Leinster 30-31 Ospreys: Williams bows out with two tries to stun hosts

For long spells in this “Grand Final”, Leinster looked certain to end their run of final defeats at the third attempt and gain revenge for the Dublin defeat to the Ospreys in 2010. But although they displayed the more clinical finishing, the Irishmen seemed to allow just a hint of complacency into their make-up and failed, crucially, to put daylight between themselves and their Welsh visitors.

The Ospreys came back time and time again, brushing aside an inability to turn a series of scrums and scrum penalties before half-time into any points, to keep on Leinster’s coat-tails so providing the perfect stage for that most mercurial of Welsh talents, Shane Williams, to claim two scores, both of which went to the television match official for confirmation. The second of them was a dramatic touchdown in the right-hand corner, with bodies flying everywhere.

Leinster had emerged to a sea of blue around the brimful Dublin showground and, under a similarly glorious sky of blue, the stage seemed set for them to claim a third Celtic League title, a first via the play-off route, but more importantly to land a first Heineken Cup and RaboDirect league double to anoint themselves as the greatest team in northern hemisphere rugby.

But they just ran out of steam. They did everything asked of them in the first half to lead 17-9 at the break, revealing their renowned passing and finishing skills in scores for hooker Sean Cronin and Isa Nacewa, the latter straight off a switched Jonny Sexton restart, and showing their steel in a passionate defence that left the Ospreys banging their heads at the half-time whistle.

Sexton snatched at an early penalty so Dan Biggar opened the scoring for the Ospreys, and added a second once Sexton did find his range. But great teamwork and sublime play by Brian O’Driscoll set up Cronin for the first try that revealed Leinster’s attacking brilliance, and after Biggar’s third penalty Sexton stunned the RDS with a switched restart which Nacewa claimed high ahead of Richard Fussell and ran in from 40 metres for the second.

The Ospreys targeted Leinster’s scrum but after a series of scrum penalties – French referee Roman Poite reduced Leinster with a yellow card for loosehead Heinke van der Merwe but was not for giving a penalty try – the roar that greeted a penalty to Leinster, which they kicked to touch to end the half, could have been heard in Cork.

That was hard on the Ospreys, but they stormed out of the break with quality attacking of their own and terrific off-loading released Ashley Beck to the line for a good try. Biggar converted and suddenly there was just a point between the sides again.

Sexton kicked it back to seven, to thunderous acclaim, and as the RDS rocked to the introduction of All Black Brad Thorn, a replacement for Leo Cullen, the blue haze was thickening. But, incredibly, the Ospreys came back again, a rare sortie into the Leinster half ending with Williams’ first try, on his last game for the Ospreys. And even though Biggar could not convert to level, and Leinster responded when Man of the Match Nacewa pounced on a loose ball to score, the Ospreys’ spirit reared again in a terrific finale.

Frustrated again by the Leinster defence they kicked a penalty to cut the deficit to six points, while another Leinster prop, Nathan White, was sin-binned with eight minutes left. And then the Welsh side held their nerve, and the ball, to roll Leinster back, running and off-loading, until their retiring star Williams silenced the ground with three minutes left by diving into the right-hand corner.

Leinster tried to come back but their legs were gone and the European champions sunk to their knees when the final whistle sounded, some in tears, while Ospreys danced a jig that celebrated the quality of Celtic rugby this season.

Williams was thrilled to be retiring on a winning note. “I enjoy success, of course, like anybody else. The one you remember is the latest one and this is a great way for me to finish,” admitted the 35-year-old. “I am very proud of the fact that I am associated with the Ospreys. We have worked very hard this season, we have had our ups and downs and there has been a lot of change in the ranks, with a lot of players leaving the region.

“For us to stick at it the way we have this season, it’s a compliment to the guys. I will never forget this day.”

Ospreys coach Steve Tandy praised his players’ character and fighting spirit to hold out until the final whistle. “I think it is testament to the team – the whole group and backroom staff and everyone involved in the organisation, but especially the team,” he said afterwards.

“The team have been fantastic since I have taken over and, in fairness, the boys were relentless.

“We probably thought we were out of the game today, but the guys dug deep. Some things were a bit frantic out there, but we stuck with what we were trying to achieve.

“I think it is great for the Ospreys and what a great way to finish the season.”

Scorers: Leinster – Tries: Cronin, Nacewa 2. Pens: Sexton 3. Cons: Sexton 3. Ospreys – Tries: Beck, Williams 2. Pens: Biggar 4. Cons: Biggar 2.

Leinster: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, I Nacewa; J Sexton, E redden; H van der Merwe, S Cronin, M Ross, L Cullen (capt), D Toner, K McLaughlin, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Subs: N White for Ross 14mins, B Thorn for Cullen 46, R Strauss for Cronin 52, S Cronin for Strauss 58, J McCraw, D Ryan for Jennings 74.

Ospreys: R Fussell; H Dirksen, A Bishop, A Beck, S Williams; D Biggar, R Webb; P James, R Hibbard, A Jones, A Wyn Jones (capt), I Evans, R Jones, J Tipuric, J Bearman. Subs: K Fotiali’I for Webb 55mins, J King for Evans, R Bevington for James, both 65mins, S Baldwin for Hibbard, A Jarvis for A Jones, both 74.