Leinster player ratings vs Lions | 2025/26 URC

Leinster player ratings: Fourth placed Leinster went into this one as favourites against the third placed Lions in the Aviva Stadium.

It was a real arm wrestle and at times a scrappy contest, with neither side budging but neither side taking the game by the scruff of the neck either. Hollie Davidson’s whistle got plenty of air time in a stop-start encounter full of TMO interventions and momentum swings.

In the end Leinster’s bench power and a late Rieko Ioane-inspired flourish proved decisive in a game that often threatened to descend into total brainrot, the home side running out 31-7 victors, a scoreline that probably flattered them.

15. Ciaran Frawley – 7
Some smart touches and tidy link play in attack, particularly in tandem with Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast, but there were also some frustrating errors. Fumbled a ball on 32 minutes that invited Lions pressure and curled a late conversion wide. Still, his passing game helped unlock the Lions late on.

14. Andrew Osborne – 6
A late replacement after Joshua Kenny withdrew and looked lively early. Kick chased well and took a bruising hit to the hip after the interval. Strong under the high ball just after the restart and made a fine break through a parting Lions defence on 45 minutes. Faded somewhat as the game wore on.

13. Rieko Ioane – 8
Brought serious energy throughout even if he occasionally went a little rogue with his attacking lines and isolated himself. Defensively aggressive and then exploded into life late on. Produced a beautiful break to put Hugo Keenan away in the corner before scoring himself a minute later after Hugh Cooney’s incision. Leinster’s game-breaker.

12. Jamie Osborne – 7
Scored inside two minutes with a lovely solo finish after barely getting a touch beforehand. Also produced a smart intercept and kick ahead midway through the first half. But defensively there were real issues. Missed three tackles in the opening forty and at times struggled to contain the Lions midfield.

11. Jimmy O’Brien – 7.5
Swept up a number of Leinster messes and was typically sharp positionally. Had one lovely wriggle through a gap before half-time and linked cleverly in broken field. Unfortunate to be marginally offside in the build-up to a disallowed Prendergast try but got a try of his own to round things off for the men in blue.

10. Sam Prendergast – 6.5
A decent outing overall with plenty of classy moments. Started well with his touch-finding and produced a gorgeous crossfield kick that almost sent Osborne over. Some sharp hands too. But the tackling issues were glaring at times, most notably in the build-up to the disallowed Mahashe try. Mixed bag but better.

9. Luke McGrath – 5.5
A scrappy evening. Got caught sleeping at the base by Erich Cronje and was fortunate the resulting Lions score was ruled out. Box-kicking lacked authority and the lapses in concentration crept in again. Brave defensively and threw himself around physically but not his cleanest evening.

1. Ed Byrne – 6.5
Struggled a little once the Lions scrum got rolling. Ntlabakanye in particular caused him all sorts of grief as the half wore on. Also spilled a ball in midfield after somehow ending up in a backline move. Improved late on once Leinster’s replacements arrived.

2. John McKee – 7
Busy throughout and won an important breakdown penalty that helped ease early pressure. Accurate enough at set-piece and got through a mountain of unseen graft before being replaced by Dan Sheehan.

3. Thomas Clarkson – 8
One of Leinster’s best. Carried with authority and crashed over from close range after excellent work from Max Deegan and Diarmuid Mangan. Also made a tremendous break just after half-time. Leinster’s scrum struggled overall but Clarkson himself fronted up physically.

4. Brian Deeny – 6.5
Hard-working display and offered a decent lineout option. Got through plenty of dirty work before making way early in the second half.

5. James Ryan – 7
In the thick of everything in what became a tetchy enough affair. Led with his usual edge and physicality and helped drag Leinster through some ugly spells.

6. Max Deegan – 7
Got through plenty of hard graft and helped create the Clarkson try with a powerful carry. Not spectacular but industrious and committed throughout.

7. Will Connors – 8
Outstanding while he lasted before injury struck again. Produced a monstrous tackle on Ruan Venter that effectively ended the Lions flanker’s evening after four minutes and also won a key breakdown penalty. A huge loss when forced off after just 26 minutes.

8. James Culhane – 6
Workmanlike but struggled to stamp himself meaningfully onto proceedings before departing and then returning from a HIA. Did little wrong without ever really imposing himself.

Replacements – 8
Diarmuid Mangan was exceptional and utterly changed the game physically. His carrying repeatedly bent the Lions defensive line and his break created the Keenan try. Scott Penny brought energy in two separate cameos. Hugo Keenan finished sharply. Hugh Cooney made a huge impact with the break that set up Ioane’s try. Porter and Slimani eventually helped steady a scrum that had looked under siege for long periods.