leinster's drive to win this title cannot be questioned after this come-from-behind win.

Edinburgh needed a bonus point victory to stand any chance of reaching the last four, and they struck for two first half tries - through full-back Jim Thompson and winger Mark Robertson - to take a 14-0 lead.

Man-of-the-match Cian Healy touched down to get Leinster off the mark and the right boot of stand-in out-half Isa Nacewa, who landed seven kicks from seven attempts, aided the home side in their comeback.

A Shane Horgan try was brilliantly answered back by quick-fire efforts from Edinburgh replacement hooker Andrew Kelly and Robertson again, edging Rob Moffat's men 28-20 in front.

But, with two Edinburgh players in the sin-bin, Leinster roared back to get the required tries and keep on track for a silverware-winning finish to Michael Cheika's coaching tenure.

Nacewa donned the number 10 jersey, filling in for Shaun Berne who sustained a knock in the warm-up, and energetic Edinburgh made the early running with lock Scott MacLeod prominent.

The first quarter was scoreless, with Leinster struggling to make use of a powerful scrum and Edinburgh lacking the necessary penetration in broken play.

That all changed in the 23rd minute when Edinburgh scored against the run of play. Captain Roddy Grant broke out of the 22, his one-handed offload sent Robertson into open country and with Leinster caught off guard, he was able to put Thompson through for the score.

Godman added the left-sided conversion. Leinster tried to hit back but Brian O'Driscoll was isolated on the Edinburgh 22, the ball was booted downfield and Tim Visser was unfortunate as his own hack on rolled into touch, just metres from the try-line.

But luck was on Edinburgh's side just minutes later as referee Peter Fitzgibbon missed a clear case of crossing and Robertson beat the first tackle to dart clear and all the way to the line.

Leinster belatedly 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 14-10 in arrears.

They made a lightning quick start to the second period as Nacewa engineered a break from a midfield ruck, cantered through and passed for Horgan to go for the left corner and stretch over under pressure from the covering Thompson.

Nacewa added the conversion for good measure, taking Leinster ahead at 17-14, and a further penalty gave them a six-point cushion.

However, Edinburgh raised their game and Leinster, conquered by Toulouse last weekend, looked tired as great hands from Nick De Luca got his side on the attack and Heaslip was flashed a yellow card for a deliberate knock on.

Visser missed out on a try again as Edinburgh botched an overlap, but Leinster could not hold out and in the 64th minute, Kelly was alert to collect a loose ball off a ruck and 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 with McLaughlin, Nathan Hines and Healy providing the power, they got back within scoring range.

Nacewa kicked his third penalty, closing the gap to 28-23, and then 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' hack through to register the bonus point. Nacewa drew over the conversion to complete his impressive 17-point tally.

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The final table of a great Magners League season ends up:

1. Leinster 55 pts.
2. Ospreys 52 pts.
3. Glasgow 51 pts.
4. Munster 45 pts.

So obviously we will see two excellent semi finals, Leinster v Munster and Ospreys v Glasgow.

**dudeabides** · 05-13-2010, 06:51 PM

Semifinal previews,

Leinster v Munster:

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Fierce rivals Leinster and Munster will go head-to-head for a place in the Magners League final this Saturday as they look to overcome their respective Heineken Cup semi-final exits and salvage some silverware from their seasons.

Both sides were booted out of Europe by French sides a fortnight ago with Munster falling to Biarritz in San Sebastian and Leinster losing in Toulouse.

Leinster, last year's Heineken Cup winners, finished the regular season as number one seeds and hold a 100% record over their rivals this season, beating them home and away in the Magners League.

A resounding 30-0 victory at the beginning of October was followed with a narrow 16-15 win at Thomond Park just over a month ago. And form and fitness seem to be on Leinster's side going into the all-Irish semi-final.

Munster, who are bidding to become the first ever side to retain the Magners League Crown, continue to be without inspirational captain Paul O'Connell while Keith Earls is a major injury concern. Persistent groin problems have limited the British & Irish Lions centre's training schedule in the build up to the match and Lifeimi Mafi or Tom Gleeson could step into midfield.

