Leinster player ratings vs Cardiff | 2025/26 URC

Leinster player ratings: Leo Cullen’s men arrived in Cardiff as favourites but it was never a game that they looked like winning.

It teemed down throughout at Cardiff Arms Park and the all-weather surface held up impeccably but the rain still made handling treacherous, and Leinster’s insistence on shifting the ball too often played directly into Cardiff’s hands.

The 3-0 lead carved out by Callum Sheedy felt like 30 in those conditions and Leinster never truly threatened to win, until a brief 5-minute spell after their 69th-minute try. They left with an 8-7 defeat that will sting.

Here’s how we rated the Leinster players:

1. Jerry Cahir – 5
Part of the front row sacrificed on 36 minutes as Leo Cullen looked to shift momentum. The set-piece was messy but Leinster had early parity before Cardiff clawed back control. Guilty of at least one handling error.

2. John McKee – 5
Hooked in the mass front-row change before half-time. Throwing was serviceable in tricky conditions. Leinster’s lineout functioned well enough with Deegan a reliable target.

3. Andrew Sparrow – 5.5
Another early withdrawal as Leinster rolled the dice. The scrum battle was 50:50 and remained that way even after the replacements arrived.

4. Alan Spicer – 5
All 6’10 and 138kg of him absolutely creamed Sheedy around the half-hour mark, a reminder of his physical presence. Two minutes later he was pinged for holding on after being bossed in contact. You’d have thought conditions might have suited him but Leinster’s game plan didn’t utilise his power. Also withdrawn at 36 minutes.

5. Brian Deeny – 6
Spilled on 29 minutes in the deluge but tackled his guts out all evening. One of the few who embraced the grind.

6. Max Deegan – 4.5
Involved in a scrap after 19 seconds, which at least set a tone. After that, very little. Driven back 10 metres in one collision which summed up a mediocre night for the skipper.

7. Scott Penny – 5
Spilled in contact on 10 minutes and missed a tackle in the build-up to Aled Davies’ try. Industrious as ever but short on impact.

8. James Culhane – 5
Knocked on and struggled to impose himself. Very little by way of genuine influence.

9. Fintan Gunne – 5
Livewire early, breaking on 12 minutes and again on 37. Miscued at least one box kick and later sent another straight into touch. Energy there, accuracy not always.

10. Harry Byrne – NA
Off after three minutes. A frustrating blow on a night when he needed game time.

22. Charlie Tector – 5.5
Charged down once and shown a harsh yellow for a late tackle that made minimal contact, though it was sloppy. To his credit, produced strong carries and some clever touchfinders later, and nailed the conversion that briefly raised hope.

11. Ruben Moloney – 6
Made 20 metres on one break but was bundled into touch when isolated. Lost ball in contact yet kept chasing everything like an enthusiastic Golden Retriever. Wobbly covering back at times but one of the few trying to force something.

12. Robbie Henshaw – 6
The old hand handled the conditions reasonably well. His half-break sparked the late try. A steady presence in a frantic backline but unable to make the difference here.

13. Rieko Ioane – 6
His Leinster stint has underwhelmed but this was better. Made a sharp break that put Moloney into space and another that sent Kenny towards the touchline. Arguably the pick of a bad bunch in the backs.

14. Joshua Kenny – 4
Not a day for wingers and he barely saw the ball. Bundled into touch repeatedly and looked a little ginger when departing on 56 minutes.

15. Jimmy O’Brien – 4.5
Game in his return from injury but fumbled too much. Overcooked a kick on 51 minutes and a late spill in the 78th minute effectively ended Leinster’s hopes. Some decent takes under pressure but too many inaccuracies.

Replacements

16. Gus McCarthy – 5.5
Part of the early front-row reset. Took a knock to the midriff. Scrum battle remained evenly poised.

17. Alex Usanov – 6
Helped maintain parity up front without swinging dominance either way.

18. Rabah Slimani – 6
Similar story. The scrum never fully tilted Leinster’s way.

19. RG Snyman – 6
Involved in a promising late passage before the break. Added presence but the weather nullified expansive ambitions.

20. Josh Ericson – NA
Little time to make an impact.

21. Luke McGrath – 7
Calm when Leinster desperately needed it. His try on 67 minutes, after a lovely inside ball from Osborne and sharp work from Henshaw, briefly flipped the mood. Heavily involved in the late rally and provided composure in chaos.

23. Andrew Osborne – 7
Introduced on 56 minutes and immediately brought clarity. A neat half-break and a beautiful inside pass set up McGrath’s try. That flash of invention was exactly what Leinster had lacked for 65 minutes.