Player Ratings: Leinster

OPINION: Leo Cullen’s outfit were on a mission to make history repeat itself at Croke Park, and by fulltime they had done exactly that. A year on from beating the Bulls in the same fixture at the same venue, Leinster delivered maybe their most complete performance of the season.

*Also read: Player Ratings – Bulls

The Bulls arrived with a pack stuffed full of Springboks and a backline featuring Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse, but they were blown away by a blue tide that rarely relented.

It was the sort of display that would go some way towards quietening the noise around Cullen’s side after a season in which fans and pundits alike have stuck the boot in. Leinster routed the Bulls 36-7.

*Ian Cameron rates the Leinster players!

15. Hugo Keenan – 8.5
The British and Irish Lions fullback looked like a man possessed in the opening 40 minutes. Produced a sensational 40-metre break before putting Ioane away for Leinster’s second try and repeatedly carved open the Bulls’ defence. Added another couple of half-breaks and seemed to be everywhere as blue waves crashed against Pretorian shores. Three turnovers against his name takes a little gloss off it, but this was a virtuoso first-half display.

14. Tommy O’Brien – 8
The Leinster Supporters’ Player of the Season showed exactly why he won the award. Alert enough to react first when the loose ball sat up kindly for the opening try under the posts. Took a nasty knock contesting a high ball but battled on. Forced off before halftime, but had already left a significant imprint on the contest.

13. Rieko Ioane – 8
After getting the nod ahead of Ringrose, the departing All Black produced a fitting farewell. Finished Keenan’s brilliant break with a classy score, stepping and riding two tackles before sliding over. Gave away a couple of penalties but carried menace throughout.

12. Jamie Osborne – 6.5
A mixed evening. Carried hard through midfield and won a penalty from a Bulls collar tackle after one particularly abrasive charge. Put his body on the line repeatedly and came off second best on a few occasions. A poor pass late in the half and a butchered slap-on opportunity slightly dulled an otherwise brave shift.

11. James Lowe – 7
The chance to finish a difficult few weeks on a high. Made a flying start with a break down the left that immediately put the Bulls under pressure and was heavily involved throughout Leinster’s best attacking sequences. The yellow card for deliberate knock-on felt harsh given he appeared to make a genuine two-handed play at the ball. Still influential despite that setback.

10. Sam Prendergast – 8
One of his best performances of the season and a deserved player-of-the-match display. Kicked intelligently from hand all evening, including a magical 50:22 and a booming spiral clearance. Produced a gutsy try-saving intervention by diving on a Bulls chip ahead and later scored himself after several phases of relentless Leinster pressure. There was even a Jonny Sexton-style loop thrown into the mix. Still missed a few tackles, but fewer than usual. The semi-mullet remains a work in progress.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 7.5
Controlled territory expertly. His box kicking repeatedly pinned the Bulls back and allowed Leinster’s forwards to squeeze the life out of the contest. Didn’t have to produce much attacking magic, but managed proceedings with typical efficiency.

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8. Caelan Doris – NA
A cruel ending to his evening. Was clutching his ankle after only four minutes and battled briefly before conceding defeat. Lasted just six minutes before making way.

7. Josh van der Flier – 7.5
Not a flashy outing but another example of relentless industry. Pounced on a loose ball in the first half, took a clean restart under pressure after the break and ended the evening with more carries than any other Leinster player. Tireless as ever.

6. Max Deegan – 8.5
An experienced operator whose selection ahead of Conan raised a few eyebrows before kick-off. By the final whistle, there could be few complaints. Stole one Bulls line-out and then stuffed another. Nearly deserved a try of his own late on after a superb break down the touchline. Outstanding from start to finish and one of Leinster’s best performers.

5. James Ryan – 6.5
Something of a background character, but there is value in that when the machine is humming. Produced the usual graft and work-rate and got through a mountain of unseen work. Not a night for highlight reels, but he helped lay the foundations.

4. Joe McCarthy – 7.5
Won an early line-out and was involved in the sequence that nearly resulted in a try being awarded before it was held up. No fireworks from big Joe, but he put in a mountain of hard labour that would not have looked out of place in a Siberian gulag. A powerful, uncompromising shift.

3. Tadhg Furlong – 7
Signed off a stop-start season with a solid display. Worked hard in the loose, repeatedly scrapping away for hard yards, and scrummaged well for much of the evening. The Bulls front row started to gain a little traction towards the end of the first half, but Furlong more than played his part in a dominant team performance.

2. Ronan Kelleher – 7
A couple of frustrating moments, including an early turnover conceded and a knock-on after a promising break. However, his defensive work rate and general industry around the park were excellent. Seemed to be involved in everything before making way shortly after halftime.

1. Jerry Cahir – 6.5
Came under pressure at scrum time from a formidable Bulls front row featuring Francois Klopper, but survived. Not always pretty, yet it was effective enough. It has been some season for the Connacht-bound former salesman and this was another honest contribution before departing after 48 minutes.

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Replacements

16. Dan Sheehan – 6.5
Conditions had changed by the time he arrived, and he never quite produced the impact many expected. Solid though.

17. Alex Usanov – 7
The rookie loosehead held up well in his first few scrums and looked comfortable in a high-pressure environment.

18. Thomas Clarkson – 7
Slotted in seamlessly for Furlong. The scrum largely continued as it had before his arrival.

19. Diarmuid Mangan – NA
Limited involvement that didn’t warrant a rating.

20. Jack Conan – 8
A Test Lion off the bench after six minutes for the Ireland captain. Burrowed over for a try, carried with menace and brought real energy. Excellent.

21. Luke McGrath – NA
Perpignan-bound and given a late farewell appearance. Not on long enough to warrant a rating, but he did manage a last-ditch try-saver.

22. Harry Byrne – 7.5
Barely enough time to rate him, but forcing his way over for a late try to complete the rout earns one anyway.

23. Garry Ringrose – 6.5
Introduced earlier than expected and provided a steadying presence in midfield as Leinster closed out the contest professionally.