Leinster number eight Jack Conan said that he desperately tried to charge down Remi Tales’ last second drop goal miss in Saturday’s Champions Cup final but that he was happy to see the ball sail wide as his side won their fourth European Cup.
A 79th minute penalty from Isa Nacewa had given Leinster a 15-12 lead with just under a minute remaining but Racing were able to regather the ball from the restart and hold possession in Leinster’s half.
The Parisians drove their way towards the Leinster 22 before substitute fly-half Tales shanked what would have been a match tying drop goal.
“I was beside the ruck and the nine [Teddy Iribaren] passed it to the 10 [Tales] and I just sprinted for my life,” said Conan.
“I was nowhere near it but I just got up off the ground and saw it had gone wide and it was an unbelievable moment.”
Conan said that he had caught a glimpse of the ball straying outside of the posts but that he did not realise that Leinster had won the game, and therein the Champions Cup, until Rob Kearney had chased the ball dead.
“It took me a second to locate the ball and then I saw Rob chasing after it and it had gone dead. I knew the 80 minutes were up at that stage and that was us so yeah it was an incredible moment. Incredible feeling.”
Fly-half Johnny Sexton, who kicked nine of Leinster’s 15 points in the win, said that he could not believe that Leinster were champions of Europe again and that he was delighted for the young players and coaches in Leinster’s squad.
"I don't know where to start. This is for all the fans"
Pure class from Isa Nacewa as he is joined by 'the genius' Johnny Sexton after his side's win in Bilbao. #ChampionsCupFinal pic.twitter.com/h4w8eqYKGB
— eir Sport (@eirSport) May 12, 2018
“We did it the hard way,” Sexton told BT Sport.
“We couldn’t get going at all during the game. Every time we got into there 22 the ball was killed.
“It was very greasy and they came out and slowed us down at the ruck and that’s obviously the way to beat us.
“I can’t believe we’re champions again. I never thought two or three years ago that this was going to happen again. I’m so happy for all those young lads. I’m so happy for all the coaches.
“Stuart Lancaster, what a special coach to come in to do what he’s done and for Leo to have the courage to bring him in. It’s amazing.
“The belief he has instilled in us, the way we train and also the international coaches. These young guys are doing a lot of learning.”