However, Munster should be boosted by the return of former All Black winger Doug Howlett , who has been sidelined since the Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Northampton last month. Forwards Jerry Flannery and Mick O'Driscoll also return to the squad. Munster have lost their last three fixtures, including defeats to Cardiff and Ospreys in the Magners League.

In contrast, Leinster go into the game on the back of a bonus point victory over Edinburgh on Sunday night. Isa Nacewa, following his 17-point haul in the 37-28 win, is included in the squad alongside try-scorers Cian Healy, Stephen Keogh, Rob Kearney and Shane Horgan. Horgan's try was his 31st and moved him into second place in the all-time league list.

Veteran lock Mal O'Kelly has announced that he will retire at the end of the season but he will likely be called into action this weekend as skipper Leo Cullen misses out due to a shoulder injury.

The reward for the winner will be a place in the final on May 29 against either the Ospreys or Glasgow Warriors, who meet on Friday night at the Liberty Stadium.

Leinster squad: Forwards: John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Trevor Hogan, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Malcolm O'Kelly, Mike Ross, Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Richardt Strauss, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright

Backs: Shaun Berne, Gordon D'Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Paul O'Donohoe, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton

Munster squad: Backs: S Deasy, D Barnes, D Hurley, D Howlett, T Gleeson, K Earls, L Mafi, J de Villiers, P Warwick, R O'Gara, P Stringer, T O'Leary

Forwards: M Horan, D Ryan, J Hayes, T Buckley, J Flannery, D Varley, D Fogarty, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, B Holland, A Quinlan, D Wallace, N Ronan, N Williams, J Coughlan

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Live on Setanta Sports and S4/C.

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Ospreys v Glasgow:

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The Ospreys will pit their glittering cast list against the gritty Glasgow Warriors on Friday night for a place in the inaugural Magners League grand final.

The Welsh club have won the top prize twice before but have a golden opportunity to silence their doubters in a knock-out competition having again come up agonisingly short in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Their progress was ended by a one-point loss to Biarritz in San Sebastian and they cannot afford to slip up again, this time in front of their home faithful. The Warriors have consistently punched above their weight this season and have absolutely nothing to lose, making them a difficult proposition even without skipper and Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter, who misses out with a knee injury.

The Ospreys' preparation has been interrupted by the news that they will begin next season four points behind their rivals as a result of a points deduction imposed by Celtic Rugby in the wake of the postponement of their fixture against Ulster on March 19. The club was also fined £100,000.

The league meetings between the two sides yielded a 9-9 draw at the Liberty and a 26-16 win for the Ospreys at Firhill and coach Sean Holley has not been shy in throwing his big guns into action once again. After thrashing the Dragons 42-10 last weekend to ensure home advantage they can call on a full international contingent of 12 Welsh Test players, one Irish and two All Blacks.

Mike Phillips and Dan Biggar are named at halfback, with James Hook starting at inside-centre after it was confirmed that he required shoulder surgery at the end of the season. Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams form a world-class back-three while the home side's back-row, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah and skipper Ryan Jones, has a settled look.

Holley was quick to warn his side against complacency and also highlighted their lack of accuracy in recent weeks as a worry heading into a game that could define their season.

"We need to be more clinical about things, that is obvious to everyone," he said. "We're pleased with the way we are playing, our game plan and system is good, and what has been particularly pleasing has been the number of line breaks we are regularly making. But, line breaks aren't enough to win games, as we saw against Biarritz. We've been drumming that message home to the boys, it's about attention to detail. That is the difference between winning and losing when you get to this stage of a competition."

Cardiff-bound fly-half Dan Parks could play his last game for the Warriors after breaking the Magners League scoring record under their banner and he is joined at halfback by Mark McMillan, who will join Bath next term. Scotland international centre Max Evans is fit to take his place in midfield alongside Graeme Morrison while Canadian wing DTH van der Merwe, Bernardo Stortoni and Rob Dewey provide the firepower out wide.

