Celebrations
Tigers achieve dream double
Celebrations
By Mike Hill May 28 2002
The European Cup will be back where it belongs for at least another year as Leicester dug deep to retain their title and become the first team to win the trophy twice.
Celebrations
The European Cup will be back where it belongs for at least another year as Leicester dug deep to retain their title and become the first team to win the trophy twice.
Dean Richards and John Wells have now won seven major titles in their four full seasons in charge. They took over a talented yet underachieving team and transformed them into the best club side in Europe.
Munster once more fell at the final hurdle and it was sad to see the desolation in the faces of players and supporters alike. They have now lost three major cup finals in recent years including this year’s Celtic League final to Leinster. One fact that could cheer Irish hearts is that quite a few of the current Leicester side lost in three cup finals at Twickenham in 94 and 96, and in Cardiff in 97 and look what we have achieved since.
The game started with a bang when Freddie crossed the line after collecting Stimpson’s up and under. The dream start was not to be however with Freddie penalised for pushing the Munster player off the ball. Amazingly Martin Johnson also had a try ruled out before half time when he carried on playing after the referee had incorrectly stopped the game to reset the lineout.
Instead O’Gara kicked two penalties to build a useful lead over a frustrated Tigers team. An apalling decision by the linesman Joel Dume directly contributed to three of the points. Dume failed to notice that O’Gara had kicked the ball out on the full and so gave Munster field position 40 metres close to the Leicester line than they should have been.
Tim Stimpson was looking very solid but his kicking was wayward and he missed a penalty before sending a drop goal attempt wide of the posts. Leicester finally got on the scoreboard when a simple back move saw Stimpson create the extra man and surge through the gap.
Quick hands by Kafer and Tuilagi created the space before Stimpson sold the wing a dummy and drew the cover before releasing Geordan for a run in down the right touchline. The play was simple yet well executed and stunningly effective showing the backline had rediscovered some form. Stimpson missed a fairly easy conversion that he would normally slot in his sleep and Munster retained the lead.
Munster hamstrung by limited game plan
Ronan O’Gara made a break from a loose ball at a lineout only to be flattened by a Freddie special in the act of chipping ahead. O’Gara was controlling the game well keeping Leicester pegged back with smart grubber kicks down the touchlines. It was a very limited game plan that wasted the talent of the backs outside him and gave away possession. Tigers looked very secure in the lineout and Austin was finding good distance on his touch kicks.
Murphy and Stimpson threatened again in the fortieth minute when Geordan found himself running at two forwards. Not surprisingly neither got close as Geordan side-stepped past, found a gap and drew the defence before finding Stimpson on the wing. Tim’s attempted grubber past the full back was volleyed into touch and Munster led at half time 6-5. The second period continued in similar vein to the first with Munster continuing to kick for position as Tigers tried to build some phases of play. Darren is penalised for dropping a scrum and O’Gara calmly slots a 54 metre penalty goal to raise Irish hopes.
Oz does it again
This spurred Tigers on and they came back at them with renewed vigour. The forwards were starting to make some inroads and a succession of penalties put Tigers deep into the Munster 22. The lineout catch and drive rumbled close before breaking up and the ball was spun out to Austin. The next action will haunt Ronan O’Gara for some time as Healey dummies, straightens and ploughs straight through his attempted tackle to score under the posts. Stimpson converts to make the score 12-9 and Tigers are ahead for the first time in the match.
At this point Leicester had their tails up and were threatening to increase their lead but Munster held us at bay with some brave defence. Having soaked up the pressure back they came and forced a penalty for illegal binding at the scrum by Darren Garforth. O’Gara seems to wilt under pressure and it was no surprise to see him fail to level the scores. Minutes later Tigers are awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck and Stimmo cooly slots it through to give us a vital cushion.
Munster brought on a lot of replacements after the break and a fresh Mike Mullins sprints around Ollie Smith which gives John Kelly a chance to go for the corner. Stimpson trips over a Munster player as he attempts to cover and fails to get a hand to the wing who now has only yards to go to the line. Just as it seems Kelly will score Austin Healey tears across like a heat seeking missile and smashes the winger into the corner flag. The referee calls for the video replay and decides Kelly didn’t get the ball down first and Tigers breathe a sigh of relief.
Encouraged by this Munster press for the remainder of the game only to see Ronan O’Gara miss once more with a kick at goal and Tigers amazing defence holds strong. With startling cunning Neil Back slaps the ball from Stringer’s hand at a scrum only five metres out and allows Tigers to win the ball and clear to half way.
Munster’s chance had gone and when the final whistle blew Oz went running off hands aloft delighted at the result and also one suspects even more happy with his own sublime game. He gave an almost faultless performance and showed for the first time since the Leinster game that he can make the grade at fly half.
Cocky farewell
Healey for once deserved the man of the match award but didn’t get it - an amusing turn of events but he just shades fourteen other heroes in striped shirts to be my choice. The ABC club in what was their final game together lifted the trophy to signify their part in the most successful era in the clubs history. Richard Cockerill was visibly welling up as his emotions got the better of him and his was the reaction of a man that knows he’s about to depart.
Such is the level of desire and commitment within the squad that only a fool would bet against them adding even more silverware to the trophy cabinet next season. Indeed in the post match interview Neil Back immediately stated his aim to make it a hat trick next year. What an insight into the breathtaking confidence and hunger for success that Backy possesses. Sentiments no doubt shared by the majority of the squad. Even at their hour of greatest triumph they are looking for the next pinnacle – complacency is not an option.
