Leinster player ratings vs Clermont | 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup

Leinster player ratings: As a new Investec Champions Cup season kicked off, Leinster Rugby headed into Clermont’s formidable Stade Marcel-Michelin looking to make an early statement.

It was all Leinster in the first half, even if the scoreboard somewhat flattered the hosts, who stayed in touch despite doing precious little with ball in hand. The visitors eventually turned the screw after the break, putting Clermont to the sword through a blend of forward power and attacking flair. It was not a flawless display by any stretch, but there was enough quality, and enough moments of brilliance, to get the job done comfortably in France.

It ended up 48-23.

15. Hugo Keenan – 7
Plenty of work on for Keenan. Clermont’s back three tested him with plenty of width and pace, particularly through Justin Bouraux and Joris Jurand, and while he wasn’t as influential as usual in attack, he handled most of what came his way without major fuss.

14. Tommy O’Brien – 6
Produced a brilliant counterruck turnover early in the second half that underlined his appetite for the dirty work. There were encouraging moments on both sides of the ball, but he will be frustrated by spilling possession after Sam Prendergast picked him out with a lovely out-the-back pass.  A brilliant finish on 77 minutes came against the run of play for the winger after what was an atypically quiet afternoon’s work.

13. Garry Ringrose – 5.5
Lots of graft without too many headlines. Put in plenty of defensive work and carried willingly but missed too many tackles to get much higher on the ratings scale. One of those afternoons where the effort was there, but there wasn’t much to show for it.

12. Robbie Henshaw – 7
A mixed bag. Missed a tackle in the sequence that eventually led to Clermont’s first try after a period of recycled possession. Responded well though and produced some typically powerful carrying, including a lovely midfield half-break just before the hour mark. Looked increasingly comfortable as the game opened up.

11. Jimmy O’Brien – 9
A constant threat every time he touched the ball. Very nearly produced one of the tries of the season after chasing down a superb Prendergast crossfield kick, only for a knock-on in the act of grounding to deny him. His combination with Leinster’s young fly-half was utterly devilish throughout. The pair then delivered a moment of brilliance before half-time. Prendergast burst through midfield, put boot to ball and O’Brien somehow kept the move alive before popping the ball back inside for the fly-half to finish a stunning 70-metre score. Easily Leinster’s most dangerous back.

10. Sam Prendergast – 8.5
A couple of shaky moments early on, including a poor decision not to clear his lines, but he got away with it and quickly took control. Constantly probing Clermont with chips, dinks and varied kicking that left the home side scrambling. Clermont lock Darcy Swain clearly fancied roughing him up and gave away a penalty after some off-the-ball nonsense, but Prendergast just kept playing rugby. His try before half-time was the headline moment, but the overall game management was every bit as impressive. The growing understanding with Jimmy O’Brien is becoming one of the most exciting developments in Leinster’s backfield.

9. Fintan Gunne – 7.5
Something of a coming-of-age performance in the continued absence of Jamison Gibson-Park. Did brilliantly to get the ball away under pressure for Tadhg Furlong’s opening try and generally brought good tempo to Leinster’s attack. A few turnovers prevented an even higher score and reminded everyone he is still developing. Even so, there was plenty to like.

1. Andrew Porter – 8
Back at loosehead and thoroughly enjoyed himself against Clermont tighthead Nohem Ez Zahanoui. Got the better of his opposite number in the scrum and made life uncomfortable throughout. Deserves huge credit for Leinster’s penalty try. The visitors’ shove gathered momentum, Clermont were retreating at speed and Ez Zahanoui eventually collapsed under Porter’s pressure in a desperate attempt to stop the inevitable. Powerful and highly effective.

2. Dan Sheehan – 8.5
Back to his brilliant best in the loose and caused absolute chaos whenever he appeared in open field. Produced a superb inside break on the right edge in the lead-up to Leinster’s opening try before popping up everywhere. Alert enough to dive on a botched Clermont lineout for Leinster’s second try and later got his reward from a catch-and-drive maul, crashing over despite taking a knee to the guts for his troubles. An excellent captain’s display.

3. Tadhg Furlong – 8
Crashed over from close range for Leinster’s first try after Gunne’s sharp work around the fringes. Strong in the collisions and increasingly influential as the game wore on. The Clermont loosehead Giorgi Akhaladze and later replacement Soha Lotrian struggled to find a way around Leinster’s scrum platform. This felt much closer to vintage Furlong.

4. Joe McCarthy – 6.5
Spent most of the afternoon in the trenches attempting to establish an edge against a physical Clermont pack that gave absolutely nothing for free. Not spectacular but stuck to his task and kept hammering away.

5. James Ryan – 6
Plenty of carrying but very little return for the effort. Worked hard and got through his usual mountain of unseen work, though it wasn’t his most influential outing in blue.

6. Ryan Baird – 6.5
Drifted in and out of the contest. There were periods where he barely registered and others where his athleticism caused Clermont serious problems. When locked in, he was very effective. Just needed more consistency over 80 minutes.

7. Josh van der Flier – 7
Very decent without the wow factor. Failed to generate the usual threat at the breakdown and didn’t have much impact with ball in hand either. Still got through a lot of work but by his standards if it felt a little subdued.

8. Jack Conan – 7.5
A proper workmanlike shift against a grizzled Clermont pack. Went toe-to-toe physically all afternoon and rarely took a backwards step. His highlight arrived when he burst through two defenders to score Leinster’s sixth try, showing the class that still separates him from most number eights around Europe. The only worry was a wrist injury that forced him off shortly afterwards.

Replacements – 6.5
Rónan Kelleher, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, the impressive Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, Oliver Coffey, the retunring Joey Carbery and Jamie Osborne all helped Leinster maintain control as the game drifted away from Clermont. None produced a defining moment, but collectively they kept standards decent and ensured there would be no late French comeback at Stade Marcel-Michelin.