Leinster make European statement with away win in Montpellier
Leinster got their Heineken Champions Cup campaign off to a perfect start with a five-try win in Montpellier.
Their 35-14 bonus-point victory erased the memory of the quarter-final defeat to Saracens at the end of last season and set them on the way for an assault on a fifth title.
The Irish province took their seven-match unbeaten record in the PRO14 into their latest European campaign and selected Irish stars Johnny Sexton and James Ryan on the bench. Sexton pulled out of the game at the last minute and was replaced by Harry Bryne, younger brother of starting number 10 Ross.
The four-time champions had last tasted defeat in the quarter-final of last season’s tournament against Saracens in Dublin and got off to the perfect start with a try after only five minutes at the GGL Stadium.
A strong scrum allowed Luke McGrath to break into the home 22 and quickly recycled ball provided space for it to be sent wide to the right where flanker Josh van der Flier popped up on the wing to cross in the corner.
Ross Byrne was unable to add the extras, but he did hit the mark five minutes later after Van der Flier had turned over Jacques du Plessis on the Montpellier 22.
Leinster strong ball carrying and aggressive defence knocked the hosts out of their usually fluent stride, but they did finally get off the mark in the 21st minute when Benoit Paillaugue kicked a penalty given against James Tracy.
Leinster immediately went back on the offensive and some strong close-quarter carries got them to within 10 metres. They had penalty advantage but did not need it as skipper Rhys Ruddock took a blindside pass, took out the final defender and sent Ciaran Frawley in at the left corner.
Once again Byrne was unable to convert and that allowed Paillaugue to cut the gap to one score when he knocked over his second penalty with 32 minutes gone after powerhouse French international lock Paul Willemse had made the first real dent in the visiting defence.
Leinster finished the first half with a flourish when left wing Dave Kearney raced onto a superb cross-field kick by Byrne following a thrust by Van der Flier. The ball bounced up into the arms of the wing and his try was then improved by Byrne to make it 20-6 at the break.
Paillaugue’s third penalty of the night off the 10-metre line three minutes into the second half gave the home side something to build on and it was a much more even contest in the second half.
Ireland winger, James Lowe has responded to Chris Ashton's comments that he is too big and slow! ??????????@ChristinaMahonx @ryanwilson89 @SimonZebo pic.twitter.com/IcDGDeYAJe
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Leo Cullen brought on four Irish front five starters early in the third quarter and they got back into the game to score two more tries.
The bonus-point came from flanker Dan Leavy in his first European outing since the quarter-final in 2019 and then Jimmy O’Brien raced 25 metres in the last move of the match to round things off.
Harry Byrne, who replaced his elder brother, added the final conversion to an earlier penalty.
Montpelier’s only try came from wing Gabriel N’Gandebe.
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments