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Leinster player ratings vs Bristol Bears | Champions Cup
By Ian Cameron
Leinster player ratings: Leinster shook off a sluggish start to roar into fifth gear in a splendid second half, securing a commanding 35-12 victory. The transformation owed much to their Bomb Squad bench, whose impact turned the tide and sealed an emphatic win.
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Here’s how the players rated:
1. Jack Boyle – 5.5
50;50 at the scrum but busy in the loose. Occasionally looked like a student sitting his first scrummaging exam against Bristol’s pack.
2. Ronan Kelleher – 7
Handled the swirling wind at the lineout like a seasoned sailor. Reliable at the set-piece and threw himself into contact with gusto. On the end of a cumulative yellow as a result of Leinster’s poor discipline.
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3. Rabah Slimani – 4
Brought in to shore up the scrum but had a torrid time against Ellis Genge. Penalised repeatedly at scrum time for a variety of infringements, with referee Pierre Brousset not buying what his fellow Frenchman was selling.
4. Joe McCarthy – 7.5
Instead of ‘Big Joe’ he should be known as Joe ‘Dominant Tackle’ McCarthy, as he was smashing Bristol ball carriers like they owed him money. Lucky to escape with just a penalty after a cheeky trip on Harry Randall, suggesting he continues to have lapses of judgement.
5. James Ryan – 8
The wrecker-in-chief of Bristol’s lineout, Ryan dismantled the Bears’ set-piece like a kid with a new Lego set. A standout performance from the skipper.
6. Max Deegan – 5
A poor outing punctuated by a yellow card for a deliberate trip, leaving Leinster down to 13 men for nearly nine minutes. His indiscipline put the team under unnecessary pressure and wasn’t up to his usual standards.
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7. Josh van der Flier – 8
Carried metronomically all game and was unlucky not to score after spilling the ball close to the line. He didn’t have to wait too long to cross the whitewash.
8. Jack Conan – 7.5
Consistently carried with purpose and was the glue holding Leinster’s forward effort together. Did a lot of the ugly work that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 7
Energetic but occasionally erratic. Went offside at a scrum in the first half, gifting Bristol territory, and didn’t always bring his usual sharpness.
10. Sam Prendergast – 8.5
A performance that screams future superstar. Prendergast ran the game with maturity beyond his years, mixing precision with creativity. On this evidence, he must be Ireland’s 10 elect. Yes, his defence needs work, as evidenced by a bizarre sliding tackle attempt on Harry Thacker that looked more Sunday pub league football than Champions Cup.
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11. Jimmy O’Brien – 6
Starved of ball in attack and drifted in and out of the game as a result. His defence couldn’t be faulted.
12. Robbie Henshaw – 5.5
One particularly aimless kick gifted Bristol a 50:22 opportunity, and he never quite hit his usual rhythm. Solid defensively but it was all pretty workmanlike stuff.
13. Garry Ringrose – 7
Put in a couple of crunching tackles, including a game-ending hit on AJ MacGinty. Maybe not quite a masterpiece from the Renoir of the Leinster backline but a damn fine watercolour.
14. Jordan Larmour – 7
Lively throughout, always looking for work and creating opportunities with his dancing feet. One of Leinster’s most dangerous and was rewarded for his efforts when he grabbed a fumbled Bristol ball to score.
15. Ciaran Frawley – 6
Dependable at the back but not much more than that. Played it safe in windy conditions, which wasn’t a bad call. Replaced by Jordie Barrett at the break.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Gus McCarthy – 7
Tackled everything that moved, and probably a few things that didn’t. If there had been a stray seagull on the pitch, McCarthy would’ve flattened it too. Relentless energy off the bench.
17. Andrew Porter – 6
Brought on as a massive Leinster ‘Bomb Squad’ flex on 45 minutes but was sent off nearly immediately with a yellow card as the referee became increasingly frustrated with the mess at scrum time. Settled down after that.
18. Thomas Clarkson – 6
A slight improvement on Slimani, with the scrum turning into an utter farce at times.
19. RG Snyman – 8.5
Made a massive impact off the bench, setting up a try for Prendergast and adding a new dimension to Leinster’s attack. His physicality was game-changing and it gave his teammates a much-needed boot up the backside.
20. Caelan Doris – 7.5
Relentless in his work rate, Doris made life incredibly difficult for Pat Lam’s side. His carrying and defensive contributions kept Leinster on the front foot throughout his time on the field.
21. Luke McGrath – NA
Not on long enough to rate.
22. Ross Byrne – 6.5
Steady Neddy Bryne slotted in seamlessly and guided Leinster towards the finishing line in the latter stages.
“Guess who! Guess who!” 🎙️
Jordie Barrett makes a massive impact and delivers his first @leinsterrugby try 🙌#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/SbKVUZ28PR
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 8, 2024
23. Jordie Barrett – 8
Barrett wasted no time showing why he’s a global superstar, scoring on debut and looking like he’d been playing in blue his whole life. Effortless class, with a touch of swagger that says: “I’m here to cause problems for everyone.”
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The Leinster team looked completely dominant in the second half after a frustrating first. Not sure the ref was up to adjudicating at the scrum. So many resets. Then he yellow carded a front row player each which achieved nothing but disrupt the game further.
Barrett, Snyman, outstanding when they came on. This team looks like they are 10 points ahead of last years team: both the B team and A team.
I've seen Toulouse, bit there is something about Leinster this year. Several teams stepping up as last year. An amazing competition.
Decent from Prendergast but I wouldn't be as enthusiastic as the author. The effort of a tackle he referenced was a joke, but Prendergast was high so perhaps wisely chose embarrassment over a yellow.
Yep still looking like a kid at this level. Love how he tries to move the ball around. Reminds me of Zarn Sullivan.