Leinster player ratings - how the Champions Cup winners fared
Leinster claimed their fourth Champions Cup title with a narrow 15-12 win over Racing at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Not one of his most barnstorming performances, but dependable all the same, Leinster’s scrum was solid and the tighthead was crucial to that.
There were no lung-bursting breaks from this speedy hooker, but the lineout functioned perfectly despite the wet conditions.
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.
Had a lineout stolen by Leone Nakarawa in the 76th minute as he attempted to find Leavy with Leinster in a good attacking position.
- Jack McGrath 6
Replaced Cian Healy shortly after the hour mark and did no wrong.
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.
- Rhys Ruddock N/A
Didn’t come off the bench
Came on for Jordi Murphy and made an impact, notably him bundling Teddy Thomas into touch in the 76th minute.
- 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.
- Joey Carbery N/A
Didn’t come off the bench
- Rory O’Loughlin N/A
Didn’t come off the bench
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments