Ryan Bailey reports from the Aviva Stadium
LEINSTER COMPLETED THEIR first-ever Pro14-Champions Cup double with another emphatic victory over Scarlets this afternoon to complete a perfect season for the eastern province. You can read our match report here, and below we take a closer look at four talking points from the final.
Leinster’s dream double
A remarkable achievement, from a remarkable side as Leinster augmented their Champions Cup crown with a fifth Pro14 title, their first in four years, in utterly emphatic and ruthless fashion.
A perfect season continued to scale new heights with each passing week and Leo Cullen’s men produced big performance after big performance, firmly cementing their status as the best team in Europe.
Just as they did a few weeks ago here, Leinster outclassed and overpowered Scarlets in every department and in running in five tries — each as good as the next — they ensured nothing would take the gloss off a perfect season.
The good days keep rolling for the eastern province, and how. With a record crowd of over 46,000 inside the Aviva Stadium — many of whom were wearing blue — here to witness another display brimming with quality and intensity as well as a number of superb individual performances, notably from Johnny Sexton.
After slipping up at this juncture twice previously after reigning supreme in Europe, Leinster spoke all week about their hunger to complete a historic double and, if truth be told, the end scoreline flatters Scarlets, who scored three late tries.
An extraordinary season for Irish rugby ends in brilliant, and fitting, fashion as Leinster — mighty Leinster — finish it as deserving Pro14 and Champions Cup winners.
Big moments
Big moments win big matches. Leinster have proved that all season, but their clinical edge in scoring just before and after half-time has been a huge bedrock of their success this term.
Just as they did in the quarter-final and semi-final defeats of Saracens and Scarlets in Europe, Cullen’s men pulled clear of the Welsh region here with a three-try blitz either side of the break.
After Sexton and Leigh Halfpenny traded first-half penalties, Leinster upped the ante and struck through Devin Toner before creating daylight between the sides with James Lowe’s brilliant finish in this near corner.
With the clock in the red, Leinster went into the corner and after their first maul drive was illegally collapsed, they tried again, hammering away at the Scarlets line, with Sexton showing great hands to feed the waiting Lowe, who dotted down in the corner.
The out-half then added the extras with a touchline conversion to extend Leinster’s lead at the break, before Sean Cronin and Jordan Larmour ended the game as a contest early in the second period.
Clinical, and the stuff of champions.
Sexton’s masterclass
We shouldn’t really be surprised by the level of performance Sexton produces week-on-week, but after sitting out the semi-final win over Munster, the out-half was back pulling the strings here.
The ovation Sexton received after being replaced by Joey Carbery told its own story, and then when it was announced he had won the man of the match award, the roof was raised again.
Sexton was pure class, his leadership qualities evident throughout after taking over from Isa Nacewa, and his overall contribution, in addition to kicking 13 points, was immense.
Only Luke McGrath (85) had more passes than Sexton’s 19 as he passed, kicked and directed Leinster during his 64 minutes on the pitch and the 32-year-old heads to Australia for Ireland’s summer tour in the form of his career.
Genius from Larmour
A moment of individual brilliance to cap a breakthrough season for just one of Leinster’s wunderkinder, and a stunning try which sealed another stunning victory for his side, Jordan Larmour will remember this year for a long time to come.
Starting the campaign hoping to play some games for the club’s ‘A’ side, the 20-year-old burst onto the scene and announced himself with virtuoso efforts against Ulster, Munster and now Scarlets, with Larmour ending the season with a Grand Slam, Champions Cup and Pro14 medal in his back pocket.
With Leinster turning the screw at the start of the second half, Larmour produced a piece of remarkable skill on this near touchline to turn defence into attack with a kick in behind and then an electric turn of pace.
But the best was yet to come, as the former St Andrew’s man scooped low to collect the loose ball with an outrageous one-handed pick up, before he was mobbed by his team-mates to start the title party.
A moment of quality to cap a quality season for Larmour and Leinster.
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Great season for Irish and Leinster rugby. Leinster are in a very special place at the moment in terms of the coaches, players and backing they have. I can see a few more trophies for them in the next couple of seasons for them. Nothing left to say but congratulations.
@Dave Barry: we are a bit behind at the moment but so is everyone else. Well done Leinster
@Dave Barry: cheers Dave. Classy comment. Good man.
What a season!
@Stephan Antuma: A bittersweet day for Leinnster would probably be the best way to describe it
@eric qualen: Rochelle, nothing bitter sweet about it unless you are are a bitter Munster troll.
I hope you enjoyed that as much as you enjoyed Leinster winning a 4th European Cup.
Larmour try was worth admision money. the kick, the pickup, the try. what a season for Leinster.
@Ardmore02: felt he definitely should have been man of the match instead of Sexton.
@Sam Harms: Don’t think so! Brilliance from Larmour for his try. But Jonny Sexton. After that hit to the head, he showed his genius in his kick to touch for Cronin’s try. He pulls the strings! He drives us forward. The man is incredible! Great day though!!!!
@Sam Harms: get a grip, he picked the ball off the ground like he does everyday at training. Sexton on the other hand bossed the game. If you think one moment of magic outweighs a masterclass performance shows what you know!
@blindside: not one moment of magic he made some great tackles during the game too. Lowe was up there in man of the match territory too, he had another great game. Just what I think no need to tell me to get a grip.
@blindside: ah calm down it was a great team performamce. to be honest at half time I was jumping up and down with sextons quick pass to lowe. now that was magic. alot of great performances fro. pro14 and champions cup champions.
@blindside: Sexton was man of the match but Larmour did more than that pick up. He was great defensively and had Halfpenny and Evens shitting it whenever a high ball went up
@Sam Harms: nah I think Sexton deserved MOTM, but that LARMOUR was a try of the championship type moment.
That pick up !!!
Some achievement winning champions cup and pro in the same season. Before they only had the pro final after the European final this time they had to play the pro semi afterwards as well
So happy great day,in the Beggars pinting with Scots
@rugbyanbeer:
You were looking forward to your day. Enjoy