Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Leicester beat London Irish to win the Guinness Premiership Final

Monday, May 18, 2009

Leicester beat London Irish to win the Guinness Premiership Final

The Leicester Tigers now stand in line to do the double as they won the Guinness Premiership Final 10-9 on Saturday at Twickenham. They will face Leinster this coming weekend in the Heineken Cup, as they look to win both English and European Championships.

The underdogs London Irish fought hard, pushing the Tigers to the limit and at times looking the more creative side. Leicester gathered some momentum in the second half though, which led to a try by penalty shootout hero Jordan Crane, who had earlier been sin binned.

It wasn’t a pretty match by any means, fully acknowledged by Tigers captain Geordan Murphy.

"It was hard work," said Murphy. "We are going to have to raise our game next week."

Leicesters stand in flyhalf Sam Vesty felt that the win sets them up nicely for next weekend’s crucial European Cup Final.

"I think a good dirty, horrible win holds us in good stead for next week," said Vesty.

"It is the perfect result. An ugly win keeps us on our toes. Sometimes you have to win ugly. No-one remembers how you became champions in 2009. All that matters is we are champions.

"We will definitely need to do more next week but I am not worried. You look at us over the last 12 weeks, we have been attacking very well. We weren't that far off yesterday.”

The Tigers wont have much time to celebrate, as all focus now shifts to the upcoming weekend, and their big clash with Leinster in Edinburgh.

Time: 06:56

first comment yeeeeaaahhhhhhhh!!!!

Shitty error strewn game, Great game by Geordan Murphy and Mapusa.... everything else was crap.

Very Boring

By Kenny, at May 18, 2009 10:58 am
i was at this match, amzing atmosphere and great reffereeing by barnes.
highly entertaining match to be at probably boring at home due to the lack of atmosphere.

come on you irish we've always got next year.

By Robbie, at May 18, 2009 11:33 am
Entertaining game, down to the wire, shame for London Irish to come so close to their first title. The only people who will criticise games like this are the equivalent of people who criticise 0-0 games in football. Purists can see the entertainment and competitiveness, kids who just like watching YouTube clips and seeing the All Blacks beat Portugal 109-0 would miss the actual gameplay.

Fitzpatrick sums it up best:

"In a radio interview with New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times columnist, Fitzpatrick, the most-capped All Black with 92 tests, said he'd rather watch a Guinness Premiership or Heineken Cup game than Super 14.

"In terms of what I am seeing in Super 14 compared to the Premiership and Heineken Cup, it is quite clear one game is better than the other," he said.

"What's happening in Super 14 is lacking structure. The teams that are doing well, the Bulls and Chiefs, are the teams that are playing with structure. Unfortunately with the short-arm penalty, it encourages teams and players ... to cheat."

Super rugby has struggled to live up to its billing this year, with many matches played in front of half-empty stadia and TV ratings down.

He had little complimentary to say, even about the exciting matches such as the 63-32 win by the Chiefs over the Blues a fortnight ago.

"(It) was probably the worst and most disappointing game of rugby I have seen. If you think that is great, free-flowing rugby to watch, we are obviously watching two different games. That's not what I see as a great game," he said."

This from the man who works for Sky television as a pundit on Super 14 games (so no bias).

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 11:39 am
I disagrre with you anon, im Irish and lets just say low scoring and error strewn with no player able to stamp any kind of authority on the game. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck it usually is a duck or in this case a boring game.

This being a boring game has absolutely nothing to do with super 14 so leave that rubbish ou of it before you start a huge arguement.

And before any one else gets at me for being Irish and London Irish losing, its not that either i dont follow either team but was interested in seeing a good exciting final.

alas not to be.....

Hewitts drop goal in the first minute was the highlight of the game!!!!

By Kenny, at May 18, 2009 11:47 am
the northern hemisphere teams will get a beating again anyway ;)

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 11:47 am
"Kenny said...
I disagrre with you anon, im Irish and lets just say low scoring and error strewn with no player able to stamp any kind of authority on the game. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck it usually is a duck or in this case a boring game."

Like most Cup finals you mean? See most of the Heineken finals and the supposed best team in the world at the time stuggling to beat a very sub par English team in the 2007 World Cup final (also full of errors) and with 0 tries (apart from the wrongly disallowed England try).

