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Details

Date Time Competition Season
21 January 2023 3:15 pm European Champions Cup 2022/23

Match Report

Leinster run riot at the Aviva against Racing

Leinster secured a home tie in the Champions Cup with a BP 36-10 win over Racing 92.

Unbeaten all season, a brilliant second half comeback from Leo Cullen's men earned them a top seed ranking, simultaneously eliminating Racing 92 from the competition. 

The first score came in the fifteenth minute. Gary Ringrose, in a man-of-the-match display, prized open the visiting defence and produced a silky offload for Jimmy O'Brien to finish the move.  Ross Byrne converted for a 7-0 lead. 

However, Racing were growing into the contest and when Jordan Larmour was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, the French side capitalised.  Hooker Janick Tarrit smartly picking and going from an attacking maul, Finn Russell wide with the conversion attempt. 

Into the second half and Leinster survived falling behind when Russell fell short with a long-range penalty. It was only a temporary relief though.  Moments later, the Scottish fly half crafted Racing's second score with a sumptuous line break and pass for Christian Wade to go over.  Leinster 10-7 down and facing a fight to retain their unbeaten run. 

And how they responded. 

First, Hugo Keenan barged over in the corner after a fine play from substitute Dan Sheehan brought them close.  Ringrose then knocked on with the try line at his mercy but Josh van der Flier made the pressure tell, burrowing over from a maul, his fifth HCC try of this campaign already. 

Despite Byrne missing both conversions, the hosts were now in full flow, Keenan bagging a brace for the bonus point and a 24-10 advantage. 

O'Brien then joined him with two tries, again assisted by Ringrose who hacked on, chased his own kick and marvelously popped the pass up for O'Brien to finish aptly. 

The Aviva crowd were now getting their money's worth and fittingly, Ringrose rounded the scoring off.  With the clock in red, Jack Conan carried, Byrne spun the ball wide and the captain sauntered over the line. 

Harry Byrne's excellent conversion put the cherry on Leinster's emphatic cake as it finished 36-10 and Racing 92, despite a brave display, were simply overpowered by this winning machine.

Leinster

15Hugo Keenan Full-Back 53', 68'
14Jordan Larmour Winger 27'
13Garry Ringrose Centre 80+2'
12Jamie Osborne 22 Centre
11Jimmy O’Brien Winger 14', 72'
10Ross Byrne Fly-Half 15', 69'
9Jamison Gibson-Park 21 Scrum-Half
1Andrew Porter 17 Prop
2Ronan Kelleher 16 Hooker
3Michael Alaalatoa 18 Prop
4Joe McCarthy 19 Lock
5James Ryan Lock
6Caelan Doris 20 Flanker
7Josh Van Der Flier 23 Flanker 66'
8Jack Conan No. 8
16Dan Sheehan 2 Hooker
17Michael Milne 1 Prop
18Cian Healy 3 Prop
19Ross Molony 4 Lock
20Ryan Baird 6 Lock
21Luke McGrath 9 Scrum-Half
22Harry Byrne 12 Fly-Half 80+3'
23Scott Penny 7 Flanker

Racing 92

15Warrick Gelant 21 Full-Back
14Christian Wade Winger 48'
13Olivier Klemenczak 22 Centre
12Gael Fickou Centre
11Louis Dupichot 23 Winger
10Finn Russell Fly-Half
9Nolann Le Garrec Scrum-Half
1Eddy Ben Arous 17 Prop
2Janick Tarrit 16 Hooker 32'
3Trevor Nyakane 18 Prop
4Baptiste Chouzenoux 19 Lock
5Boris Palu Lock
6Wenceslas Lauret Flanker
7Mahamadou Coulibaly 20 Flanker
8Kitione Kamikamica No. 8
16Peniami Nasali Narisia 2
17Guram Gogichashvili 1 Prop
18Gia Kharaishvili 3
19Anthime Hemery 4
20Maxime Baudonne 7 Back
21Antoine Gibert 15 Fly-Half
22Francis Saili 13 Centre
23Max Spring 11 Full-Back

Past Meetings

Ground

Royal Dublin Society
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 W9H6, Ireland

QUB Student, passion for Sports Journalism Editor @ The Gown QUB Newspaper Reporter for @ FinalWhistle