Leinster 12 - 17 Ospreys: Anti-climax for departing Cheika as Ospreys sink sloppy Leinster

WHEN Michael Cheika first pitched up in Dublin back in 2005 his first game as Leinster coach was a loss to the Ospreys. However, it is safe to assume that that reversal caused him a lot less heartache than Saturday's final; his last match with the Dublin club before his departure for Stade Francais.

The Ospreys won this match in a first half that they totally dominated, claiming the only two tries of the afternoon. The first went to Tommy Bowe after Andrew Bishop, the unheralded hero of the Ospreys' midfield, sliced the blue defence wide open. Not long afterwards, Lee Byre touched down wide on the right, James Hook getting the assist this time although Leinster winger Ica Nacewa did his side's cause no good by racing out of the line in an attempt to snatch an interception.

Not that the Ospreys' victory owed anything to luck. They were the better side on the day although that perhaps says more about Leinster's efforts rather than any brilliance from the Welsh. The Dubliners were shockingly bad in the first half and if they improved after the break it was only inevitable.

Brian O'Driscoll was well-marshalled throughout by Bishop and, while D'Arcy and fullback Rob Kearney looked lively in attack, the former's defensive frailties were at least partly responsible for both tries.

The visitors were better at the breakdown, where Marty Holah was outstanding, they were far more threatening in the back division and, while both teams indulged in some brainless kicking, Dan Biggar still edged the territorial battle of the boot. When Leinster did raise an occasional head of steam the Ospreys were content to concede penalties but their try line was never seriously threatened.

"We didn't play well enough in a final," said Cheika. "We didn't take our opportunities when they came and we lost the ball far too much. We didn't bring our A-game when we needed it."

In fairness to Cheika, after managing just one penalty during the first 40 minutes, his side won the second half by 9-3; but little good it did them. Jonathan Sexton added a penalty shortly after the break but Biggar quickly restored the Ospreys' lead on 47 minutes with a penalty of his own. Those three points proved the final ones of the evening for the Ospreys and they proved to be enough.

The final half hour saw Leinster in the ascendant and at one point the men in blue even looked like they might finish off a famous comeback by snatching victory. Sexton added further penalties on 61 and 70 minutes and he might have reduced the deficit to just two points had he slotted a simple effort straight in front of the posts with three minutes still to play, but the fly-half shanked it wide of the left upright. Leinster's Scotland lock Nathan Hines was asked afterwards whether that was a kick which changed the game.

"Well, it might have been, but the missed tackle in the first half, that might have changed the game as well," replied the Australian-born player, one of Leinster's better operators. "We called a lineout and had a miscommunication and two plays after that they scored so if we'd have won that lineout it would have been a different story. Johnny missing is neither here nor there."

At the end of a long season, Hines levered his weary body on to a flight home to Australia yesterday, although he admits that a part of him would prefer to be preparing for the rigours of a Scotland tour to Argentina. He has already missed his mother-in-law's funeral to play in Saturday's final but he was at pains to point out that he hadn't forgotten his priorities.

"My wife has sacrificed a lot of things for my career so it's only fair that I go back home and give her some support. Ideally, I wanted to tour with Scotland to Argentina but obviously other things come before that. If I have to take a summer's rest then I'm happy to take it but I'll be disappointed to miss the tour. I think the guys will do well in Argentina and I would want to be a part of it."

While Hines has one more year on his Leinster contract, Saturday evening proved an unhappy ending for several of the club's big characters.

World Cup winner CJ Van Der Linde is returning to South Africa and backs coach Chris Whitaker is moving to France with Cheika. The veteran trio of Girvan Dempsey, Bernard Jackman and Malcolm O'Kelly are all headed for retirement.

The way they played on Saturday evening, you have to wonder how much longer some of Ireland's golden generation have left before they go the same way.

Scorers:

Leinster: Pens: Sexton (4).

Ospreys: Try: Bowe, Byrne; Conv: Biggar (2); Pen: Biggar

Leinster:

R Kearney, S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa; J Sexton, E Reddan; S Wright, J Fogarty, CJ Van Der Linde (C Healy 47 min), N Hines, M O'Kelly, K McLaughlin (S Keogh 35 min)(T Hogan 42 min), S Jennings (Capt) (R Strauss 66 min), J Heaslip.

Ospreys:

L Byrne, T Bowe, A Bishop, J Hook, S Williams (S Williams 70 min); D Bigger, M Philips; P James (R Bevington 70 min), H Bennett, A Jones, A-W Jones, J Thomas (I Gough 61 min), J Collins, M Holah, R Jones (Capt) (F Tiatia 66 min).

Referee: C White (RFU).

Attendance: 18,500