Saying you're Irish just contributes to your bias.

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 11:57 am
what's the celt music at the begining??

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 12:02 pm
Like most Cup finals you mean? See most of the Heineken finals and the supposed best team in the world at the time stuggling to beat a very sub par English team in the 2007 World Cup final (also full of errors) and with 0 tries (apart from the wrongly disallowed England try).

i love your last sentance about the wrongly disallowed english try!!!

Get over it mate.

And just to confirm that was a wretched boring match as well.
So was the HCup final last season, tight ugly games arent exciting, clearly your english and all things english are great according to you including ugly slow rugby games.

Even Geordan Murphy after the game said Leicester need to improve and that the game was ugly, so maybe he is wrong as well and your right.

And maybe it was a try in 2007 and England should have been World Cup Champions!!! lol

By Kenny, at May 18, 2009 12:08 pm
One thing's for sure, Ireland will never be World Champions. ;)

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 12:13 pm
Anonymous said...
One thing's for sure, Ireland will never be World Champions. ;)

Yeah and we certainly wont cry about it either = (apart from the wrongly disallowed England try).

By Kenny, at May 18, 2009 12:27 pm
Sorry, snoozefest. I'm a neutral and I was at a pub watching it with an Englishman who wasnt all that much into rugby, and I have to say, I was embarrassed that I hyped it up and told him it would be a great occasion.

Well, it was a great occasion, but a boring game where both sides looked nervous and the standard was low from start to finish, bar Hewats droppie and some of the penalty kicks.

Disappointing match.. and if Sean Fitzpatrick enjoyed it, well, he was a hooker who enjoyed scrapping on the ground afterall. I wouldnt read much into his comments. ;)

By FrankyH, at May 18, 2009 12:50 pm
Anyone else thinks its funny that 2 irish men are leading their teams to the english premiership final???
I laughed at that when i saw it.

Geordan Murphy was once again absolutely immense for the tigers right when they needed him to be.

Anybody think something should be done about Delon Armitage for jumping in with his foot at the try. I know he wanted to dislodge the ball but look at how his studs are up and they go flying into Cranes arm

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 12:51 pm
Neither side were on top form but it still provided great entertainment, close, tight, typical cup final game. Gutted for Catt, I thought they were going to do it.

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 12:54 pm
"and if Sean Fitzpatrick enjoyed it, well, he was a hooker who enjoyed scrapping on the ground afterall. I wouldnt read much into his comments. ;)"

Record breaking Kiwi captain with years of experience as a pundit, I'm sure he's more qualified to judge than anyone on here.

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 1:06 pm
^ He's still a hooker, who played in a slightly different era. It's like a wing saying he'd enjoy great scrums. Each to their own. Don't take his word as gospel is all I'm saying.

By FrankyH, at May 18, 2009 1:26 pm
anon tigers fan still trying to tell everyone that the game was great. It never lived up to its billing and if Leicester play like that against Leinster than they will lose because they were shite and Richard Cockerhill said that, im only repeating it cause he is right.

By Kenny, at May 18, 2009 1:34 pm
Apparently all the rugby had been played in a half hour curtain raiser at Twickenham an hour or so before kick off...

Hackney RFC put out two teams having won the Guinness Club Together competition, with 3 tries being scored in a short, sharp, 30 minute game.

The game was a final, I think we should use that as an adjective. To mean riddled with nerves, conservative in style with two teams scared of losing, error strewn and often disappointing.

But Leicester are worthy champions, and Irish's place in the final a great indication of the health of club rugby in England. As was Hackney RFCs day at Twickers.

By Hackney Griffin, at May 18, 2009 1:42 pm
1 easy Irish themed side down, 1 easy Irish based side to go.

Come on the double.

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 1:47 pm
soooooooo boring

what the hell is exciting about that steaming pile of turd called a final

By jamestheconvict, at May 18, 2009 1:56 pm
0:42
HELLO!!! :D

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 2:00 pm
jamestheconvict said...
soooooooo boring

what the hell is exciting about that steaming pile of turd called a final

for once i totally agree with koala shagger about this one, james mate your right..it was a steaming pile of turd. Game was so slow a 37 year fly half was able to finish the game. snoooooooor

By Kenny, at May 18, 2009 2:02 pm
One thing's for sure, Ireland will never be World Champions. ;)

well in fairness to the paddies they are a quality side and by the look of things have a lot of young talent coming through. They have just as much chance as us in winning the world cup (again). If a team makes the qs or semis in rwc anything can happen. Dont be so hard on them ffs. they got their gs this year.

