Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said his team “rode their luck” at times against Ulster, but it was yet another win over Ulster and now just Munster stand in the way of Guinness Pro14 silverware.
In a game packed with incident, the visitors to Kingspan Stadium sealed a 38-19 win over Dan McFarland’s side in Conference A and will now take on Munster on 27 March in the league decider.
Cullen’s side trailed at one stage 12-3 in the first half with Devin Toner and Jimmy O’Brien sin-binned, and while Stuart McCloskey was also given 10 minutes on the sideline, it was the dismissal of replacement prop Andy Warwick for a high challenge that had a serious impact on the game.
The fact that O’Brien could have seen red for a head-on-head challenge rather than yellow will be something Ulster management, players and fans will be left to ponder.
The men in blue, shorn a raft of Ireland players in international camp, showed a more clinical attitude in opposition 22 and while the home side toiled for their scores, a ruthless efficiency from Leinster kept the scoreboard ticking over, with Dan Sheehan crossing for the final and fifth try in the last minute to make it a double-score game.
“They were such fine margins some of those cards,” Cullen said afterwards. “Unfortunately, when we were down to 13 and 14, we were probably a bit over ambitious in some rucks, and I thought Ulster pulled us apart pretty well and put some width on the game, but we rode out the storm and played our way back into the game.
“It was about getting momentum and I thought we showed some patience when we got to the try line.”
Munster will be ready to get revenge after Thomond Park, so we are going to be ready for that
For the second time in two weeks number 8 Scott Penny was named man-of-the-match and he is looking forward to renewing rivalries with Munster in the final.
After the 13-10 away win in Limerick in January, the 21-year-old feels Johann van Graan’s side will be not short of motivation to end their silverware drought.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to build as a group. Munster will be ready to get revenge after Thomond Park, so we are going to be ready for that.”
Leinster still have two rounds of the regular season to play, with a trip to Zebre followed by the visit of Ospreys, and the head coach has some decisions to make with team selection.
“We’ll see how everyone pulls through. Zebre have been on a good run of form, particularly at home, and it’s important that we try and continue on with the momentum and build decent competition within the group.”
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said his team “rode their luck” at times against Ulster, but it was yet another win over Ulster and now just Munster stand in the way of Guinness Pro14 silverware.
