Leinster defeat Racing 92 to win Champions Cup

European Rugby Champions Cup Final

Leinster 15-12 Racing 92

An Isa Nacewa penalty with just 90 seconds remaining saw Leinster defeat Racing 92 15-12 in a try-less and rain-sodden Champions Cup final in Bilbao.

The victory sees Leinster secure a record-equalling fourth European Cup crown, but the defeat was agonising for Racing, who led on four separate occasions.

The accurate left foot of Teddy Iribaren pushed Racing into slender leads again and again, but the ill-discipline of the Parisians combined with a resolute Leinster rearguard eventually told.

Johnny Sexton had kept Leinster in touch with three penalties, but after two misses, Nacewa took over the kicking and was on hand to strike the vital blow in the final European club game of his career.

Racing hit the front after just three minutes but it came at a considerable cost when, already shorn of half-backs Maxime Machenaud and Dan Carter, fly-half Pat Lambie injured his right knee in the first outside break of the match.

In the same attack, Garry Ringrose was penalised for a high tackle on Racing centre Virimi Vakatawa though and scrum-half Teddy Iribaren struck a superb penalty from distance for a 3-0 lead.

In the 16th minute, Leinster drew level through a Johnny Sexton penalty after Racing were caught offside in their own 22 following an incisive Isa Nacewa break.

Racing had started the brighter though and in quick succession Teddy Thomas, Camille Chat and Henry Chavancy came close to breakaway tries – the initial two called back for earlier Racing infringements, the latter dropping the ball when an intercept try was on.

Isa Nacewa kicks the match-winning penalty.

The Top 14 outfit didn’t have to wait long to go back into the lead, however, when after Leinster were penalised for collapsing a Racing maul, Iribaren stepped up to split the uprights again.

A tight and physical affair saw chances at a premium, so when Sexton turned down a routine shot at goal for a quick tap with eight minutes of the first period remaining, it proved the wrong decision as Chat stole in to win a breakdown turnover.

Racing looked likely to edge into the break 6-3 to the good, but in the final minute of the half second row Leone Nakarawa gave away a soft penalty for a deliberate knock on, and based on replays was exceptionally fortunate to avoid a yellow card.

Sexton dispatched the simple effort to leave the game finely poised at half-time.

Racing started the second half in a similar vain to the first and enjoyed a prolonged spell in the Leinster 22 inside the first five minutes, ultimately kicking three more points through Iribaren to retake the lead after Leinster were pinged for failing to roll away.

But after Nakarawa was caught offside in midfield, Eddy Ben Arous threw the ball away in a piece of petulance which referee Wayne Barnes was never going to let slide.

Despite the penalty being marched forward 10 metres though, Sexton was off cue with his effort as he failed to connect with the ball properly and scuffed it short and wide.

Within a couple of minutes, Sexton made no mistake with an effort from slightly closer in when Racing replacement hooker Ole Avei was penalised for a tackle off the ball, leaving the scores level again.

Garry Ringrose of Leinster is tackled by Virimi Vakatawa of Racing 92.

On 57 minutes, Leinster had a chance to take the lead for the first time but Sexton missed another effort from distance after Tales found himself trapped in a ruck and in the way of the ball.

With 15 minutes remaining, it was Iribaren’s turn to miss a kick for the lead when he sliced an effort near halfway wide after Dan Leavy had caught Chavancy high.

Leinster had to withstand heavy Racing pressure soon after in their own 22 soon after but a staunchly resolute defence just kept the Parisians at bay.

With 70 minutes on the clock, Racing forced a penalty at maul time and Iribaren struck the ball beautifully for a slender lead once more – the fourth such time Racing edged in front.

Once again Leinster pegged them straight back almost immediately though, when Racing conceded a penalty for going in at the side and Isa Nacewa – not Sexton – stepped up to split the poles.

With just minutes left on the clock, Leinster gained the lead for the first time in the final when Racing were adjudged offside for the umpteenth time and Nacewa popped over a simple effort with barely any time left.

Having won the restart, Racing still managed to create a drop goal opportunity for Tales but his wild effort drifted wide, prompting Leinster delirium.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *