Paddy Lennon reports from Madejski Stadium.
This match was always going to be the real test of London Irish’s credentials to be a serious contender for a quarter-final place in this season’s Heineken Cup. During the week club captain Bob Casey had emphasised the importance of winning the home games in the pool so yesterday’s game fell into the ‘must win’ category.
Victories in rounds one and two over Beneton Treviso and Newport Gwent Dragons had earned London Irish maximum points and while each of those games represented successive step-ups in terms of quality of opposition, yesterday’s opponents from France’s Top 14 league were in a different class and the pundits’ favourites to win Pool 1.
That favouritism is based on a strong squad laced with multi-capped international players ranging from England’s Percy Freshwater toScotland’s Nathan Hines, Samoa’s Henry Tuilagi and Rugby Cup winner, South Africa’s Percy Montgomery. That experience is complemented with a reputation for an uncompromising style of play that reflects the team’s Catalan background.
Despite the heavy rain before and during the game and the fact that it hosted a Premiership football game less than 24 hours earlier, the Madejski Stadium pitch was in remarkable condition and a credit to the ground staff.
The initial onslaught anticipated by the Exiles duly materialised as the visitors threw everything into attack from the kick-off. It was important for Irish to hold their nerve and they did, although they had to concede a penalty in the second minute which was kicked successfully by Jerome Porical.
Perpignan suffered a temporary setback two minutes later when they lost powerful No 8, Henry Tuilagi with a rib injury. He was replaced by Gerri Britz who proceeded to contribute to a Catalan team that left no doubt about their determination to win the game. Spurred on by the tactical kicking of fly half Gavin Hume and full back Porical they pressed Irish who were taking time to impose themselves especially in the set pieces.
The physicality of the game resulted in outbreaks of fighting and it was apparent that the team that maintained its composure and discipline could take the points. The Catalans were first to pay the price for indiscipline when Britz was sin-binned for a professional foul in the 15th minute. Peter Hewat kicked the resulting penalty to level the scores.
A Mike Catt ‘Garryowen’ was followed up by the out half and Hewat and Tomas De Vedia who forced winger Christope Manas into touch. The resulting lineout, ten metres from the visitors’ try line, was won by Bob Casey who was driven over for a try in the right corner. Hewat’s conversion kick from just inside the touchline drifted narrowly wide.
The visitors continued to test Irish with high hanging kicks as they sought attacking field positions however they found Juan Leguizamon in flawless catching form. He repeatedly carried the ball back and despite very aggressive tackling at the breakdown, the Argentine international with the support of Kieran Roche and Declan Danaher, retained and recycled the ball.
Porical attempted a 57 metre penalty kick in the 23rd minute but it fell short; he was successful with a 25 metre effort in the 27th minute that narrowed the score to 8-6. Delon Armitage was unlucky with a 50 metre penalty attempt in the 31st minute.
With the half-time break in sight Irish pressed. The French international centre, David Marty time and again stopped the home team’s attacking initiatives. A break by Seilala Mapusua was spoiled by crossing by the Perpignan backs. Hewat was unlucky with a penalty attempt in the 36th minute, his kick from 40 metres on the right drifting just left of the upright.
The visitors counter-attacked and in the final minute pressed Irish in their 22 on the right. Another fracas erupted and David Paice was sin-binned for retaliation. Porical kicked the penalty to give his team a one point lead at the break.
Perpignan sought to capitalise on their numerical advantage from the re-start and Irish had to defend inside their 22. In the 46th minute Cedric Rosalen sent a perfect diagonal kick to the right for Adrien Plante to tap the ball forward with his foot towards the in-goal area where he won the chase for the touch down. Porical added the extras to stretch the lead to eight points.
Irish responded to the challenge. Peter Richards was cynically blocked when trying to follow-up his chip ahead. Hewat kicked the penalty to reduce the deficit to five points.
That signalled a period of relentless Exiles’ pressure. Mike Catt, who had only passed a fitness test two hours ahead of kick-off, kept pinning the visitors back with a series of well judged kicks. Perpignan defended well but the onslaught was taking its toll.
Three minutes of madness either side of the mid-point of the half was to cost the Catalans dear. First to walk to the sin-bin was Rimas Alvarez for a professional foul. Catt sent the resulting penalty to touch. Irish won the lineout and attempted to repeat their try-scoring move of the first half. This time however Nicholas Mas, the Perpignan prop pulled down the maul. Referee Changleng had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try and in sending Mas to the sin-bin. Hewat added the conversion to give Irish a two point lead.
Two points up and with a two man advantage Irish looked well placed to take control of the game. As is often the case however, the Perpignan team rallied in defence. The Exiles were content to stick to the conservative style of play that had served them well in the conditions and tried to confine the visitors to their half.
Perpignan always looked dangerous on the breakout and Irish were lucky when Porical failed with a penalty in the 67th minute and a cross-field kick by David Mele to the left wing was just too long for its intended recipient.
With full time looming a high tackle on Peter Richards gave Hewat a chance to relieve the pressure on Irish. The full back kicked brilliantly from 38 metres on the right to stretch the lead to five points. The Australian was able to deny the visitors a crucial losing bonus point when he kicked his fourth penalty from almost the identical spot in the second minute of injury time.
The Exiles will take heart from such a hard fought win and will be encouraged by many aspects of their performance not least that of the front row, whose average age was just 24, in the first half. Competing inEurope’s elite club rugby tournament is different and London Irish are learning how to do so successfully with each passing season.
Footnote: The London Irish players wore black armbands yesterday’s as a tribute to Peter Hewat’s grandfather who died last week. Peter choose to stay with the team for this crucial game rather than return to Australia for the funeral. We’re sure that the extended London Irish family will join in expressing sympathy to Peter and his family on their loss and in acknowledging our appreciation of his gesture.
Scorers: LondonIrish: Tries: Casey (23), penalty try (40); Conversion: Hewat. Penalty goal: Hewat 4 (16, 49, 70, 80+2). Perpignan: Try: Plante (46), Conversion: Porical. Penalty goals: Porical 3 (2, 27, 39).
Scoring sequence (LondonIrish first): 0-3, 3-3, 8-3, 8-6, 8-9 (half-time) 8-16, 11-16, 18-16, 21-16, 24-16.
London Irish: P Hewat, T De Vedia, D Armitage, S Mapusua, S Tagicakibau, M Catt, P Richards, D Murphy, D Paice (sin-bin: 39-49), R Skuse (rep: T Lea’aetoa, 40), N Kennedy, B Casey (captain), K Roche (rep: S Mackie, 42-49), D Danaher (rep: S Armitage, 70), J Leguizamon.
Perpignan: J Porical, C Manas, D Marty, J-P Grandclaude, A Plante, G Hume (rep: D Mele, 47), N Durand, P Freshwater (captain)(rep: K Pulu, 67), M Tincu (rep: G Guirado, 51)(rep: K Pulu, 66)(rep: G Guirado, 67), S Bozzi (rep: N Mas, 44), R Alvarez Kairelis, N Hines, V Vaki (rep: O Olibeau, 23), D Chouly, H Tuilagi (rep: G Britz, 4).
Referee: Mr Malcolm Changleng (SRU)
Attendance: 8,301