Lowe scores for Leinster in an all-Ireland final
New Zealand import James Lowe scored a try off a clever pass by Kiwi halfback Jamison Gibson-Park as Leinster racked up a third successive PRO 14 title with a convincing win in the all-Ireland final against Ulster.
Leinster won 27-5 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium yesterday to complete an unbeaten season, leaving Ulster’s former All Blacks halfback Alby Mathewson with a runners-up medal.
It was Lowe’s third title in a row since joining Leinster – and his second try in the grand final, after touching down in a 40-32 win in Dublin over Wayne Pivac’s Scarlets in 2018.
But, it was the first time in the PRO14 final matchday squad for GibsonPark, who missed out on the last two due to rules preventing teams naming more than two overseas players in a squad.
But the 28-year-old former Taranaki, Blues and Hurricanes player, who arrived in Dublin in 2016, now has Irish residency and counts as a local player.
Gibson-Park got the start at halfback over 16-cap Ireland international Luke McGrath and combined with his Kiwi compatriot to put Lowe over for a try after quick thinking from a penalty advantage and a flat skip pass, which, the Irish Independent reported, ‘‘shredded Ulster’’.
That got the home side back on level terms after Ulster had led 5-0 through a slick try to centre James Hume, but it was all Leinster thereafter as Leo Cullen’s side then rattled on 27 unanswered points.
Centre Robbie Henshaw and outstanding No 8 Caelan Doris scored second-half tries, and Ross Byrne, who started ahead of Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, added 10 points with his boot.
Lowe, who is now qualified to play for Ireland, did his test call-up chances no harm with another try in an important game.