Leicester player ratings vs Leinster | 2023 Champions Cup
Leicester player ratings live from Aviva Stadium: Despite their recent flourish in form with Handre Pollard finding his groove, the consensus was that Tigers had travelled to Ireland more in hope than expectation. So it damagingly proved as Leinster eliminated them at the quarter-final stage for the second successive year, the bruising scoreline reading a whopping 55-24 – seven tries to three – on this occasion.
Regardless of this jaw-dropping chasm on the scoreboard, it was a much-improved contest for 50 minutes compared to the instant lop-sidedness that materialised at Mattioli Woods Welford Road last April, Leinster vaulting 20 first-half points clear and winning comfortably 23-14.
Here, fielding just six starters of those same starters in front of a 27,000 attendance, there was more bite in the Tigers until their last half-hour collapse. They cheaply leaked the first try just 72 seconds in, but they then belligerently absorbed enormous pressure before striking with an Anthony Watson that left them trailing by only 10-17 at the break.
Game on… except just when Leicester were primed to pounce following the 46th-minute yellow card for Caelan Doris, they suddenly became pussy cats and disappeared. Ten points they leaked while a man up and worse quickly followed, a 59th-minute penalty try and a sin bin of their own putting them a massive 34-10 behind.
Game clinically over. It was now garbage time with five tries ensuring (three for Leinster, two for Leicester) and another yellow card (Mike Brown) to leave the home side stomping into the semi-finals where they will have an Aviva Stadium tie versus either Toulouse or Sharks. Here are the Leicester player ratings:
F?i?g?h?t?i?n?g? Talk ?
What's Leo Cullen said to Richard Wigglesworth to bring out that giggle? ?
Watch @leinsterrugby ? @LeicesterTigers live on @RTErugby, @btsportrugby, @beinsports_FR, @FloRugby and @SuperSportTV ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/HrBISzHcqv
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 7, 2023
15. Mike Brown – 5.5
An excellent signing, the veteran demonstrated his encyclopedic game intelligence when quickly tapping the penalty that ignited the move for Leicester’s late first-half try. Competed well in the air after the loss of the kick-off that won Leinster possession for their opening score. Blotted his rating with his needless late yellow card.
14. Anthony Watson – 6.5
Another astute bit of business and another who has flourished in the Tigers’ way. Produced a fabulous diving finish at the corner for his 38th-minute try but possession given to him was far too limited.
13. Harry Potter – 4
One half of this weekend’s rejigged midfield, it didn’t go well as the free-running Garry Ringrose had him at sixes and sevens. At fault for the second Leinster try, there was also a sloppy fumble trying to grab a Pollard kick through and the mishap of a kick-ahead that veered away from his follow-up chase. The holding-on penalty he conceded on the first Leicester attack with Leinster on a yellow card capped a frustrating night that ended with a consolation score.
12. Dan Kelly – 4.5
Another who had his defensive errors, he bought the dummy for the opening Leinster try. Showed his eye for creating space near the break but his pass to Cameron Henderson unfortunately was forward.
11. Freddie Steward – 4.5
Back at the scene of his infamous red card with England 20 days ago, he was working in an unfamiliar left-wing position and it showed in the way he was easily mowed down by James Lowe in the early exchanges and then wrong-footed by Ringrose for the result-deciding Jamison Gibson-Park try.
10. Handre Pollard – 5.5
This class act came into this on top of his game, but he started slowly before wielding better influence approaching half-time. Couldn’t deliver the magic needed when the result was in the balance at 10-17 with Leinster down a player.
9. Jack van Poortvliet – 5
Kicked the leather off it last weekend versus Edinburgh and was inclined to do the same again here due to all the backfoot play he featured in. Was apprentice versus master three weeks ago in his head-to-head with Gibson-Park and it became that here, his opposite number running in the key try and JVP getting done minutes later for no release on the deck after a panicked carry.
1. James Cronin – 5.5
The ex-Munster prop would have loved nothing more than sowing it into Leicester and while he was of nuisance value in and around the breakdown, he was hooked on 53 with the scrum going backwards.
? GAME ON ?@LeicesterTigers get the try when it’s needed, it’s a one-score game at Half-time ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/E5I9660rGK
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 7, 2023
2. Julian Montoya – 5
Scored tries by the bucketload in March, but his physicality was eclipsed by Dan Sheehan’s athleticism here. Desperate pass in attack at 3-14, there was also a poor lineout overthrow before his 34th-minute exit for a HIA. His replacement Charlie Clare didn’t go any better as his night was summed up by his 59th-minute yellow card for causing a penalty try.
3. Joe Heyes – 4
A big call by Richard Wigglesworth to start him ahead of Dan Cole, he won an early scrum penalty but that warm glow was soon cold-watered when falling to a deck in penalty-conceding fashion some minutes later. Further scrum infringements early in the second half on his team’s own feed were critical in their demise and resulted in his early departure.
4. George Martin – 5
The English media have been curiously swooning about this guy’s efforts in recent weeks, bigging him up as the next huge thing. However, he started slowly and while there was mid-game flourish when Leicester closed on the scoreboard, he went missing in the championship minutes.
5. Cameron Henderson – 5
An early second-half lineout steal was about the height of an evening in what was the biggest club game in his young career.
6. Hanro Liebenberg – 5.5
The Borthwick captain who has ceded that role to Montoya, he too improved the nearer the game got to the interval but he too also wilted badly when the pressure became a furnace.
7. Tommy Reffell – 7
Got over the Leinster ball on a number of occasions to win pressure-relieving penalties but Leicester needed a full team of Tommy Reffells to survive here, not just a one-man resistance show.
8. Jasper Wiese – 6
Last week’s try-scoring hero, he was restored to the starting XV and barged into the contest midway through. Seemed to have featured in the key moment when Doris was carded for colliding with his head, but that decision was instead the beginning of the end for Leicester.
Comments on RugbyPass
Who listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
40 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
40 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
40 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to comments