Unlucky london irish, ye had a great season, well done tigers!

Dan UK

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 2:14 pm
"Dont be so hard on them ffs. they got their gs this year."

...and Wales had 2 Grand Slams in 3 years just before that, with a population half the size. Big whoop.

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 2:39 pm
Watching these highlights,it seems it was a poor game.

hope to see much better from super 14 and Top 14 finals

By Flooz, at May 18, 2009 2:51 pm
The game was complete pish. You 'purists' can piss off.

Do us all a favour and leave the game. You're an anchor to its natural progression. Go play bloody Polo or something.

By Jennifer, at May 18, 2009 2:53 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 3:17 pm
ANON who stupidly asks a question without a name to respond to . . .

The music was The Drop Kick Murphy's. I believe it is the same music that Forrest Griffin enters the stage to in UFC.

Two unforgivable kicks by Cat and Armitage at the end.

By Boz, at May 18, 2009 4:09 pm
I watched the game as a neutral and didn't think it was that bad at all. Certainly not worth the fuss everyone is making on here. It seems that every final gets slated nowadays, becasue they're so closely contested. Anyway like i said it wasn't that bad and my guess is you don't realy appreciate rugby for what it is.

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 4:15 pm
Englands 2011 back row. Tasty!

Croft
Moody
Crane

By mentallymadmax, at May 18, 2009 5:48 pm
Boo Hoo the game wasn't pretty...The majority of games aren't just open flowing games with 4 or 5 tries so get a grip lads and stop complaining..

And stop bringing bloody national team arguments into it...They have no place here..

By themull, at May 18, 2009 6:42 pm
agreed with other anon at 0:42. yummy. all sporting event cameras seem to have fitty magnets attached to them

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 7:03 pm
hard luck irish bt leicester gonna hav 2 play alot better 2 beat Leinster in Murrayfield. CMON LEINSTER!!

By Leinster fan 4 life, at May 18, 2009 7:19 pm
I agree wit leinster 4 life yez ill be destroyed by lenstir

By Joey, at May 18, 2009 7:23 pm
I was watching the game in a London Irish pub and the atmosphere was great, so instead of whinging get down the pub and enjoy it with some mates and a beer rather than at home!

Very finals are try-fests due to the nature of it being a final. London Irish and Lecister scored loads of tries this season.

A point missed is when the two teams played each other during the season the gap was 3 and 4 points (in Lecister's favour) and both were 50+ point games

Also very well-reffed by Barnes

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 8:17 pm
No major final has ever had more then two tries that I recall. S14 last year, think there was 2? RWC 07, none, H Cup 08 2, H Cup 07 can't remember, 06 3 just shot my theory in the foot. Ah well. And RWC 03 only 2.

By jej, at May 18, 2009 9:58 pm
why oh why oh why is Delon Armitage playing playing at center he is NOT a center the only reason he is playing there is because tom shanklin as been injured and england are trying to push Armitage into the lions spot its crazy he was shocking in this match he was no where.Mapusa had to play both inside and outside center it was a shocking display by Armitage.

By Anonymous, at May 18, 2009 11:10 pm
Agree with anon above, Armitage was poor, although the english say its he's best position, he looks much more comfortable at Full Back.

RE: Armitage's slide tackle to prevent try, it happens alot (not just Armitage i mean), he was just trying to get under the ball.

If you wanna see illegal tackle trying to prevent a try, I remember Ben Cohen went in on Girvan Dempsey with his knees in Ireland's win in 04, Dempsey went off shortly after scoring. Don't remember but Cohen should've been carded. Don't know if footage is on D'interweb, although it was the winning try so I'm sure some some Paddy (not me though) has posted it elsewhere.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at May 19, 2009 1:03 am
Agree with anon above, Armitage was poor, although the english say its he's best position, he looks much more comfortable at Full Back.

RE: Armitage's slide tackle to prevent try, it happens alot (not just Armitage i mean), he was just trying to get under the ball.

