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Full-Time: Montpellier 16-16 Leinster
The match is a minute old. Great play by McLaughlin but the Montpellier defence holds firm…
Montpellier break the impasse but Jonathan Sexton seems to be wearing his kicking boots. The Ireland international scores a penalty to even up the scores at 3-3. It’s his 15th successive kick from his last 17 efforts.
Montpellier look threatening and Santiago Fernandez knocks it on just as he seems set to threaten the first try of the game. Penalty to Leinster. Not a great start from the Irish province.
Despite the pressure from the Montpellier pack, Leinster take the lead for the first time and it’s another Sexton penalty.
Leinster are settling into their rhythm and almost get in for a try from a Sexton kick, but Nagusa and Gorgodze clear for Montpellier.
A brilliant try from Montpellier as Amorosino breaks superbly before feeding the ball to his captain Ouedraogo. He goes under the posts and Leinster are suddenly in arrears.
…and then follows that up with his second penalty of the game. Things are not going well for Schmidt’s side but time is their friend. For now.
Montpellier are proving successful with every foray into the Leinster twenty-two. The visitors need better ball retention.
Just as Leinster threaten Nacewa knocks the ball on five metres from the Montpellier line.
Leinster have the ball at the line-out as Montpellier struggle to clear their lines. The ball is being recycled well and this is a good spell from Leinster.
The pattern of the game suggests that, as soon as Leinster start to dominate, Montpellier get the breaks. This is no different as the home side get a penalty at the breakdown and clear their lines.
Francois Trinh-Duc does brilliantly as Montpellier scythe through the midfield. The ball is knocked out but the referee was playing an advantage. An engrossing game, this.
Montpellier are penalised and the champions have a penalty in their own half. They’ll look to clear their lines and re-strategise for the second half.
We have a half-time score of Montpellier 13-6 Leinster. The visitors have had plenty of the play but Montpellier have been the far more incisive outfit.
Montpellier are penalised at the scrum and Sexton clears. Busy start to the second half.
The fly-half is marshalling things brilliantly for Leinster before Ross and Heaslip drives forwards. However, the move breaks down and Leinster are penalised for holding on.
Just as Montpellier press again, Leinster get the turnover and counter through Sexton, D’Arcy and Fitzgerald. The move breaks down outside the Montpellier twenty-tw0.
Montpellier switch: Paillaugue is taken off and Julien Tomas is brought into play.
Whatever Sexton can do, Trinh-Duc can do better as he kicks Montpellier out of danger brilliantly.
Trinh-Duc, taking over kicking duties, puts ten points in the difference. It’s looking tough for the holders.
Leinster bit back at the restart but Montpellier held firm, and it all results in a penalty at the breakdown for the home side.
Leinster are getting into fine positions but they need a score soon – try as they might, Montpellier are just performing too well at the breakdown.
Montpellier drag down the line-0ut and Sexton has a chance with the boot to make it a one-score game.
But hang on – Leinster are back in this. The ball is spread wide and Leinster newbie Sean Cronin shows great pace with a sensation try. Sexton converts. Game on!
We have a fine ten minutes to come as Leinster’s heckles are raised. They’re European champions for a reason..
Leinster edge forward through the pack but time is running out. There are only three minutes left and still three points in it.
Hands in the ruck from Montpellier and Sexton has a chance to level it in the dying seconds!
The ref handed it to Leinster
Where’s the live coverage of de munster match? I thought RTE were bad…
Wow look at all of the Munster chips…. You win one game and you carry on like you’re the HEC champions. Get a grip of yourselves. Leinster only beat you last week….
Where was the minute by minute coverage of the munster game. Leinster arseholes. Ye only managed a draw. Sexton stil prays at the altar of o’gara.
Hi Simon, the Munster match was given the minute-by-minute treatment, if you’ll look closer.
Simon get that chip of your shoulder before it weights you down.
Not on de iPhone app
The minute-by-minute coverage of the Munster v Northampton game is here, lads: http://thescore.thejournal.ie/live-munster-v-northampton-278008-Nov2011/
If anybody is having any problems accessing it, can you send us a quick email to sport@thescore.ie letting us know what platform you were using (desktop, mobile site, iPhone, iPad, Android) and we’ll have our tech team look into it.
Thanks.
Thanks Niall, munster Abu!
So the Munster bandwagon is back up and going. It will be impossible to get tickets now. Very easy last week.
Munster are the Gods of rugby – Leinster are merely saints!!
Lenister are Heineken cup champs, think they’d prefer that.
How much did Leinster pay the ref ?