Gibson-Park thrives and Leinster survive in strange, brilliant semi-final with Saints

Gavan Casey THE OCCASION WAS best illustrated by Caelan Doris as he led his side back into the changing-rooms just before kick-off.

It was Doris himself who had virtually the final say in a pulsating, strange encounter, his jackal-penalty ensuring that he won’t have to spend the rest of his life being force-fed low-hanging fruit about Mayo men at Croke Park. On this seismic day at Croke Park, however, it was Leinster’s own scrum-half who propelled them towards European club rugby’s showpiece on 25 May, stealing the show even from hat-trick hero James Lowe.

After an opening 10 minutes of pinball, Leinster won a penalty on the Saints 5′ which seemed like the perfect opportunity to settle into a three-point lead. Northampton certainly appeared to perceive it as such but Leinster were wise to the greater ambitions of their nine. Gibson-Park tapped quickly and slung an audacious pass from right to left which bisected Saints’ covering defenders James Ramm and Alex Mitchell.

Tadhg Furlong celebrated the next Leinster scrum penalty with the full-throated theatrics of a Wexford corner-back who had beaten a Kilkenny forward to a loose ball before winning a free-out.Much like the shorter sugar rush to start last year’s final with La Rochelle at the Aviva, one suspected that the hosts’ feral energy would surely have to dip enough to at least allow Northampton up for air before half-time.

But the break appeared to change little more than the directions in which the sides were playing. Leinster looked still possessed by whatever inconquerable spirit had taken them to a 12-point lead which frankly flattered their opposition. Saints still resembled ghosts. Smith split the posts from the left-hand touchline to reduce his sides arrears to just 10 points, a margin which felt frankly weird given all that had gone before.

All seemed under control. In retrospect, though, Leinster may have shut up shop too early, and with too small a lead, particularly against a side who exhibit such potency in transition.

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