If you wanna see illegal tackle trying to prevent a try, I remember Ben Cohen went in on Girvan Dempsey with his knees in Ireland's win in 04, Dempsey went off shortly after scoring. Don't remember but Cohen should've been carded. Don't know if footage is on D'interweb, although it was the winning try so I'm sure some some Paddy (not me though) has posted it elsewhere.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at May 19, 2009 1:03 am
Posted it twice...... NICE!

By Huh!! the 3rd, at May 19, 2009 1:04 am
What some of you morons seem to blatantly miss is the issue is not with the lack of tries. But rather the fact the game was shit.

It could have been an amazing game void of any tries. The try count isn't relevant to the reality of the game being GARBAGE.

Worst final I've ever seen... Ever. It could have had 10 tries, still would have been rubbish.

By Jennifer, at May 19, 2009 1:32 am
Jej - your not serious are you ?

maybe your two young to remember past 07

By jamestheconvict, at May 19, 2009 4:07 am
Delighted to see Peter Hewat, ex NSW Waratah and Manly Marlin, score that beautiful drop goal in opening moments. That, and the size of the crowd was awesome. Peter Hewat . . . overlooked and excluded . . top player . . and happy to see him doing well for Irish.

Give me S14 any day.

By Anonymous, at May 19, 2009 9:09 am
good tense game, but not one for the children who want to see people running in 80 metre tries.

By Anonymous, at May 19, 2009 10:00 am
This comment has been removed by the author.

By vinniechan, at May 19, 2009 10:02 am
The one point margin shows how streetwise and hard nose Tigers are. Wasps and Munster come close when they have the form.
In professional rugby, team do detail analysis of the opposition before games, and as we all see defence from both sides were top notched and clinical, rather than boring as people suggest.
Rather than moaning about it, those know rugby find a lot to learn from and the tactical kicking from Catt (and the one heprduced against Quins)was probably the best I've seen for a long time.

By vinniechan, at May 19, 2009 10:10 am
Re Kenn: of course the Tigers need to up a gear. They showed their hand a bit and no doubt BOD and Leinster were watching. They need to come up with something to surprise.
Re Fitzpatrick's comment. He's some truth. Before ELV, the South ran around to unsettle the defence when nothing is on (a bit too close to 7's for my liking) Could be confusing for viewers but none the less works. Now, many S14 teams can't keep hold of the ball for more than 7 phases and their play were all over the place. You just wouldn't have a clue wut's going on. Their areial ping pong is even worse than GP

By vinniechan, at May 19, 2009 10:16 am
Anonymous said... not one for the children who want to see people running in 80 metre tries.

Oh of course, no adult fan would ever enjoy an 80 metre try, what a ridiculous comment.
A dull game is a dull game no matter where in the world it's played.

By davey, at May 19, 2009 10:56 am
I totally agree with Davey, all this BS about this being a mature rugby fans game.....it was the little things during the game that only proper rugby fans noticed and only kids like 80 meter tries blah blah blah

It was crap and all those spouting that kind of rubbish should be ashamed.
= The only people who will criticise games like this are the equivalent of people who criticise 0-0 games in football. Purists can see the entertainment and competitiveness, kids who just like watching YouTube clips and seeing the All Blacks beat Portugal 109-0 would miss the actual gameplay.

What game play?? there was only 1 converted try and 4 scored penalties. There it is in 1 sentence.....Great entertainment!!!!

By Kenny, at May 19, 2009 11:57 am
The standard of play was simply poor, particularly compared with the rest of the season. That's not saying that the GP is SHITE.. just that his this game was. If you enjoyed it, congrats. Maybe I wasnt drunk enough.

Also, I've watched many tight, tense games.. and they can be good, but with a high standard of play. This was disappointing.

I hope Lei vs Lei produces a better game this weekend :P

By FrankyH, at May 19, 2009 1:17 pm
off topic, but any chance of gettin the munster ospreys highlights from last friday night up? there was a few decent tries...

By Anonymous, at May 19, 2009 1:49 pm
two words "alesana tuilagi"

he would have sparked up the game for sure!

match winner!

By Anonymous, at May 20, 2009 4:11 am
LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER LEINSTER

By Anonymous, at May 24, 2009 2:16 am