Leinster put Bath out of Europe with a classy six-try demolition
Such are the high standards in Irish rugby there was a sense in Dublin that Leinster needed to up their game in the Champions Cup this season. That they only narrowly beat Bath last week, after a second round loss to Toulouse, was weighing heavily on the defending champions. It would seem a six-try rout of Bath might be perceived as good enough.
This was high-quality rugby from the Irish province and it ensured that Bath, like Wasps, cannot make the knockout stages. It is now a straight fight between Leinster and Toulouse to top one of the most exciting Pools in this year’s competition.
In fact, as Leinster secured their try bonus point within the first half, it was as if not only the hosts’ attack were mocking Bath – the wall of royal blue flags waved by fans wrapping right around the Aviva Stadium’s seemed to be taunting them, too.
After 1,500 Leinster Supporters’ Club flags were banned from the Recreation Ground last week due to health and safety regulations, the Leinster supporters were having their revenge with every fan on the stadium’s lower tier supplied with one.
Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder complimented the opposition on their tenacity while bemoaning his side’s decline in the breakdown compared with last week. “I think that on any given day, anyone can beat anyone but if Leinster keep playing the way they did tonight they are certainly going to be a handful. I thought last week our intensity at the breakdown was really, really good and at times it was and wasn’t tonight. That is the difference.”
In wet conditions Leinster tried their best to play their brand of slick attacking rugby, although the first try saw Jack Conan use the wet weather to his advantage as he slid through an attempted tackle by Jamie Roberts.
Newly crowned World Rugby Player of the Year Jonathan Sexton and outside centre Gary Ringrose looked particularly buoyant in attack and it was the latter who created the second try, bursting away from Bath defenders to pass to Sexton before he off-loaded to inside centre Rory O’Loughlin.
Bath looked to come back in via the breakdown and on 20 minutes Francois Louw drove over with fly-half James Wilson converting, taking it to a four point game. However, Leinster dominated the remainder of the half with tries from both their wings, Kiwi import James Lowe and academy product Adam Byrne. Despite the blustery conditions Sexton was flawless from the kicking tee in the first half, with the score 28-10 heading into the break.
While Bath struggled at the breakdown Leinster head coach Leo Cullen felt his side had made significant gains from last week’s performance. “I thought we were better in the contact area, we knew about the threats they have in their team from last week but it is one thing knowing about it and another knowing how to deal with it,” he said.
“We didn’t deal with it last week as well. We were definitely better in the contact area this week.
“Overall, I thought we played with a bit more attacking intent and were able to move Bath around a bit more. I thought the guys were very clinical in taking opportunities.”
The misery continued to be heaped upon Bath as just minutes after the game restarted, Ireland flanker Dan Leavy pushing over for a try. Again Sexton’s kicking was on point and with over 35 minutes to play, Leinster were 25 points ahead.
Sam Underhill forced his way over the line for Bath before replacement prop Andrew Porter jumped on a loose ball, passing to another replacement in scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park to run over Leinster’s sixth try.