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Leinster player ratings - how the Champions Cup winners fared

By Nathaniel Cope
Leinster lift the 2018 Champions Cup in Bilbao

Leinster claimed their fourth Champions Cup title with a narrow 15-12 win over Racing at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.

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Having been free-scoring on the way to the final Leinster were nullified by some resolute Racing defence. Isa Nacewa stepped up and nailed a 79th minute penalty to seal a dramatic victory.

Nathaniel Cope was in Bilbao for RugbyPass and gives his verdict on Leo Cullen’s team.

Leinster player ratings:

  1. Rob Kearney 7

Knocked on in the 35th minute when competing for a high ball, but that was an aberration as it’s an area of strength for the Ireland full back. Made the most metres from a Leinster player, with 89, but failed to make any notable incisions when he did get the ball in hand.

  1. Jordan Larmour 6

Showed his dancing feet in a tight space in the 26th minute when he came off his wing, but wasn’t given any chances out wide and was starved of ball.

  1. Garry Ringrose 6

Had the considerable bulk of Virimi Vakatawa to keep in check and he did just that. A game for the forwards so there wasn’t much opportunity for him to show what he can do in attack.

  1. Robbie Henshaw 6

Was exceptional on his injury return against the Scarlets, this was a quieter game, but stuck to his defensive task well ensuring Henry Chavancy couldn’t make a telling impact. Took a nasty bang in a collision with Louis Dupichot on the half hour, and shipped a high tackle from Remi Tales eight minutes later, but he’s certainly robust and dusted himself off.

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  1. Isa Nacewa 8

The 34-year-old’s last European game. He slipped through Donnacha Ryan and Teddy Thomas for Leinster’s only notable break in the first half. He took over kicking duties when Johnny Sexton picked up a strain and slotted over two penalties, including the crucial winning one in the 79th minute, a fine way to bow out.

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  1. Johnny Sexton 6

Opted to run when Leinster had a penalty in front of the posts in the 32nd minute, which proved to be the wrong call. Missed two kicks from distance in the second half, the first of which he won’t want to see again anytime soon. Handed over the kicking duties to Nacewa late on due to an injury niggle.

  1. Luke McGrath 6

Only back from injury and his box kicking game not at its best early on. Good service to Sexton but it was not a day where Leinster could cut loose. Jamison Gibson- Park, who was excellent against the Scarlets in the semi-final, came on for the last 19 minutes .

  1. Jordi Murphy 6

Departing for Ulster next season and he will be missed. Not one of his standout matches and was replaced just after the hour mark by Jack Conan.

  1. Dan Leavy 9

His bandaged up head illustrated he’s constantly in the thick of things. The top-tackler in the match, with an impressive 17, and a constant menace at the breakdown. He also topped the carries charts too with 17, as Leinster tried to punch holes in a stern Racing defence. Hard to find a better flanker in Europe based on current form.

  1. Scott Fardy 6

The Australian international was penalised in the 20th minute from bringing down a maul which cost Leinster three points and in the context of this match points were at a premium. He certainly has an engine, making a break down the right wing late in the match.

  1. James Ryan 9

Huge tackle on Virimi Vakatawa in the 24th minute, one of 12 in the match, as he got through an awful amount of work. Go-to man in the lineout too with six takes and even got a steal in 54th minute from Donnacha Ryan. 21 senior matches and still to taste a defeat, an incredible record.

  1. Devin Toner 8

Ireland’s most decorated second row and it was another solid performance from the 6’ 10” giant. Made his presence felt with plenty of carries and contributed 10 tackles.

  1. Tadhg Furlong 6

Not one of his most barnstorming performances, but dependable all the same, Leinster’s scrum was solid and the tighthead was crucial to that.

  1. Sean Cronin 7

There were no lung-bursting breaks from this speedy hooker, but the lineout functioned perfectly despite the wet conditions.

  1. Cian Healy 6

He has really returned to form this season and it’s no mean feat keeping Jack McGrath on the bench. Part of a solid pack effort.

  1. James Tracy 5

Had a lineout stolen by Leone Nakarawa in the 76th minute as he attempted to find Leavy with Leinster in a good attacking position.

  1. Jack McGrath 6

Replaced Cian Healy shortly after the hour mark and did no wrong.

  1. Andrew Porter 6

Leinster are blessed with two fine tightheads, Porter came on in the 65th minute and kept the scrum solid and was useful in the loose.

  1. Rhys Ruddock N/A

Didn’t come off the bench

  1. Jack Conan 7

Came on for Jordi Murphy and made an impact, notably him bundling Teddy Thomas into touch in the 76th minute.

  1. Jamison Gibson- Park 6

He tried to speed up the pace when he was introduced, but was another who found it difficult to break down Racing.

  1. Joey Carbery N/A

Didn’t come off the bench

  1. Rory O’Loughlin N/A

Didn’t come off the bench

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Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

34 Go to comments
j
john 4 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 9 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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