Champions Cup
Leinster Topple Toulouse to Top Pool 1
Leinster, missing nine first team regulars including World Rugby Player of the Year and captain, Johnny Sexton, showed their strength and depth, with an impressive win over their fellow four-time European champions.
Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Leinster returned to the summit of their European pool as they had too much for French giants Toulouse on Saturday, running out 29-13 winners.
Jack Conan, Dave Kearney, Sean Cronin, and Adam Byrne all crossed for the home side, with Cheslin Kolbe claiming Toulouse’s consolation try, as Leinster claimed a bonus-point win.
Leinster, missing nine first team regulars including World Rugby Player of the Year and captain, Johnny Sexton, showed their strength and depth, with an impressive win over their fellow four-time European champions.
After, a tough start to the game, Sexton’s replacement Ross Byrne traded points with his opposite number, Thomas Ramos, to leave the game at 3-3 up until the 34th minute.
With Leinster having a scrum inside the 22, they pounced, passing across the line to Adam Byrne, who nearly crossed the white wash before being tackled. Moments later, Luke McGrath scooped up from the back of a ruck before firing to No.8 Conan who headed over for the first try off the game.
Ross Byrne kicked the extras; however, a late Thomas Ramos penalty had the teams going in at half-time at 10-6.
Leinster banished any fears of a Toulouse comeback 10 minutes into the second half. Ross Byrne sent a pin-point cross field kick from just outside the opposition 22 into the hands of Dave Kearney, who finished superbly in the corner despite the attention of Romain Ntamack.
This time Byrne failed to add the additional two.
On the stroke of the hour mark, Cronin touched down at the back of a ruck beside the posts, with Byrne converting, to make it 22-6.
The blow for both Leinster and Ireland was seeing scrum-half Luke McGrath being helped of the field after sustaining a leg injury.
In his absence replacement Jamison Gibson-Park showed his class. With five minutes remaining as he took a quick tap and go, sending a wonderful looping pass for Adam Byrne to run in for the bonus-point, Noel Reid kicked the extras this time.
In the dying seconds, the electric, Cheslin Kolbe, burst through the Leinster defence to score a try for the away side and drop kicked the conversion himself to confirm the 29-13 score line.
The win leaves Leinster 3 points clear at the top of Pool 1 with one round of fixtures left and in pole position for a home quarter-final.
Leinster head coach, Leo Cullen, was impressed by his team’s win post-match, but, ensured that the job is not done.
“We still have a lot of work to do to top this pool”, Cullen said, adding that Wasps away will be a “difficult” fixture.
Even though man of the match, Garry Ringrose, claimed his team’s performance, “wasn’t perfect”, it sent a message across the continent that Leinster are still the team to beat as they aim for back to back championships.
Check out the match highlights:
The Munster squad are preparing at the HPC ahead of Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup opener against Bayonne at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
Buy match tickets here.
Jean Kleyn will be unavailable until the New Year due to an eye injury suffered in the Leinster match. He attended for a specialist review last Tuesday and Wednesday and will have further follow-up before Christmas.
Jack Daly (ankle) and Liam Coombes (shoulder) both underwent surgery last week and will begin rehabilitation under the medical department.
There is good news for Patrick Campbell (ankle) as he has returned to team training.
Jack O’Donoghue (ankle) will also return to training this week.
Simon Zebo (knee) will continue to rehabilitate early this week.
The availability of Campbell, O’Donoghue and Zebo will be determined later in the week.
Peter O’Mahony (shoulder) is improving but will remain unavailable for the Bayonne clash.
Continuing to rehab: Jack Daly (ankle), Peter O’Mahony (shoulder), Liam Coombes (shoulder), RG Snyman (chest/shoulder), Joey Carbery (wrist), Roman Salanoa (knee), Mike Haley (hip), Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles), Niall Scannell (groin).
There were 11 Munster players in AIL action for their clubs at the weekend.
In Division 1A, Fionn Gibbons, Chris Moore and Keynan Knox helped Young Munster to a win over City of Armagh with Gibbons among the tries.
Ethan Coughlan and Daniel Okeke were in action for Shannon as they were beaten away to Terenure College.
In Division 1B, Jack Oliver, George Hadden and Colm Hogan helped Garryowen beat Blackrock College with Hogan scoring a try on his debut for the club. Oliver also kicked three conversions and two penalties.
Jack O’Sullivan and Ben O’Connor featured for UCC as they were narrowly beaten by Old Wesley.
In Evan O’Connell helped UL Bohemians to a draw against MU Barnhall.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby and the Crusaders are set to create history in 2024 with a world-first ‘Clash of Champions’ game on Saturday, February 3 (5pm).
The New Zealand franchise secured their seventh successive Super Rugby Pacific championship on Saturday in Waikato defeating Chiefs 25-20 to retain their title. They are the most successful team in the competition’s history having won 14 trophies and are world renowned for their history and record of success and excellence.
Following Munster’s recent URC success in Cape Town, it will be the first time ever the reigning champions of the URC and Super Rugby face off against each other.
Former Munster Head Coach Rob Penney has already been confirmed as the new Crusaders Head Coach from 2024 and their pre-season campaign will see them embark on their first-ever international tour for fixtures against Munster and Bristol Bears.
Munster Rugby CEO, Ian Flanagan said: “We are delighted to welcome the Super Rugby champions to Munster, hosting a groundbreaking fixture against the Crusaders.
“We hold a proud and rich history of playing touring sides and I’ve no doubt next February’s game will be a special occasion for all involved.”
Colin Mansbridge, Crusaders CEO, said: “The Crusaders are thrilled to be coming over to Ireland and the UK to face some stiff competition away from home.
“NZ and Australian clubs have been working on the World Club Competition for years, so when an opportunity for Super teams to play Northern Hemisphere counterparts came up, it was just too good to pass up.
“Munster have a history of giving touring sides a pretty hard time, so they present particularly tough competition. There’s also the added connection with our new Head Coach Rob Penney who coached there,” Mansbridge said.
The venue within Munster, and ticket details, will be confirmed in due course. MRSC members will be contacted directly regarding a pre-sale.
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2024 Crusaders Ireland and UK Fixtures
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Munster Rugby v Crusaders, Venue TBC, 5pm;
Friday February 9, 2024
Bristol Bears v Crusaders, Ashton Gate, 7.30pm;
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
The draw for the pool stages of the 2023/24 Champions Cup took place earlier this afternoon in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Leinster Rugby have been drawn in Pool 4, alongside La Rochelle, Stade Francais, Leicester Tigers, DHL Stormers and Sale Sharks.
Leo Cullen’s team will face La Rochelle, Stade Francais, Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks in the four pool matches, with two matches at home, and two matches away.
The top-four teams from each pool will advance to the Round of 16, with the fifth-placed teams moving into the EPCR Challange Cup.
All fixture details will be confirmed in due course.
2023/24 weekends
Round 1 – 8/9/10 December 2023
Round 2 – 15/16/17 December 2023
Round 3 – 12/13/14 January 2024
Round 4 – 19/20/21 January 2024
Round of 16 – 5/6/7 April 2024
Quarter-Finals – 12/13/14 April 2024
Semi-Finals – 3/4/5 May 2024
EPCR Challenge Cup Final – Friday 24 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Champions Cup Final – Saturday 25 May 2024, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Images & Content from Leinster Rugby
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