Leinster player ratings vs Ulster | 2024/25 URC

Leinster player ratings: The men in blue took their time but they eventually found their rhythm to dispatch Ulster 41-17 on a damp night at the Aviva Stadium.

Here’s how we rated the Leinster players:

1. Jack Boyle – 7
Solid in the scrum against Tom O’Toole even if he gave away the penalty that saw Ulster bag the first points of the match. Offered plenty of work around the breakdown. Quietly effective in the tight from the ever-impressive rookie.

2. Gus McCarthy – 7
Reasonably accurate at the lineout and brought energy in the loose. Another mature display from a 21-year-old growing into the role.

3. Thomas Clarkson – 6.5
Struggled in the set piece against the redoubtable Andrew Warwick and was helped by some charitable calls from the referee but provided a few hard-earned carries. Did exceptionally well to drive over for his try from close range, but his scrummaging is still a work in progress at this level.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Leinster

41 - 17

Full-time

Ulster

All Stats and Data

4. Joe McCarthy – 7.5
Brought physicality to every collision and kept Ulster’s pack honest. A reliable presence throughout and was a nice first receiver option for Frawley to fall back when presented with slow ball.

5. Diarmuid Mangan – 6.5
Not his tidiest performance by any means, losing a few turnovers. Did his core job well and never drifted out of the contest.

6. Alex Soroka – 7.5
Physical at the contact area and hit rucks all night, popping up at more breakdowns than an old Volvo. Caused chaos, cleaned up chaos, then caused more.

7. Scott Penny – 6
A quieter outing than usual for Penny. Didn’t impose himself as regularly at the breakdown and struggled to make his usual impact in open play.

8. James Culhane – 8
Back from injury, the 6’4, 110kg back-rower made good ground on the carry and stayed involved defensively. Steady at the base of the scrum, if maybe not the most explosive No.8. Great hands in the lead up to Garry Ringrose’s try and a crucial turnover at 54 minutes with Ulster camped on Leinster’s line.

9. Luke McGrath – 7
Controlled the tempo well and gave his backline a smooth platform, with few errors. Made sensible decisions under pressure.

10. Ciaran Frawley – 6.5
Directed play with composure and offered a strong kicking game. The odd brainrot moment aside, a passable night at ten and a reminder to selectors of his talents.

11. Jimmy O’Brien – 8
O’Brien has, no thanks to injury, fallen down the pecking order in Leinster’s back division but he was sharp with ball in hand here and dependable in the backfield. Took his opportunities without necessarily tearing the house down in the process.

12. Robbie Henshaw – 7.5
A workaholic in defence and linked nicely in attack, making a couple of eye-catching breaks. A controlled performance from a senior player with the Lions around the corner.

13. Garry Ringrose – 8
Read the game well and made some smart touches in midfield. Didn’t fluff his lines for his bread-and-butter finish just after the break and his tap tackle on older mucker Jacob Stockdale was first rate. Brimming with class as usual.

14. Tommy O’Brien – 8.5
Took a solid knock that opened his eyebrow early on but recovered to put in a remarkable performance. Tidy when it mattered, not least a brilliantly taken individual try to open Leinster’s account after 20 minutes. His crossfield kick to Dan Sheehan shows this kid’s vision is on another level.

15. Jamie Osborne – 5.5
His timing seemed off. Gifted an early ball to Ulster with a knock-on and then fluffed his lines again when knocking on a short-ball from Jimmy O’Brien. It wasn’t all bad, as he put Ringrose away and made a couple of effective carries.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Dan Sheehan – 8
Started with an over-throw at the lineout. Found lurking on the wing to score from an O’Brien crossfield kick and scored a second in the 69th minute. He added a third before full-time.

17. Andrew Porter – 7
Arrived late, scrummaged hard; like a prop-shaped bouncer at closing time.

18. Tadhg Furlong – 6.5
Steady in the scrum and didn’t put a foot wrong. An effective outing.

19. RG Snyman – 6.5
Another bruising display for Snyman, even there were no highlight reel moments on this occasion.

20. Max Deegan – 7
Not on long enough to rate.

21. Fintan Gunne – 7.5
Kept things ticking over when introduced, with a few delightful little dinks thrown into the mix. A tidy performance that helped Leinster close out the game. Lovely switch of play for Sheehan’s third try.

22. Sam Prendergast – 7
Kicked well and showed a cool head in the final quarter. Continues to impress.

23. Liam Turner – NA
Not on long enough to rate.