Leinster vs Munster player ratings - PRO14 Final
PRO14 Final ratings: A typical Leinster Munster affair: brutal intensity, even if the game itself lacked spectacle.
Leinster suffocated their southern rivals and the 16 – 6 scoreline in truth flattered Munster, whose Irish contingent failed to fire.
LEINSTER:
HUGO KEENAN – 7.5
One of a select number of Irish players to enjoy a Six Nations stock rise. Unflappable under the highball and consistently elusive in attack.
JORDAN LARMOUR – 7.5
A mixed bagged for Larmour, who blended beating defenders close-in with some more ragged moments. Looks a little low on confidence.
RORY O’LOUGHLIN – 5
O’Loughlin has rarely failed to deliver when called upon by Leinster but it was a lousy start to the final for the outside centre, throwing an awful pass to Larmour with the try line beckoning. In fact his passing service was iffy all evening. A game to forget.
ROBBIE HENSHAW – 8
A potential Lions tour face-off with Springbok centre Damian De Allende, and it was a match-up that didn’t fail to deliver. Henshaw was everywhere for Leinster, and was still fighting for those precious inches as the full-time whistle approached.
DAVE KEARNEY – 7.5
Kearney getting the nod ahead of James Lowe raised a few eyebrows. A clever, dependable defender who nearly always makes correct decisions under pressure, he justified the selection decision.
ROSS BYRNE – 8
Trusted to start ahead of Jonny Sexton by Cullen, Byrne’s metronomic boot was a real weapon. His axis with McGrath was maybe the key difference between the sides today. A lower limb injury slowed him down in the second half.
LUKE MCGRATH – 8
An electric start to proceedings for McGrath, who was key to Leinster’s early tempo.
CIAN HEALY – 6.5
The 33-year-old’s carrying game is clearly no longer effective but he continues to be an absolute rock for Leinster.
RÓNAN KELLEHER – 8
Kelleher’s explosive carrying always catches the eye and he’s a canny defender. A superb outing.
ANDREW PORTER – 8
Another man on the margins of the Warren Gatland’s plans this summer, you fancy Porter might feel lucky that the referee took a sympathetic view of his collision with Jean Kleyn. His carrying and passing game were world-class by tighthead standards.
DEVIN TONER – 7.5
Broke the Leinster cap record held by Gordon D’Arcy. Made himself useful across the park in what was a red-letter day for the Meathman.
SCOTT FARDY – 7
The redoubtable Australian veteran was unlucky not to score after a ferocious carry that flattened Joey Carbery.
RHYS RUDDOCK – 7.5
A dogged and industrious performance from Leinster’s Mr Consistency, with a strong carrying display in heavy traffic and in open field.
JOSH VAN DER FLIER – 8
It’s fair to say that Van Der Flier carrying is generally considered more competent than combative, but you wouldn’t have known it from this outing, where he was skittling defenders at times.
JACK CONAN – 8.5
Conan’s rugby IQ is what tends to stand out and he dominated proceedings in the second half. Ireland have a fine No.8 replacement for Stander.
MUNSTER
MIKE HALEY – 6.5
A few bright contributions but was left a bystander for much of proceedings. Fielded everything sent his way.
ANDREW CONWAY – 6
Another player with a point to prove. Did his best to make things happen with limited opportunity.
CHRIS FARRELL – 6.5
A brick wall in defence, even if his handling skills let him down at times.
DAMIAN DE ALLENDE – 7.5
The Springbok was key in turning the Leinster tide in the first half; he was destroyer in chief when it came to Leinster’s attacking platform.
KEITH EARLS – 5.5
Wanted to get involved but was limited to a few cameos. A real come down after his show-stopping game against England. His 71st-minute knock-on summed up his evening.
JOEY CARBERY – 5
Carbery will have been desperate to lay down a marker after such limited opportunity to put himself in the shop window. Never got the front foot ball he needed.
CONOR MURRAY – 6
The Lions subplot was strong here, with Murray Andy Farrell’s second choice in the Six Nations. His search for some real form continues.
JAMES CRONIN – 6
Another Munsterman who spent the afternoon tackling everything in sight. Leinster just about shaded the scrummaging.
NIALL SCANNELL – 6.5
Will surely feel aggrieved to have fallen out of Ireland contention, making his personal battle with Kelleher all the more fascinating. Kelleher definitely outshone him though.
JOHN RYAN – 6
A solid shift from the big tighthead, who held his own at set-piece.
JEAN KLEYN – 7.5
The South African bruiser took a big knock early doors but it didn’t slow him down, and he soon got his own back by flooring Cian Healy. On Coombe’s heels for Munster’s standout forward.
TADHG BEIRNE – 5
A surprisingly quiet game for a man so strongly tipped for Lions duty and a standout against England the weekend before. You wouldn’t have known it was a league final going on this no-show from a man in such fine form leading up to this day. Was distraught at the final whistle.
GAVIN COOMBES – 8
Munster’s big back row discovery this season had a solid start to the game, even with Munster in survival mode. Did brilliantly to deny Scott Fardy a certain try and was Munster’s key carrier. The future is very, very bright.
PETER O’MAHONY – 6
The normally combative back row was one of the number of Ireland players that seemed to be operating with a flat battery. Sadly subbed off with what looked like a significant injury.
CJ STANDER – 5
All the noise has been about Stander departure from Ireland duty, but it’s the impact he had at Munster that might be the bigger contribution. Another player with an apparent Six Nations hangover, although he did lead Munster’s tackling stats.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments