Leinster: J O’Brien; T O’Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan (captain) Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, Gunne, R Byrne, Osborne. Bulls: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Goosen, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Van Staden, Nortje (captain), Coetzee. Replacements: Van der...
Glasgow were rocking now and Leinster were soon across the line again as prop Clarkson powered over despite the attentions of a clutch of Warriors off the back of a scrum. Sheehan added another try on the stroke of half-time, powering over behind a ruck following a line-out close to the line, to give the...
“We punched them in the face.” Alex Mitchell’s reference to an act of violence after 80 minutes of compelling European rugby at Aviva Stadium may have delivered an element of surprise. It was, however, an emotive reflection which suitably matched a Northampton Saints performance that left Leinster with more than a bloodied nose in their...
Leinster: Keenan; O’Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Healy, Sheehan, Furlong, Snyman, McCarthy, Deegan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt). Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Slimani, Baird, Conan, McGrath, R Byrne, Barrett. Northampton Saints: Ramm; Freeman, Dingwall (capt), Hutchinson, Litchfield; Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Langdon, Davison, Mayanavanua, Coles, Kemeny, Pollock, Augustus. Replacements: Walker, West, Millar Mills, Lockett, Munga, Scott-Young,...
Pollock is harder to warm to when you are up against him. Woolford, Pollock’s Bedford team-mate, also faced him in the Blues’ annual pre-season fixture against Saints. “On the pitch he is very loud, very confrontational, very in-your-face,” Woolford remembers. “He just exhausts you, as much mentally and emotionally as physically. But he has backed...
New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane will join United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup frontrunners Leinster for the 2025-26 season. Ioane is contracted to the Blues in New Zealand until 2027 but will take a “sabbatical” to join the Irish province on a one-season contract. The 28-year-old, who can also play on the wing, made his...
The home side were on top from early on and thought they had struck first when Jordie Barrett crashed over, but the try was ruled out after the TMO spotted a knock-on from Ringrose in the build-up. It merely delayed the inevitable as, a few minutes later, some sharp handling created space for Deegan to...
Leinster had to repel early Sharks pressure before exploiting scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse’s yellow card to notch their first score in the 20th minute as McErlean touched down after running on to a superb long pass from scrum-half Fintan Gunne, who was making his first start for the Irish province. The Sharks fought back to produce...
Leinster had to repel early Sharks pressure before exploiting scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse’s yellow card to notch their first score in the 20th minute as McErlean touched down after running on to a superb long pass from scrum-half Fintan Gunne, who was making his first start for the Irish province. The Sharks fought back to produce...