Here’s a look at the Leinster team’s performance on Saturday following their 20-17 win over Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final at Croke Park.
Solid effort from behind
15 Ciaran Frawley: The 26-year-old did what was expected of him at the back, staying safe under high balls and bringing his team to relief with some impressive kicks. He also played a role as a ball carrier and defensively before being sidelined in the final minutes of the game with a leg injury. 7
14 Jordan Larmore: The experienced flyer didn’t get many attacking opportunities, even though he was always looking for work. He was also responsible for the first try when George Hendy pounced on him, unable to muster a routine catch behind Northampton’s first try line. 6
13 Robbie Henshaw: The experienced Irish center tested Northampton’s defense with his powerful runs and attracted attention with his consistent attacking performance. He also put his body on the line defensively, making seven tackles. 7
12 Jamie Osborne: The young midfielder linked up well with Henshaw and looked dangerous with the ball in his hands, especially when he made some impressive carries in the first half. He gained 58 meters with 11 runs and made a good impression defensively, finishing with nine hits. 7
11 James Lowe: He showed why he is one of the world’s best players in his position by scoring a cross to complete his hat-trick of tries and scoring 56 meters in nine runs. Lowe also shone in other areas, with his support play and aerial skills particularly impressive. 8
10 Ross Byrne: He missed a few kicks at goal and almost caused major damage to his team, but his overall play was solid, especially receiving the ball with his front foot in the first half. He also performed well defensively, making nine tackles. 7
9 Jamison Gibson Park: The Leinster general showed his talent with a fine assist for Lowe’s first two tries and continued to test Northampton’s defense as the game progressed. He also had great game management and controlled the tempo of the match. 9
Planet Rugby player evaluation key.
Forwards build a solid foundation
8 Caelan Doris (c): The Leinster captain commanded his troops well and was notable for his excellent all-round performance. When he played against the Saints on offense and defense, his work rate was high throughout. He ended up gaining 32 meters and making his team-high 12 tackles. 8
7 Josh van der Flier: As expected, the 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year was successful in slowing down Saints’ ball speed and was active at the breakdown. He gained 22 meters on offense and had seven hits on defense, and he performed well as he was replaced by Jack Conan early in the second half. 7
6 Ryan Baird: The 24-year-old distinguished himself with an excellent all-round performance as a valuable source of possession at the lineout, keeping Northampton’s defense on guard with his powerful carries. He gained 43 meters and had 6 hits on defense. 8
5 Joe McCarthy: The young lock performed as expected at the lineout, being an active ball carrier and challenging opponents with powerful runs. He ended up gaining 17 meters on 13 carries and made six tackles on defense. 8
4 Ross Moloney: Like his second-row partner, the 29-year-old impressed with his lineout and defensive work, racking up six hits before being replaced by Jason Jenkins in the 53rd minute. 7
3 tad furlong: The Ireland and British Irish Lions stalwart will be pleased with his efforts during his 60-minute stint. Furlong displayed an impressive scrum attack and won several penalties for his team. 8
2 Dan Sheehan: He showed why he is the first-choice hooker in his home country with a performance that reliably carried out his core duties. Although he was held back in attack, he was solid defensively until he was replaced by Ronan Kelleher. 7
1 Andrew Porter: The 28-year-old exploded for some careless play in the opening scrum, but improved in that area as the match progressed, eventually outscoring Trevor Davison in set-piece head-to-heads. 7
Replacement: Despite some impressive performances from the likes of Jenkins and Kelleher, particularly defensively, there was a noticeable drop in intensity level as the Irish province started to show signs of change in the second half. He helped the Saints almost pull off a come-from-behind victory. 6
read more: James Rowe’s hat-trick takes Leinster to the Champions Cup final for the third year in a row, but a mistake-filled Northampton are eliminated
