Leinster player ratings vs Zebre Parma | 2024/25 URC

Leinster player ratings: Leo Cullen’s men got back to the business of winning rugby matches after their Investec Champions Cup heartbreak, trundling past Zebre Parma 76-5 at a sun-drenched Aviva Stadium.

The result was never in doubt, which is just as well because some of us are still emotionally dehydrated from last weekend. This was a palate cleanser – one served on a wooden board by a team who knew they needed to flick the “we’re still class” switch back on.

We rate the Leinster players:

1. Jack Boyle – 7
A decent showing against Juan Pitinari. Anchored what was often a messy scrum reasonably well and worked hard around the park. Held his edge when the game loosened up, even after his brow was opened up in contact.

2. Ronan Kelleher – 7.5
Back in the groove after being named a Lion two days previously. Took Leinster’s first try after popping up on Jack Conan’s shoulder and his darts were on the mark.

3. Thomas Clarkson – 6
A steady shift up front, showing up well against Luca Franceschetto. Still room to grow but showed he’s more than just a rotation option. A real grafter away from the set-piece.

4. Joe McCarthy – 7.5
Relished the physical exchanges and kept his standards high after a poor showing against Saints. Clearly not in the mood for messing about – set the tone early and stayed on it. Hungry stuff.

5. Diarmuid Mangan – 6
A quiet first half where he saw little ball and had limited impact, though he remained accurate in his core tasks. Grew into the game gradually without ever fully asserting himself. A steady if somewhat subdued performance.

6. Ryan Baird – 8.5
Barged over for Leinster’s third try from close range on 18 minutes and was generally found lurking with menace around the fringes. Looked to run the ball whenever he could — a sight for sore eyes, given it’s a side of his game that’s been somewhat muted this season. One unsympathetic pass to James Lowe aside, a fine game, which he topped off by setting up understudy James Culhane for a walkover. 

7. Josh van der Flier – 8
Consistently effective and looked every bit the Lomu-esque winger when setting up Leinster’s second try with a tackle-busting break up the left wing. Took full advantage after a fumbled Zebre exit to score on 49 minutes — the direct result of an industrious kick-chase.

8. Jack Conan – 8.5
Opened his account with a stunning Chabal-esque 40-metre charge upfield and a sublime offload for Kelleher to score in the corner and set up Jamie Osborne just before full-time. The kind of game that helps rinse the stale aftertaste of defeat from the system.

9. Luke McGrath – 7
Took Leinster’s second try with a good support line off Josh van der Flier. Directed things with a minimum of fuss after that. Service was crisp and made sure Zebre were kept on the back foot throughout.

10. Sam Prendergast – 6.5
A case of getting back on the horse after a difficult afternoon seven days previously. Slung the ball around with abandon at times, to both good and bad effect, and carelessly punted a ball over the dead-ball line. Played heads-up when needed but maybe forced the issue at times. A solid bust for Jordie Barrett’s try, and Barrett returned the favour just after the break.

11. James Lowe – 7
A workmanlike game from Lowe, who resisted the urge to overplay. Contributed smartly with ball in hand and kept Zebre pinned when needed. Took his try well just before halftime.

12. Jordie Barrett – 8.5
Quietly dictated midfield traffic and offered a directness Leinster had sorely lacked in that Champions Cup semi-final loss. Grabbed Leinster’s bonus-point try after 25 minutes with little fuss and took a second from close range just six minutes later off a short-ball line that a Land Rover wouldn’t have stopped. Set up Prendergast’s try and Osborne with a classy crossfield kick.

13. Garry Ringrose – 6.5
Read things well and was in fact Leinster’s most frequent carrier in the first 40 minutes. A composed if unspectacular return to domestic business after a draining European campaign.

14. Jimmy O’Brien – 6.5
Positioned himself well for the most part but came under pressure in the air from Alessandro Gesi and made a few uncharacteristic errors. Recovered well and stayed involved, a second-half break leading directly to Prendergast’s 5-pointer.

15. Jamie Osborne – 8
A brilliant aerial take got him into the game, and he kept it clean in the backfield and offered good support lines. Made to look a little silly on at least one occasion by the excellent Jacopo Trulla but wiped that memory with his second try just before full-time.

Replacements

16. John McKee – 7
A busy showing for the hooker with big hair.

17. Andrew Porter – 6
Scrummed well and ensured standards didn’t drop but looked a little frustrated at times.

18. Rabah Slimani – 6.5
Settled quickly and got through his core duties.

19. James Ryan – 6.5
His first game in the blue of Leinster since January. A couple of nice lineout takes from a man no doubt riding the wave of his first Lions selection at the age of 28.

20. James Culhane – 7.5
Looked hungry to impress. Didn’t get many touches but one of them was a try-scoring pass from the excellent Baird. 

21. Jamison Gibson-Park – N/A
A short first-half cameo aside, not on long enough to rate.

22. Ciaran Frawley – 8
Looked sharp and engaged from the moment he came on. Brought energy and clarity to Leinster’s attack late on, a brave tackle on escaped prop Pitinari standing out. Wouldn’t take no for an answer when carrying two Italian defenders over the tryline in the 60th minute.

23. Robbie Henshaw – 6
A veteran presence from a man who must be bitterly disappointed with his failure to make the plane to Australia with the Lions. The sort of performance that often gets forgotten because it was done so well.