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Leinster 22 Toulouse 31: How the Leinster players rated in the Champions Cup final

Henshaw, Sheehan and McCarthy stand out despite agonising defeat

Leinster's hooker Dan Sheehan makes a break against Toulouse. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty

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Johnny Watterson
Sat May 25 2024 - 18:04
15 Hugo Keenan

Had a solid game defensively but was unable to get into those attacking positions he likes to give Leinster go forward ball. Rating: 7

14 Jordan Larmour

A quiet opening half but got better as the match went on. Contested well but no sign of the sparks he can deliver. Rating: 7

13 Robbie Henshaw

Was one of Leinster’s better players on a day turnover killed them. Made ground and added a physical presence. Rating: 8

12 Jamie Osborne

Worked hard inside Henshaw. But was not allowed to show creative side. Was isolated a couple of times in the first half. Rating: 7

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11 James Lowe

After opening up Toulouse first half worked hard but quiet. Silly/harsh yellow card for deliberate knock on in injury time. Rating: 7

Leinster’s James Lowe tackled by Santiago Chocobares of Toulouse. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

10 Ross Byrne

He mixed play up well with Crossfield kicks and passing wide. Was good from the tee until he limped out for Frawley. Rating: 7

9 Jamison Gibson-Park

Incredible covering tackle that saved an early try. Got Leinster moving but even he erred a few times in a frantic match. Rating: 7

1 Andrew Porter

Incredible couple for shifts from the prop. Did what he is good at doing, hitting rucks, gaining tough yards. Scrum improved second half. Rating: 7

2 Dan Sheehan

One of Leinster’s better players for his 70 minutes. Almost made the try line in the first half and put himself around the pitch. Rating: 8

3 Tadhg Furlong

Like Porter did huge amounts of work in a competitive breakdown. Contested well in the frontrow with mostly short carries. Rating: 7

4 Joe McCarthy

The young lock caused Toulouse problems. Put in a big game both sides of the ball and didn’t flag as it went into extra time. Rating: 8

Leinster’s Joe McCarthy dejected late in the game. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

5 Jason Jenkins

Picked for his size before injury at half-time. Made some good carries in the first half with a knock on during a scrappy phase from both sides. Rating: 7

6 Ryan Baird

Good lineout option. Was involved all over the pitch and added a turnover to his busy shift. Brought energy to the backrow until Conan arrived. Rating: 7

7 Will Connors

His 45 minutes was a working shift. Was in the thick of most Leinster breakdown work and made some of the hard yards too. Rating: 7

8 Caelan Doris

Had an impactful game and led with authority. Extra-time penalty was an error but otherwise was one of Leinster’s better players. Rating: 8

Replacements

Josh van der Flier and James Ryan made a big impact when they came in with Van der Flier grabbing a try. The other bench players had moments in a fraught extra-time, but as finishers will probably be disappointed how the game finally ended. Rating: 7

Coach – Leo Cullen

The tactics were not what hurt Leinster. The match fell on individual handling errors. Dropping balls, getting isolated and turned over knocked them back every time. Frawley was a drop goal attempt away from winning the game in normal time, before it ran away in extra time. Rating: 7

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