Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Leinster humbled in one-sided Lions mauling in Jo'burg

By PA
Richard Kriel of the Lions during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Leinster at Emirates Airline Park on April 20, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Leinster missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the United Rugby Championship after suffering a 44-12 defeat to Emirates Lions at Emirates Airline Park.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Irish province, who last week booked their place in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals after eliminating holders La Rochelle, had won 11 of their last 12 matches in the competition.

But, having made 13 changes, Leo Cullen’s side were blown away inside the opening 15 minutes as three Lions tries put them on the way to a victory which boosts their play-off hopes.

Video Spacer

Springbok legend Victor Matfield on why Jason Jenkins might take over from Eben Etzebeth

Springbok legend Victory Matfield is backing Jason Jenkins to take over the Springbok No.4 jersey from Eben Etzebeth one day.

Video Spacer

Springbok legend Victor Matfield on why Jason Jenkins might take over from Eben Etzebeth

Springbok legend Victory Matfield is backing Jason Jenkins to take over the Springbok No.4 jersey from Eben Etzebeth one day.

Leinster are now just one point clear of Glasgow with four rounds remaining while the Lions climbed into the top eight.

The Lions made a stunning start and grabbed the opening try inside 40 seconds as Richard Kriel and JC Pretorius combined to send Morne van den Berg in under the posts, with Sanele Nohamba converting before kicking a penalty seven minutes later.

A fantastic team try saw the Lions score again in the 10th minute, Francke Horn, Van den Berg and Marius Louw all involved before the latter cruised over but Nohamba was unable to add the extras.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored
4.5
9
Entries
Avg. Points Scored
1
12
Entries

It went from bad to worse for Leinster three minutes later as Nohamba pounced on a loose ball before putting Quan Horn through, which the former converted for a 22-0 lead.

ADVERTISEMENT

Leinster pair Liam Turner and Cormac Foley had tries disallowed for a knock on and forward pass respectively either side of the break before Nohamba’s penalty extended the Lions’ lead.

The Irish side finally got on the board in the 53rd minute when Ciaran Frawley pounced on a grubber kick from Harry Byrne, who added the extras.

But moments later the Lions secured the bonus point when Emmanuel Tshituka went over after loose play from Leinster but Nohamba could not convert.

Frawley claimed his second try following some slick passing from Leinster but Byrne missed his kick to leave the score 30-12.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tshituka and Francke Horn added further tries in the final five minutes, both converted by Jordan Hendrikse, to cap an excellent day for the Lions.

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
S
Stephen 168 days ago

The stats for this game are astonishing. Nearly 70% territory and possession for Leinster, and they lose by 32 points

s
swivel 169 days ago

It cracks me up how the North believe their sh!t don’t stink when their rugby is so convoluted they can’t even field top sides when it matters.

Also, Victor looks hilarious with his freshly dyed hair.

J
J P 169 days ago

Pretty pathetic from Leinster. Cohort coming through in the pack are miles off where they need to be.

The skills coaching work done by Lancaster looks to have been thrown out of the window entirely. Even against La Rochelle it relied on lucky bounce passes rather than the ball going to hand.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 51 minutes ago
It's time to stop hating on Damian McKenzie, the best 10 in the Championship

NZ pulled a couple of very good kick chase games off last year. The second half in Auckland against the boks I remember. Most were around halfway (just on their side) I think, were I agree, this year for the boks for instance that is mostly on their own 40m line (or more towards their own line). Even between those two success', I'd say a 10 meter difference in the area they want to land them. They seemed to stop using the tactic last year after Jordan got carded.


I think they have always preferred to give their opponents a chance to run the ball back at them, yes. What is being see is that it's not successful these days (mostly because other teams are much more confident playing like NZ these days), and the kick chase is being critised as inaccurate. I'm not buying that, at least not yet. Beauden certainly didn't achieve anything better did he?


Yeah, interesting. I'm not really sure what number best reflects what I like, but on review I do see the number increasing for runs. The games they were in control, England series and the first SA test, they were 1:6 or under. The game at Eden Park in the pouring rain they showed the ability to control the game by foot at 1:4 (1:8, like you say, the previous week).


Really interesting. I'm not going to even begin to give a cause for that, they weren't behind in the Eden Park loss, but only had 4 22 entries. They may have lost structure towards the end but it could also have just been the change at 9 to Ratima that changed the kicking dynamic game to game.


I've heard a few grand but obviously that could be in anything. Yeah I think they'd give a quote based on what you use it for?

113 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING It's time to stop hating on Damian McKenzie, the best 10 in the Championship Stop hating on Damian McKenzie
Search