After last season’s amazing finale this year was always going to struggle to compete for sheer excitement and sense of occasion. It was obvious in the players’ reactions that they felt more satisfied than overjoyed this time around. Having said that I’m sure they enjoyed themselves afterwards and Deano even managed a smile.
See you next season.
Munster once more fell at the final hurdle and it was sad to see the desolation in the faces of players and supporters alike. They have now lost three major cup finals in recent years including this year’s Celtic League final to Leinster. One fact that could cheer Irish hearts is that quite a few of the current Leicester side lost in three cup finals at Twickenham in 94 and 96, and in Cardiff in 97 and look what we have achieved since.
The game started with a bang when Freddie crossed the line after collecting Stimpson’s up and under. The dream start was not to be however with Freddie penalised for pushing the Munster player off the ball. Amazingly Martin Johnson also had a try ruled out before half time when he carried on playing after the referee had incorrectly stopped the game to reset the lineout.
Instead O’Gara kicked two penalties to build a useful lead over a frustrated Tigers team. An apalling decision by the linesman Joel Dume directly contributed to three of the points. Dume failed to notice that O’Gara had kicked the ball out on the full and so gave Munster field position 40 metres close to the Leicester line than they should have been.
Tim Stimpson was looking very solid but his kicking was wayward and he missed a penalty before sending a drop goal attempt wide of the posts. Leicester finally got on the scoreboard when a simple back move saw Stimpson create the extra man and surge through the gap.
Quick hands by Kafer and Tuilagi created the space before Stimpson sold the wing a dummy and drew the cover before releasing Geordan for a run in down the right touchline. The play was simple yet well executed and stunningly effective showing the backline had rediscovered some form. Stimpson missed a fairly easy conversion that he would normally slot in his sleep and Munster retained the lead.
Munster hamstrung by limited game plan
Ronan O’Gara made a break from a loose ball at a lineout only to be flattened by a Freddie special in the act of chipping ahead. O’Gara was controlling the game well keeping Leicester pegged back with smart grubber kicks down the touchlines. It was a very limited game plan that wasted the talent of the backs outside him and gave away possession. Tigers looked very secure in the lineout and Austin was finding good distance on his touch kicks.
Murphy and Stimpson threatened again in the fortieth minute when Geordan found himself running at two forwards. Not surprisingly neither got close as Geordan side-stepped past, found a gap and drew the defence before finding Stimpson on the wing. Tim’s attempted grubber past the full back was volleyed into touch and Munster led at half time 6-5. The second period continued in similar vein to the first with Munster continuing to kick for position as Tigers tried to build some phases of play. Darren is penalised for dropping a scrum and O’Gara calmly slots a 54 metre penalty goal to raise Irish hopes.
Oz does it again
This spurred Tigers on and they came back at them with renewed vigour. The forwards were starting to make some inroads and a succession of penalties put Tigers deep into the Munster 22. The lineout catch and drive rumbled close before breaking up and the ball was spun out to Austin. The next action will haunt Ronan O’Gara for some time as Healey dummies, straightens and ploughs straight through his attempted tackle to score under the posts. Stimpson converts to make the score 12-9 and Tigers are ahead for the first time in the match.
At this point Leicester had their tails up and were threatening to increase their lead but Munster held us at bay with some brave defence. Having soaked up the pressure back they came and forced a penalty for illegal binding at the scrum by Darren Garforth. O’Gara seems to wilt under pressure and it was no surprise to see him fail to level the scores. Minutes later Tigers are awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck and Stimmo cooly slots it through to give us a vital cushion.
Munster brought on a lot of replacements after the break and a fresh Mike Mullins sprints around Ollie Smith which gives John Kelly a chance to go for the corner. Stimpson trips over a Munster player as he attempts to cover and fails to get a hand to the wing who now has only yards to go to the line. Just as it seems Kelly will score Austin Healey tears across like a heat seeking missile and smashes the winger into the corner flag. The referee calls for the video replay and decides Kelly didn’t get the ball down first and Tigers breathe a sigh of relief.
Encouraged by this Munster press for the remainder of the game only to see Ronan O’Gara miss once more with a kick at goal and Tigers amazing defence holds strong. With startling cunning Neil Back slaps the ball from Stringer’s hand at a scrum only five metres out and allows Tigers to win the ball and clear to half way.
Munster’s chance had gone and when the final whistle blew Oz went running off hands aloft delighted at the result and also one suspects even more happy with his own sublime game. He gave an almost faultless performance and showed for the first time since the Leinster game that he can make the grade at fly half.
Cocky farewell
Healey for once deserved the man of the match award but didn’t get it - an amusing turn of events but he just shades fourteen other heroes in striped shirts to be my choice. The ABC club in what was their final game together lifted the trophy to signify their part in the most successful era in the clubs history. Richard Cockerill was visibly welling up as his emotions got the better of him and his was the reaction of a man that knows he’s about to depart.
Such is the level of desire and commitment within the squad that only a fool would bet against them adding even more silverware to the trophy cabinet next season. Indeed in the post match interview Neil Back immediately stated his aim to make it a hat trick next year. What an insight into the breathtaking confidence and hunger for success that Backy possesses. Sentiments no doubt shared by the majority of the squad. Even at their hour of greatest triumph they are looking for the next pinnacle – complacency is not an option.
After last season’s amazing finale this year was always going to struggle to compete for sheer excitement and sense of occasion. It was obvious in the players’ reactions that they felt more satisfied than overjoyed this time around. Having said that I’m sure they enjoyed themselves afterwards and Deano even managed a smile.
See you next season.
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