A major boost for the visitors comes in the form of openside John Barclay, who is fit to start in the 'Killer Bs' back-row alongside Kelly Brown and Johnnie Beattie. Barclay had been a doubt with a shoulder injury and missed last weekend's comfortable win over the Scarlets. Hooker Dougie Hall will not play any part, however, after suffering a dislocated thumb.

Despite the blow of losing his skipper, Glasgow boss Sean Lineen was confident that his side could cause an upset on the road. "It just shows the strength in depth of the squad. 'Cus' hasn't managed to pull through but what a replacement we've got in Mark McMillan. He's been a fantastic player for us all season. We've won down in Wales before so the players are going down there with one thing in mind. It's going to be a 22-man effort and that has been evident this week, which has been an interesting one in training. Although it's been a long season, it feels as though it's starting again."

Ospreys: Lee Byrne; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar Mike Phillips, Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Ryan Jones (capt)

Replacements: Ed Shervington, Ryan Bevington, Ian Gough, Filo Tiatia, Jamie Nutbrown, Gareth Owen, Nikki Walker

Glasgow Warriors: Bernardo Stortoni; Rob Dewey, Max Evans, Graeme Morrison, DTH van der Merwe; Dan Parks, Mark McMillan, Ed Kalman, Fergus Thomson, Moray Low, Tim Barker, Alastair Kellock (capt), Kelly Brown, John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie

Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Kevin Tkachuk, Dan Turner, James Eddie, Hefin O'Hare, Duncan Weir, Colin Shaw

Referee: George Clancy (Ire)

Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Leo Colgan (Ireland)
TMO: Bertie Smith (Ireland)

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**dudeabides** · 05-14-2010, 04:43 PM

Ospreys v Glasgow:

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The Ospreys have booked their place in the inaugural Magners League grand final with a 20-5 victory over Glasgow Warriors in their semi-final clash at the Liberty Stadium.

Shane Williams scored a controversial early try for the home side as his boot flirted with the touchline and his effort was doubled by a superb individual score from James Hook in the second-half. Dan Biggar kicked 10 points while all of Glasgow's points came from hooker Fergus Thomson's opportunist try.

Glasgow have never won on Ospreys turf and they were not helped that Dan Parks missed eight points' worth of kicks, failing with two penalties and missing the conversion for Thomson's second-half try.

Due to traffic problems, which delayed the Glasgow coach and four of the Ospreys players, the kick-off was delayed by 10 minutes. The Warriors were without Scotland captain Chris Cusiter against an unchanged Ospreys. Mark McMillan took over at scrum-half after Cusiter was injured in last week's win over Scarlets.

The Ospreys went into the game weighed down by a £100,000 fine and a four-point deduction for next season for breaching Magners rules for not fulfilling their March 19 fixture in Ulster. Alun Wyn Jones, who was making his 100th appearance for the Ospreys, stole an early lineout as the home side pressed Glasgow's 22. But solid Scots' defence forced Dan Biggar into a drop-goal attempt which he pushed wide.

On 10 minutes the Ospreys had their first try. Glasgow knocked on in contact on the halfway line, Williams picked up, evaded a tackle and ran in unopposed for only his third regional try of the season, despite suspicion that he had a foot in touch as he ran clear.

The Ospreys had the better of the referee's decisions but what penalties Glasgow had Parks missed with long range efforts on 14 and 34 minutes. The only other try scoring chance of the half came in injury time when Andrew Bishop charged down a Parks kick, but the Ospreys centre knocked on just five metres short as he tried to gather the ball.

The second half began in dramatic fashion with Glasgow scoring a try in only the second minute. Hooker Thomson went over in the left corner after scrum-half Mark McMillan had picked up a loose palm down at a line-out from Ryan Jones.

But in the space of three minutes the Ospreys were back in control of the contest leading 17-5. A Biggar penalty was followed by a fine try from Hook, who made a superb break down the left and then chipped over the cover defence to regather and score. After that the Ospreys took full control of the game and put some gloss on the scoreline with an injury time penalty for Biggar.

