Champions Cup favourites Leinster outclass Leicester

CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Leinster emphatically underlined their Champions Cup credentials with an impressive 55-24 thrashing of Leicester Tigers in the quarterfinals in Dublin on Friday.

The four-time champions produced scores from Garry Ringrose (2), Jamison Gibson-Park, Scott Penny, Jimmy O’Brien and John McKee, in addition to a penalty try, while Ross Byrne contributed 18 points from the tee.

Leicester were overwhelmed in the second half but crossed three times at the Aviva Stadium, Anthony Watson, Olly Cracknell and Harry Potter providing their tries.

Leinster made a blistering start as they immediately marched into the Tigers 22 before centre Ringrose darted through a gap to dot down with less than a minute played, flyhalf Byrne adding the extras, as he did for all of his side’s tries.

Leicester responded well and got on the board through flyhalf Handré Pollard’s penalty on six minutes, but despite spirited defence, they would concede another try 10 minutes later.

Ringrose was the scorer again, benefitting from a beautiful move off a scrum, centre Robbie Henshaw and wing O’Brien linking up before sending the Player of the Year nominee over the whitewash.

Byrne was then on hand to extend Leinster’s lead to 14 points with a long-range penalty on 31 minutes.

But Leicester battled hard to remain in contention and were rewarded for their perseverance moments before the break as full-back Mike Brown took a penalty quickly to catch Leinster off guard before wing Watson finished superbly in the corner.

Pollard converted brilliantly from the touchline to bring the gap down to 10 points, and Leinster were under further pressure six minutes into the second half as flank Caelan Doris was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Leicester No.8 Jasper Wiese.

Leinster would wrestle control during Doris’ sin-bin. However, as Byrne kicked another three points following a scrum penalty before scrumhalf Gibson-Park splashed over after another break from Ringrose.

The hosts then widened their advantage further as they earned a penalty try on 58 minutes, Leicester replacement hooker Charlie Clare bringing down a maul illegally and receiving a yellow card just as Doris returned.

Leinster then made it three scores in 10 minutes, replacement flank Penny spinning out a maul and planting down emphatically.

Flank Cracknell battered his way over from close range for Leicester on 67 minutes, but that never looked to be anything more than a consolation and the electric O’Brien notched a sixth for Leinster as he cruised in courtesy of replacement flyhalf Harry Byrne’s perfectly-timed pass.

Leicester fullback Mike Brown was sin-binned late on, and although centre Potter grabbed a third try for the visitors with a breakaway effort, Leinster had the final say as replacement hooker McKee profited from another rumbling maul in the dying seconds.

The scorers:

For Leinster:
Tries:  Ringrose 2, Gibson-Park, Penny, O’Brien, McKee, Penalty try.
Cons: Byrne 6, Penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Byrne 2

For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Watson, Cracknell, Potter
Cons: Pollard 2, Gopperth
Pen: Pollard

Yellow cards: Caelan Doris (Leinster, 46), Charlie Clare (Leicester Tigers, 58), Mike Brown (Leicester Tigers, 73)

Teams

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Caelan Doris, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan (captain), 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley

Leicester Tigers: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Harry Potter, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Freddie Steward, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Cameron Henderson, 4 George Martin, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Tom West, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Jimmy Gopperth

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (France) & Tual Trainini (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)