WHEN THE TOPIC of the best foreign imports in Irish rugby comes up, Nathan Spooner rarely features too prominently.
He didn’t stay for a long time, just two seasons, but the Australian out-half made a positive impression and was a key figure in Leinster beating Munster in the inaugural Celtic League final in 2001.
Keith Gleeson, Nathan Spooner, and Shane Horgan. Source: INPHO
The twice-capped Wallaby kicked 14 points in a memorable inter-pro clash in front of 30,000 people at the old Lansdowne Road as Matt Williams’ Leinster side overcame a first-half red card for Eric Miller to rock Munster.
Leinster’s 24-20 victory came at a time when Munster were the dominant force in the rivalry, having won 11 of the previous 15 games between the teams.
It wasn’t a turning point for Leinster – the southern province were still on the rise towards their two European titles – but it was a happy day for the province nonetheless as Shane Horgan and Gordon D’Arcy scored wonderful tries and Spooner pulled the strings.
The Guinness Pro14 relived the 2001 final this week on their YouTube channel ahead of today’s clash at the RDS between Leinster and Munster in the decider, 20 years on from their battle in Lansdowne Road.
Declan Kidney’s Munster had played in the Heineken Cup final the year before and would be back in the 2002 European decider just five months later, but Leinster picked them off in between.
Early in the 2001 Celtic League final, played on 15 December, the signs were ominous for Leinster.
Soon after a penalty miss from Spooner, Munster move into the lead with a muscular, high-tempo score from a quick tap penalty by inside centre Rob Henderson.
Source: Guinness PRO14
Henderson’s alertness catches Leinster napping and they’re not 10 metres back as Leo Cullen makes a tackle on the Lions midfielder.
Malcolm O’Kelly jackals over the ball and appears to be in a good position to slow the momentum, but Munster’s Anthony Foley comes powering in to clear him away.
Foley’s entry angle is questionable but his intervention provides Munster with quick ball against a Leinster defence still scrambling to react.
Second row Mick Galwey takes advantage with an immediate pick and carry through the tackle of Reggie Corrigan.
Source: Guinness PRO14
O’Kelly and tighthead Paul Wallace have worked back and bring Galwey to ground, but Alan Quinlan, Jim Williams, and Foley are quick onto the scene to clear out as Munster keep their foot on the throat.
With advantage playing, scrum-half Mike Prendergast shifts the ball left to Henderson, who is back on his feet and ready to carry again.
Source: Guinness PRO14
With the tryline now very much in sight, Munster’s breakdown work is very aggressive after Corrigan and Victor Costello have tackled Henderson.
Munster wing John O’Neill drives in on opposite number Shane Horgan before hooker Frankie Sheahan thunders in to smash him clear with his right shoulder.
Cullen then threatens over the ball but Quinlan arrives in to deal with him, connecting with the Leinster lock around his neck.
It’s a high connection from Quinlan but it’s not penalised.
Scrum-half Prendergast has to commit to the messy breakdown but as Foley arrives behind him, he identified that Leinster’s number nine, Brian O’Meara, has been left isolated on the fringe of the ruck.
This close to the tryline, it’s a mismatch and Foley takes his chance to barrel over for a fifth-minute score.
Referee Nigel Whitehouse awards the try and O’Gara converts for a 7-0 lead.
Rather than being rocked by the early concession, Leinster react well and Spooner soon gets them on the scoreboard with a penalty.
They very nearly hit the front when inside centre Horgan makes a scything linebreak off a lineout only for Munster fullback Dominic Crotty to pull off a stunning try-saving tackle.
Source: Guinness PRO14
Horgan might have been able to fight his way over with a ball transfer into his left hand, freeing his right to fend, but it’s a superb tackle from Crotty.
Unfortunately for Munster, they infringe on the next phase as Prendergast is yellow carded for slowing the ball at the breakdown and Spooner is able to kick Leinster back to within a point.
But almost immediately, Leinster appear to have left themselves in a major hole as back row Miller gets sent off. It’s a moment of hot-headedness from the 1997 Lion as he kicks out after being held by Foley.
Source: Guinness PRO14
Referee Whitehouse sees it happen live right in front of him and has no hesitation in showing Miller a red card, much to Paul O’Connell’s approval.
Miller’s offence should also mean another three points for Munster but O’Gara produces an extremely uncharacteristic miss from just to the left of the posts.
Source: Guinness PRO14
It’s a let-off and Leinster steady themselves thereafter as Spooner shows his class with some intelligent kicking from hand.
Williams’ men nearly make it to the half-time break trailing by a point but Munster, back to 15 men, strike in the 39th minute for their second try.
It starts with another Henderson quick-tap penalty.
Denis Hickie takes Henderson down just metres out from the Leinster tryline before outside centre John Kelly goes close off an inviting O’Gara pass.
Munster score on third phase as another excellent pass by O’Gara sends wing O’Neill over in the corner.
Source: Guinness PRO14
O’Gara’s conversion attempt slips wide to the left but Munster lead 12-6 heading into the half-time break.
With Miller sent off, it looks like an uphill battle for Leinster and it becomes an even bigger task when O’Gara slots a penalty early in the second half for 15-6.
Leinster need the next score but they waste a couple of promising opportunities in the Munster 22 as Horgan and then O’Driscoll kick the ball away.
Spooner nails a penalty in the 50th minute, but is soon wide with an attempt from 45 metres out.
As the game ticks into the final quarter, Munster’s inability to shake off Leinster is clear. Williams’ side, despite their numerical disadvantage, are gritty and earn another penalty for Spooner to slot from out on the left.
And then, suddenly, Leinster are in front as they strike brilliantly over two phases on kick return. Ireland wing Hickie makes crucial gains up the left-hand side initially, beating O’Neill as he takes the ball into the Munster half.