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**dudeabides** · 05-15-2010, 05:08 PM

Leinster v Munster:

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Leinster edged out Munster 16-6 at the RDS in Dublin to book a Magners League Grand Final showdown with the Ospreys.

A second half try from fullback Rob Kearney and three penalties and a conversion from the boot of returning fly-half Jonathan Sexton proved enough to end their Irish rivals hopes of defending the Celtic crown. A penalty from fly-half Ronan O'Gara ensured Munster went into the break on level terms but a drop goal early in the second half would be their only other score as they were continually frustrated by a superb defensive display from the hosts with No.8 Jamie Heaslip once again the star performer.

Leinster were handed the first scoring opportunity in a bruising opening but Sexton, making his first appearance since breaking his jaw in his side's Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Clermont in early April, could only pull his long-range kick wide of the posts after Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary had been penalised after being caught in possession.

Munster responded with a good spell of pressure but they were frustrated by a resolute Leinster defence who appeared comfortable at scrum time. But the home side's hopes were dealt a blow after just 13 minutes when wing Shane Horgan was sin-binned after taking out Munster flanker Niall Ronan in the air as the pair chased kick.

Leinster responded to the setback by driving into the Munster 22 with skipper Brian O'Driscoll leading by example and they drew a penalty that Sexton landed to give his side the lead. Munster rallied and took the game deep into Leinster territory where O'Gara found No.8 Nick Williams who slipped as he closed in on the line and was subsequently swamped by blue shirts.

Munster were back on level terms just short of the half hour thanks to the boot of O'Gara but a superb take and jinking run from Leinster fullback Rob Kearney saw the momentum immediately wing back in the hosts' favour. Strong runs from prop Stan Wright and Horgan then had the crowd on their feet but it was Leinster's turn to find the door shut in their face by a well-regimented defence.

O'Gara offered a signal of intent at the start of the second half with a long range drop goal to put his side ahead for the first time in the game but their lead was short lived with Sexton and centre Gordon D'Arcy combining well to carve the Munster defence open before drawing Earls and feeding Kearney who dotted down in the corner for the try. Sexton's excellent conversion cemented his side's lead and reignited the home crowd's fervour.

Tempers boiled over moments later and when the dust settled the original penalty against Leinster's replacement prop CJ van der Linde was reversed due to Munster prop Marcus Horan's reaction to his front row rival's indiscretion. Sexton stepped up to slot his second penalty to heap woe on a Munster side feeling hard done by. Sparked by that perceived injustice Munster were soon stretching the Leinster defence and a penalty offered O'Gara the chance to close the gap but he pulled his kick horribly wide of the posts.

Leinster No.8 Jamie Heaslip then pounced on a loose ball before surging downfield where only a desperate tackle from Earls brought him down. But they were soon on the front foot again with Van der Linde powering into the 22 where the ball was recycled for fellow prop Cian Healey who was flattened by a high tackle from O'Leary just short of the line. Referee Nigel Owens referred the play to the TMO who ruled that it was a penalty but that the tackle did not prevent a try. With boos ringing around the stadium, Sexton stepped up to slot the kick that gave his side a ten point lead.

O'Gara, fresh from being flattened by a rampaging Heaslip, looked to reduce the arrears from long range midway through the half but saw his kick fall short. His hard-working forwards forced another penalty soon after with this time O'Gara opting to kick for the corner but again they came up short again with Heaslip serving as a wrecking ball to their best intentions. With the clock now working against them, Munster pressed forward once more but this time their own handling let them down.

The two sides continued to batter each other as the game drew to a close but the miserly Leinster defence ensured it was the home side that progressed to the final in a fortnight's time with Ospreys now facing a daunting trip to the Irish capital.

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**dudeabides** · 05-29-2010, 04:37 PM

Leinster v Ospreys:

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The Ospreys have won the Magners League after defeating Leinster 17-12 in the inaugural Grand Final at the RDS in Dublin on Saturday.

