Leinster cruised to a home Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final with Ulster, after beating Wasps in Coventry on Sunday.
The reigning champions showed their class with the game finishing 37-19 in their favour.
FULL-TIME!
We will be at home in the Heineken #ChampionsCup Quarter-Finals against @UlsterRugby! #WASvLEI #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/RrMKpfyW9G
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 20, 2025
The result ensured they finished top of pool 1 and has set up the first all Irish quarter-final in the competition since Ulster saw off Munster in 2012.
That year Ulster went all the way to the final, only to lose to their opponents Leinster 42-14.
Leinster knew that they had qualified for the last eight before kick-off thanks to Edinburgh’s win on Friday night, but they still had work to do to secure top spot.
They started well with Ross Byrne kicking a 12th minute penalty before they claimed the opening try four minutes later.
After some great work in the Wasps 22, they worked the ball out towards Dave Kearney who almost found the line but was held just short. However, within seconds, Garry Ringrose showed Nathan Hughes his dancing feet and pounced over the line.
Byrne kicked that conversion, along with another penalty to leave the score at 13-0 by the 28th minute.
In the 34th minute Sean Cronin bundled his way over from the back of a maul, with Byrne adding the extras for a 20-0 half-time lead.
Brilliant stuff in the first half with tries from @Ringrose_G and @SeanCronin2! #WASvLEI pic.twitter.com/mU4hk8CvmP
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 20, 2025
The second-half was more even with Hughes heading over for the hosts 12 minutes in.
By the 58th minute Leinster had restored their 20-point lead, with Cronin repeating his first half party piece, while scoring his 6th try in this year’s competition already.
Five minutes later and Wasps were over again, with Dan Robson bursting through the defence to get on the score sheet.
Heading towards the final 10 minutes and Noel Reid banished any hopes of a Wasps comeback. Some brilliant offloading, and ball skills resulting in Max Deegan sending the substitute over, with Reid converting.
With two minutes remaining Marcus Watson jumped over the line for the home side after claiming the ball with an incredible catch.
Reid scored a last-minute penalty for Leinster to settle the 37-19 score line.
Match Highlights:
After the match Wasps rugby director Dai Young applauded his team’s effort but admitted that Leinster will be tough for anyone to stop.
“It is still hurting at the minute, but you have got to give Leinster credit. They are a fantastic team, and they are going to take some beating in this competition again”, said Young.
The win showed just how good Leinster can
be going forward, but there were some cracks in the defence that Ulster and
other teams will be looking at.
What’s certain is that Irish rugby fans are
in for another treat when the two meet with a place in the semi-finals at
steak.
