Advertisement

How we rated Leinster after squeezing past Bath in the Champions Cup quarter-final

Matt O’Connor’s men will take on Toulon or Wasps in the final four.

Jamie Heaslip Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Rob Kearney – 5 

Was beaten for pace by George Ford for the opening try, wasted a good counter-attacking opportunity with a wayward kick in the second half and was stripped in contact by Matt Banahan early in the first. Not a good day for the fullback.

Fergus McFadden – 6

Would have gotten a higher score had he not been forced off with a suspected concussion. Lit up Anthony Watson with a big hit on half time and was busy throughout.

Ben Te’o – 6

Leinster didn’t have a whole lot of attacking possession so Te’o didn’t get that many opportunities to impress. Had two early carries – one was good and he was stripped on the other – and although he tried to get involved, the game never really opened up for him.

Ian Madigan – 9

Banished the Murrayfield kicking disappointment with a clinical display off the tee today. Has been the best kicker in the Champions Cup this season and it’s the reason Leinster are still in the competition.

Luke Fitzgerald – 7

His footwork was sharp and he tried his best to hunt down Ford in the build-up to Bath’s second try. Leinster struggled to create a whole lot but Fitzgerald looked the most likely.

Jimmy Gopperth – 6

His kicking game was mixed and he tried to create things for his centres, but couldn’t find much space in the Bath defence.

Isaac Boss – 7

Had one poor kick out on the full but his passing was sharp and he delivered quick service to his backs.

Cian Healy – 9

He was the quieter of the returning bash brothers during the Six Nations but was back to his all-action best today. He was a bull in the loose and his scrummaging was superb.

Sean Cronin – 8

Had one errant throw in Bath territory early on but was a bullet in the loose and showed nice hands. Looks like he’s shot out of a cannon at times.

Mike Ross – 8

The Ross Renaissance continues. Another solid outing for the 35-year-old and he played his part in a destructive scrum. Even had his usual cameo in the loose when he dove on a loose ball like a marine jumping on a grenade.

Devin Toner – 5

Was badly exposed by George Ford twice and those were the scores that had Leinster hanging on at the end.

Mike McCarthy – 7

One of his better outings this season. He was quick off the line on a number of occasions to shut down Bath attacks.

Jordi Murphy – 8

Murphy is getting better with every game. He carried over the gain line regularly, tackled well and cleared out efficiently at the breakdown.

Sean O’Brien – 7

Had one nice turnover in the first half and some nice tackles but didn’t get the ball in his hands as much as he would have hoped.

Jamie Heaslip – 8

Heaslip got through his usual work-rate and slowed down Bath’s possession excellently.

Replacements:

Marty Moore was excellent, winning penalties at the scrum and at a crucial ruck late on.

Zane Kirchner didn’t make the most of Leinster’s best chance to score a try early in the second half.

Richardt Strauss was lucky not to be penalised at the final breakdown.

Jack McGrath relieved Healy well while Eoin Reddan was fortunate his blocked down clearance wasn’t turned into a late Bath try.

‘Are you trying to make me cry?’ – How it felt to retire just before Leinster won the European Cup

The best club rugby weekend of the year is upon us – Here’s who could decide it

Close
29 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Webber
    Favourite Colin Webber
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 8:07 PM

    Hopefully that’s the last game Matt O’Connor takes as Head Coach of Leinster. He needs to be removed for all concerned.

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stuart
    Favourite Stuart
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 10:11 PM

    Not gunna happen. Madigan voiced his support in the post game MOTM interview. This will be a very different Leinster with Johnny back next year. But I don’t see MOC’s contract being renewed, no matter what happens. Leinster’s 2015/16 season will be defined by the non-internationals though.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute King Ruck
    Favourite King Ruck
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 5:49 PM

    Indeed, Madigan once again shows his class … against weak, unstructured opposition). That level of consistency is hard to come by. Book him a ticket for the World Cup – he’s back (from mediocrity).

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian O Donoghue
    Favourite Cian O Donoghue
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 6:20 PM

    Not sure why you got all the red thumbs puck. Your point is valid. This was a meaningless dead rubber against poor opposition.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Lawlor
    Favourite Mark Lawlor
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 6:35 PM

    You can only play what’s in front of you, red thumbs are probably about the mediocrity statement which was harsh.

    80
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute King Ruck
    Favourite King Ruck
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 9:48 PM

    I don’t know either but I’m being serious about the world cup place. He’ll do a job for us against the mighty Namibia or Canada.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
    Report
    May 17th 2015, 2:25 PM

    Cian this was a game the scots needed to win so it was no meaningless game from their point of view.
    Leinster’s win also gave Connaught a boast.
    The reason there’s so many madigan articles is because many Leinster fans believed that if he played 10 our season would have been so different.
    Also he’s not had a run at 10 since joe’s last season, a few games here and there last season.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary
    Favourite Gary
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 6:36 PM

    Lol, munster trolls are out in force. The chip gets bigger.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian O Donoghue
    Favourite Cian O Donoghue
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 10:47 PM

    Why because we question an opinion progressed ad nauseum on the journal? No chips here, Madigan is a good player, but hes at a crossroads. You’d swear he is the messiah on here..m

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcgov
    Favourite mcgov
    Report
    May 17th 2015, 8:39 AM

    He is not a prophet, he is a very naughty boy

    18
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Fingleton
    Favourite Dave Fingleton
    Report
    May 17th 2015, 11:49 AM

    Nice one, Centurion…

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 10:14 PM

    Leading point scorer in Europe plays maybe his 3 or 4 game at 10 this season and 5 tries in the bag. I wonder what Leinster’s season would have turned out like if he played there more often.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phil O' Meara
    Favourite Phil O' Meara
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 7:46 PM

    Wow. That rarest of sights- another Ian Madigan headline on The 42.
    I genuinely have nothing against the chap but am bemused by Will’s man crush.
    This player, to be impartial, will be second choice outhalf for Leinster next year and at best third choice Irish outhalf.
    The very best thing be could do for his career would be to move to England, like JJ, and make the outhalf spot his own before returning to Leinster.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip
    Favourite Philip
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 6:18 PM

    Can he do it against Stoke on a Tuesday night?

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute 09celts
    Favourite 09celts
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 6:43 PM

    Marian is the best option Ireland has to come on after 60 mins , if we needed to open up the
    opposition .

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Captain NerbNerb
    Favourite Captain NerbNerb
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 6:47 PM

    I think away to Edinburgh in an empty Murrayfield is pretty much the pro 12 equivalent of Stoke on a Tuesday night. Not exactly a glamour fixture!

    47
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny Fitz
    Favourite Johnny Fitz
    Report
    May 16th 2015, 7:44 PM

    Sportsgrounds on a wet Friday is pretty much the pro 12 equivalent of Stoke on a Tuesday night. A seemingly unglamorous where it notoriously tough game and difficult to get a result. Edinburgh is more like a trip to Villa, a half empty stadium with a questionable atmosphere and wildly inconsistent opponent prone to self-destructing….

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Lawlor
    Favourite Dave Lawlor
    Report
    May 17th 2015, 11:23 AM

    Old cliche in sport tells us you don’t become a bad player overnight. Given the fact he has played mostly at 12 this season, his kicking stats are impressive and is comfortable at 10, 12 and a push 15 has him in the w/c squad. Good to see 4/5 scores from academy graduates. Hopefully MOC gives some of these young lads game time next year and not just during the world cup when he’s down at least 18 first choice players!

    11
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.