Irish international Tommy Bowe and fullback Lee Byrne scored tries for the visitors as they ended Leinster's long unbeaten home run in the league, which dates back to September 2008, and sealed a record third Celtic title.

Leinster's Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton kicked all of their points in a game that was played at a frantic pace, with the Ospreys holding out through a nerve-shredding late barrage from the 2009 Heineken Cup champions.

Defeat ended head coach Michael Cheika's tenure with the Irish province on a low note, but the Australian, who will join Stade Francais next season, can reflect on five years in which he transformed his charges from nearly-men into the real deal. This could also prove to be a seminal victory for the Ospreys, who again fell at the first knockout hurdle in the Heineken Cup this season and have been tarred with the 'underachievers' brush for too long given their admirable playing stocks.

Again their full complement of international stars was on display and they were able to provide another fillip for Wales prior to tough Tests against the Springboks and All Blacks, following in the footsteps of Cardiff Blues, who themselves made history last weekend by ending Wales' long wait for a European title.

Biggar was denied the first try of the game after only two minutes by a forward pass from Bowe while attempting a difficult offload and Leinster soon got in on the act when Isa Nacewa opened up the defence for Shane Horgan only to be called back by referee Chris White for another handling error.

Mistakes littered the early exchanges, with Nacewa missing his touch on a mark before the Ospreys' Lions duo of Byrne and Mike Phillips hacked clearances out on the full. The Ospreys enjoyed the first real spell of pressure following a snappy Shane Williams break but after multiple phases their efforts were undone by an error, this time a Jerry Collins knock on. Biggar missed a regulation shot at goal immediately after and landed Phillips with a hospital pass from a quick lineout as effort and endeavour continued to outweigh precision.

There was nothing sloppy about the opening score though and fittingly it was Ireland's darling Bowe who rounded it off for the visitors. Biggar showed patience with ball in hand in midfield, judging his pass to Andrew Bishop perfectly. The centre picked a nice line through the defence and when confronted by Rob Kearney, fired the easiest of offloads to the onrushing Bowe.

Biggar converted but the Ospreys conceded three points to Sexton and Leinster soon after when Byrne was pinged for a high tackle. Their fortunes did not improve as Alun-Wyn Jones and Collins conspired to bomb a golden scoring chance, with Nacewa able to pull off a brilliant last ditch tackle on the former All Black metres from the line.

Another moment of brilliance from their backline ensured that their dominance was not wasted though. This time the architect was centre James Hook, who latched on to Biggar's ambitious miss-pass before finding an inch-perfect inside ball for Byrne to race past Nacewa and the covering Heaslip to score. His fly-half added the extras for a 14-3 lead at the interval.

The first score of the second half went to Sexton after a rash ruck infringement from Jones but Biggar was able to restore the visitors' 11-point cushion with a simple kick when Leinster strayed offside. The crowd rallied behind their side but the Ospreys continued to dictate territory through Biggar and the siege-gun boot of Byrne.

Biggar showed a lack of big game temperament by passing the buck to Hook for a drop-goal attempt, which skidded out of play, and Sexton took another bite out of the lead to reward excellent continuity and phase play from his side deep in Ospreys territory. Leinster continued to up the performance as the half went on and despite several big hitters, namely Ian Gough and the retiring Filo Tiatia, coming off the Ospreys bench the gap closed further with Sexton's fourth penalty.

Mistakes began to creep into the visitors' game as the final minutes came around and roared on Leinster came back with renewed assaults. Another silly penalty conceded by the visitors gave Sexton the chance to bring his side within two, and a drop-goal, but for once his radar failed him as the ball slid past the post.

Leinster frantically attacked in the closing stages but the Ospreys stood firm on their 22 until Tiatia was able to secure the game's vital turnover. They ground out the final few seconds to good effect and despite losing the final lineout were rewarded by the shrill whistle of the referee following a knock on. The capacity crowd went home disappointed, as did Cheika and retiring Irish legend Mal O'Kelly, but the joy was plain to see on the faces of the Ospreys and their small band of travelling fans.

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