In a repeat of the 2009 Magners League Grand Final, the Welsh region dominated from start to finish and they cruised into an emphatic lead with a ferocious first-half performance.
Joe Schmidt’s men were unable to live with the Ospreys’ intensity in a rampant first half and they trailed 27-3 at the interval. Rhys Webb, Hanno Dirksen and Justin Tipuric all crossed for the hosts, while all the Dubliners could manage was a single Mat Berquist penalty.
Following Shane Jennings call-up to Ireland, for injured David Wallace, Leinster travelled to Wales with 14 players committed to the World Cup in New Zealand – more than any other club in Europe.
As for the Ospreys six Welsh players, Tommy Bowe, and three summer signings on duty were missing with Canada and Samoa. But the Welsh region looked far more settled and punished the inexperienced Leinster side led by former Ospreys man Rhys Ruddock.
Leinster struggled to cope with the Ospreys intensity as the Welsh region kicked-off all guns blazing. Schmidt’s men were quickly trailing as the Ospreys pounced within three minutes.
Richard Fussell and Ashley Beck combined to cut Leinster to shreds. Beck fed Andrew Bishop and the Wales centre off-loaded out of contact to send Webb over. Biggar dissected the posts and soon added a penalty to hand the hosts a 10-0 lead.
The Ospreys extended their advantage over shell-shocked Leinster on 20 minutes when axed Wales star Jonathan Thomas broke from the back of a five metre scrum to send Dirksen over in the left corner, with Biggar again adding the extras.
The Dubliners could have struck back on 24-minutes but Berquist, making his PR012 debut, cork-screwed his penalty attempt.
Biggar quickly showed the New Zealander how it is done with a neat drop-goal but Berquist hit back with a successful penalty on the half-hour mark. But the Ospreys landed a hammer-blow on Schmidt’s men on the stroke of half-time.
Fionn Carr was turned-over after becoming isolated following a counter attack and Webb took full advantage with a dart round the ruck. He chipped Isa Nacewa and Tipuric was on hand to collect and slide over. Biggar extended his 100 per cent ratio to hand the hosts a 27-3 lead at the interval.
Leinster came out for the second half with far more direction, keeping the ball tight and retaining possession. But they were unable to turn pressure into points.
Rhys Ruddock turned down several shots at goal, chasing a crucial try but Leinster were unable to cross the white-line. First Heineker van der Merwe lost the ball five metres out and moments later Kevin McLaughlin was held up after appearing to grab the crucial try.
Luke Fitzgerald’s torrid two weeks continued after he was dragged off on 56 miniutes following an anonymous performance.
Leinster continued to enjoy prolonged spells of territory and possession but were unable to produce any clear try-scoring opportunities.
Carr looked to have broke the deadlock to hand his side a lifeline on 66 minutes after dancing past Tom Isaacs. But Eoin O’Malley’s pass was judged to be forward and the scores remained the same.
