Leinster player ratings vs Bayonne | 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup

Leinster player ratings: Leinster got the job done in Bayonne on a scoreline of 22-13 without ever really looking comfortable doing it. Ring rust was always likely given the number of returning bodies, and that lack of sharpness showed up most clearly in execution rather than effort.

Chances were created but too many of them were then promptly butchered. Bayonne, winless in the pool before kick-off, refused to roll over and were rewarded for sticking around as Leinster repeatedly left the door ajar.

In the end, Leinster’s fitness, depth and a couple of moments of genuine class were enough, but they were very much their own worst enemies for long stretches.

Here’s how we rated the Leinster players:

15. Jimmy O’Brien – 7
A genuinely maddening performance in places and a match-winning one in others. Struggled badly under the high ball early and turned over possession more than Leinster would have liked, looking anything but a safe pair of hands at times. And yet, he was also Leinster’s most incisive back. His line break in the 20th minute cut Bayonne open, his assist for Sheehan was top class and he repeatedly threatened in broken field. The dropped grounding late on was harsh, but it summed up the night. Brilliant and infuriating in equal measure.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

1.4

5

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Avg. Points Scored

1.6

13

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14. Tommy O’Brien – 5
A night that never quite got going and ended early. Lost a couple of aerial contests in the opening exchanges and conceded a needless penalty with a clumsy challenge under the high ball. Never looked settled and went off shortly after the break in what will worry Leinster and Ireland given his excellent recent form. One to forget.

13. Garry Ringrose – 5.5
Plenty of graft defensively but looked off the pace, which is understandable given the lay-off. Shot out of the line poorly for Bayonne’s try and that lapse left Leinster horribly exposed. Worked hard thereafter without really imposing himself. Not disastrous, but below his usual standards. Garry Ringrust on this occasion.

12. Robbie Henshaw – 5.5
Missed a glaring tackle that directly contributed to Bayonne’s opening try and that set the tone for a difficult evening. Leinster did a reasonable job of containing Manu Tuilagi in midfield, but that came at the cost of space elsewhere. Went off early and didn’t have the impact Leinster needed.

11. Joshua Kenny – 7
Full of endeavour. Made a sharp outside break and raced 40 metres in the first half, only for the final pass not to stick, with a sneaky Bayonne hand playing its part. Fumbled a well-weighted Byrne kick with the line begging, which summed up Leinster’s execution issues. Still kept working and stayed involved.

10. Harry Byrne – 7
Mixed but influential. Worked space nicely with ball in hand and showed ambition with cross-field kicks, even if the execution wasn’t always there. Slotted his kicks, played a key role in Leinster’s second try and produced a superb kick for Prendergast’s late score. Not perfect, but far more good than bad.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 6.5
A little off without ever doing much obviously wrong, which for him is unusual. Threw a few errant passes, including one over the top that sailed into row Z, and didn’t quite get Leinster playing at his usual tempo. Set up the final try and finished the game better than he started.

8. Josh van der Flier – 5.5
Uncharacteristically quiet. Had little impact in either half and was surprisingly anonymous at the breakdown by his own lofty standards. Leinster coped without him being at his best, but this was well below the level he normally brings.

7. Caelan Doris – 7.5
Never stopped carrying and his superior fitness told as the game wore on. He struggled to punch clear holes in Bayonne’s stubborn defence but kept Leinster moving forward and won an important first-half turnover. Not flashy, just relentless.

6. Max Deegan – 8
A doughty, honest performance capped by the 80th-minute try that finally put the game to bed. Solid throughout, produced a try-saving tackle on Herschel Jantjies, and was involved in plenty of the unseen work. Took a nasty clash of heads at a lineout and kept going. Fully deserved his reward.

5. James Ryan – 7
Smart work in frustrating Bayonne’s formidable maul and plenty of unseen graft in tight. Called the lineout well on his 50th European apperance, defended diligently and brought some much-needed organisation during a messy spell.

4. RG Snyman – 6
Continued his frustrating habit of flat performances when starting. Some unforced errors and little real impact in the first half. Improved after the break with a few nice touches before making way.

3. Tadhg Furlong – 8
Excellent while he was on. Scrummaged strongly, anchored the right-hand side and gave Leinster a platform early doors. Went off with a tight calf, which Leinster will hope is precautionary rather than anything more.

2. Ronan Kelleher – 6.5
Led Leinster’s early tackle count and brought plenty of physicality, even if he did fall off a couple. His darts were straight and true and he worked tirelessly. Solid without being spectacular.

1. Jack Boyle – 8
A very strong showing. Useful in defensive scrums, won a first-half turnover and was combative throughout. Has lost ground recently to the injured Paddy McCarthy but this was a timely reminder of his quality.

Replacements

16. Dan Sheehan – 7.5
Made an immediate impact off the bench. Took his try well after a lovely line from Jimmy O’Brien and carried hard, getting Leinster over the gainline when they needed it.

17. Jerry Cahir – NA
On too late to fairly assess. The crowd missed the opportunity to chat ‘Jerry, Jerry, Jerry’ as a result.

18. Thomas Clarkson – 6
Scrummaged well after coming on and helped Leinster maintain dominance, even winning a rare scrum against the head. However, got greedy near the line and was penalised for a double movement when Leinster looked set to score.

19. Joe McCarthy – 7.5
Brought some valuable collision crunch and physical edge. Leinster looked more abrasive with him on.

20. Scott Penny – NA
Not on long enough to rate, despite van der Flier’s relatively flat outing.

21. Luke McGrath – NA
Introduced late and didn’t have time to influence proceedings.

22. Sam Prendergast – 7.5
Came on early and perhaps tried a bit too hard initially, but his ambition paid off. Made a sharp break, his passing helped unlock Bayonne for Leinster’s first try and he finished superbly after Byrne’s kick to seal the win.

23. Rieko Ioane – 5
Struggled to get a foothold in the game. What little he did have wasn’t great, including a poor pass to Kenny. Leinster’s marquee signing still needs to start delivering in the way Jordie Barrett did last season.