2. 2010/11 Heineken Cup: Saracens Crumble & Sexton Issues a Masterclass
In a sign of the times before Saracens emerged as major European players, Leinster despatched the North Londoners twice in the 2010/11 pool stages. Sarries would exit the competition after a miserable pool campaign, whilst Leinster topped the pool with wins over Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92. Leinster progressed through to the knock-out stages as the top-ranked side, and took on a Leicester Tigers team in a rematch of the 2008/09 final.
Having steadily established himself as the shore-footed fly half for Ireland and his province, all eyes were now on Sexton to take the lead. Sexton’s inch-perfect place kicks kept the Tigers on the back-foot, despite once again coming into the fixture as reigning Premiership title holders. The English powerhouses were back-peddling, before a try from Fijian international Isa Nacewa established some clear daylight on the way to win.
Interestingly, Leinster then went on to claim an important semi-final win over Toulouse, in a match that Cullen and co would have no doubt re-visited this week. An early try from Florian Fritz took Leinster by surprise, yet the Irish province were able to rally back to book themselves a place in the 2010/11 final. This topsy-turvy encounter had countless sways of momentum, as an O’Driscoll try and six Sexton penalties kept the score-board ticking over for a 32-23 win.
The final once again was battled against an English side, yet this time the fixture was held in the Welsh capital city of Cardiff. A sold-out crowd packed themselves into the Principality Stadium, in what was amongst one of Johnny Sexton’s finest on-field performances. The former Ireland captain contributed 28 points against a resilient Northampton Saints, by crossing over for two tries, slotting three conversions and an additional four penalties.
3. 2011/12 Heineken Cup: Back-to-Back Brilliance Brings Unprecedented Success
Leinster were certainly regarded in illusive company heading into the 2011/12 Heineken Cup, but ended the tournament in a league of their own with a third title to their name. Building on their success from the previous season and their maiden trophy lift in 2009, Leinster achieved their third Heineken Cup win in four seasons, which was a never before seen record of success in European rugby’s pinnacle competition.
The trophy cabinet in Dublin had to hurry up upon it’s expansion, as Leinster issued a royal-blue wash over the Northern Hemisphere’s domestic mountain top. Whilst the illusive league and European double continued to evade the Dubliners, they made good on their continued search for silverware, as the heroes of yester-year once again took centre stage. Leinster cruised to the top of Pool 3, and matched Munster as the only undefeated sides after the group stages.
Leinster dropped just a smattering of pool stage points, as they drew 16-16 to Montpellier on the opening day of the campaign. A win against the Southern France side would soon follow, as would victories against Glasgow Warriors and Bath, to see Leinster through to the top of the tree. Expectations were high on the capital club, to see if back-to-back European titles could in-fact be completed by an Irish side, with Leicester Tigers being the sole two-time consecutive victors so far.
The knock-out stages rolled around and Leinster made short work of Leigh Halfpenny’s Cardiff Blues. A resounding 34-3 win was a statement of intent, as the Dubliners marched on to make history for Irish clubs in Europe. A reunion with Clermont followed in the semi-final, after the French club proved to be a tricky opponent to overcome in the pools. However, a try from evergreen Leinsterman Cian Healy helped pave the way to victory, as the hooker crossed over for an all-important semi-final score.
Twickenham stadium was the host for the 2011/12 final, with the famous green seats being an appropriate back-drop for the two finalists from the island of Ireland. Leinster met Ulster in the tournament’s final, and the Belfast club barely got out of the gates in a one-way Leinster landslide. Leinster crossed over for five tries compared to Ulster’s sole score, as Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Heinke van der Merwe and Sean Cronin got on the score-sheet, along with a penalty try to the men in blue.