2012 Heineken Cup Final

Overview

• Event: 2011-12 Heineken Cup Final
• Date: 19 May 2012
• Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
• Teams: Leinster Rugby vs. Ulster Rugby
• Result: Leinster 42 - 14 Ulster
• Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
• Attendance: 81,774

Significance

• 17th season of Europe's top club rugby union competition.
• Leinster was the defending champion and won the final again.
• Captain Leo Cullen made history by lifting the trophy three times.
• Set records for the largest winning margin and most points scored in a Heineken Cup final.
• Suggested as possibly the greatest European club team by media.

Background

• Match was a sell-out with 82,000 tickets sold.
• 7,500 tickets allocated to each team.
• Leinster and Ulster already qualified for the 2012-13 Heineken Cup through Pro12 performance.
• Connacht received the fourth Irish place due to Leinster and Ulster's qualifications.

Match Summary

• Score: Leinster 42 - 14 Ulster
• Tries:
  • Leinster: O'Brien, Healy, penalty try, van der Merwe, Cronin
  • Ulster: Tuohy
• Conversions & Penalties:
  • Leinster: Johnny Sexton (three conversions, three penalties), Fergus McFadden (one conversion)
  • Ulster: Ruan Pienaar (three penalties)
• Leinster achieved the largest winning margin in the cup final's history.

Key Players

• Leinster:
  • Johnny Sexton: Fly-half, scored 15 points from conversions and penalties.
  • Leo Cullen: Captain, made history with three titles.
• Ulster:
  • Ruan Pienaar: Scored all points from penalties.

Team Line-ups

• Leinster Key Players: Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Isa Nacewa, Johnny Sexton, Eoin Reddan.
• Ulster Key Players: Stefan Terblanche, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar.

Coaching Staff

• Leinster Coach: Josef Schmidt
• Ulster Coach: Brian McLaughlin

Notable Facts

• Leinster achieved back-to-back titles, a feat not done since Leicester in 2002.
• Leinster became the first team to win three titles in four years.
• The match attendance was among the highest for such an event.

Important Records

• Record points total and margin in a Heineken Cup Final.
• Leinster's dominance reaffirmed with significant media coverage.

This final was a landmark event in European rugby history, showcasing Leinster's dominance in the sport during that era.