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Jordie Barrett produces man-of-the-match showing after benching drama
By Ben Smith
All Black midfielder Jordie Barrett has produced a man-of-the-match showing for Leinster in their thumping of Zebre by 76-5 in the United Rugby Championship.
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A week after coming off the bench for Leinster against the Northampton Saints in the European Cup semi-final, Barrett was back starting for Leinster in the midfield where he bagged two tries.
His first came off a slick set piece play with Irish flyhalf Sam Prendergast the provider with a late offload close to the line. A crash ball from a metre out produced his second moments later as he had a double before half-time.
Barrett also produced three offloads and two try assists in his dominant performance as Leinster ran riot.
The Player of the Match is… Jordie Barrett! 💥#LEIvZEB #NeverLessThanEverything pic.twitter.com/nPgACp3Hmw
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 10, 2025
One X user responded: “The rest last week worked wonders” while another wrote “Glad you rested him last week so he would be ready for this big match” as fans mercilessly went after Leinster for their decision to bench the All Black last week.
The massive win preserved Leinster’s number one position on the URC ladder, while a surge from the South African teams has them in hot pursuit.
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The Bulls are now second after beating Cardiff 45-21, the Stormers moved into fifth with a 48-12 win over the Dragons. The Sharks are fourth just one competition point shy of Glasgow in third.
Leinster face Glasgow in the final round of regular season next weekend.
The last championship in the URC/Pro competitions in Leinster was in the 2020-21 season with their fourth consecutive title before the South African teams joined.
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Bro against Zebre?????
Like clubbing baby seals.
Who’d even pay to watch this?
Serious mistake omitting Barrett for NH. Serious questions remain why the predictable curve balls available to NH against the rush defense were not mitigated for in advance. Leinster did not get tested for the first two rounds but the test was coming.
Look also at the incorrect decision re taking 3 points after the O’Brien ‘penalty where it lands’. The same conference has been happenning for years with the correct decision not often found.
In the URC v Connaught a kick to the corner refusing ane asy kick lead to a Connacht turnover and yellow for Leinster. Connacht scored a try and attacked again for the match against 14. They created an overlap and the tackle of the match saved them before the overlap could be cashed in. Leinster had another kickable penalty and amazingly the conference started again. Barrett ordered a kick at goal to put it out of reach. He was the man who had also saved/won the match for them with that penalty.
Why was this botched decision making not reviewed and eliminated in that match?
It honestly looks like the leadership hole left by Johnny Sexton has not been filled by the coaching group.
Best irish player in a generation no question
He is not a patch on the great Johnny Sexton, regardless of Barretts nationality.
So, one of the most important matches of the year last week & you bench him, & against a side which you were virtually guaranteed to win, you start him & he gets motm?
Yeah good one Leo.!