Welcome, one and all, to The 42′s live coverage of Leinster’s Champions Cup opener against Clermont.
Leo Cullen’s side will begin their pursuit of a fifth European Cup title in France against a side who have been strong at home in recent weeks — albeit their last game at Stade Marcel-Michelin ended in an agonising defeat by European champions Bordeaux.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here. Kick-off is at 3:15pm, and if you don’t have access to Premier Sports 2 or you’re simply out and about, I’ll bring you blow-by-blow coverage — or close enough — throughout the afternoon.
Replacements: 16. Peniami Narisia, 17. Sacha Lotrian, 18. Matheo Frisach, 19. Leo Michaux Vargas, 20. Antoine Chalus-Cercy, 21. Louis Vermeulen, 22. Baptiste Germain, 23. Mathys Belaubre
Leinster: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Jimmy O’Brien, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Fintan Gunne, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan (c), 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Ryan Baird, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan
Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Alex Usanov, 18. Tom Clarkson, 19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20. Scott Penny, 21. Oliver Coffey, 22. Joey Carbery, 23. Jamie Osborne
17 Oct
3:20PM
Kick-off
2′ – CLER 0-0 LEIN: Leinster’s all-Test front row blast Clermont in the first scrum of the game and win a penalty.
Leinster with an attacking penalty but Hugo Keenan eventually kicks downfield and into touch towards the home 22′, with a French put-in to the lineout.
17 Oct
3:27PM
7′ – CLER 0-0 LEIN: Leinster go close to an opening try but Jimmy O’Brien is adjudged to have knocked on in-goal as he chased a chip down the left wing!
10′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 0-7 LEIN: From a lineout, Leinster go close and after a Fintan Gunne snipe and offload, Tadhg Furlong barges over for the opening score!
Sam Prendergast converts.
The eastern province lead at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
16′ – CLER 6-7 LEIN: Harry Plumber has responded for Clermont with a couple of quickfire penalties.
17 Oct
3:45PM
24′ CLER 0-0 LEIN: Leinster, and Andrew Porter especially, are crucifying Clermont at scrum time but a golden chance goes abegging!
Leinster win a five-metre scrum penalty and decide to scrum again, but with the Clermont front row under serious pressure, Matthew Carley penalises Fintan Gunne for his put-in.
Big celebrations by Clermont, who are under the pump on their own patch here.
33′ – TRY FOR CLERMONT! CLER 13-12 LEIN: Joris Jurand!
A linebreak from Justin Bouraux off a Clermont scrum in Leinster territory. He beats Henshaw and is deemed not to be held, rolling forward another five metres.
Clermont bash away from close range before a ball is floated left to Jurand, who falls over the line in acres.
Plummer nails the conversion from the left-hand touchline.
However, moments later, Leinster retake the lead through the boot of Prendergast as Anthime Hemery fails to wrap in a counter-ruck attempt.
40′ – CLER 16-15 LEIN: Joe McCarthy is pinged for offside on halfway and Plummer, who has been faultless so far, blasts over a kick which puts the hosts in front on the cusp of half-time.
It’s been a game in which Leinster have been the better side and enjoyed the lions’s share of possession and territory, but they just haven’t been able to make it count to the extent that they’d have liked.
Their scrum is dominant but their execution around the lineout has been sloppy, albeit in the face of fine Clermont defence.
The hosts lead at the break at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
42′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 16-22 LEIN: SAM PRENDERGAST!
A bit of magic by the out-half. Clermont botch a try opportunity of their own with Bautista Delguy slipping with the try-line seemingly at his mercy. His offload could find only a Leinster hand.
Leinster then won a penalty and went quickly, with speeding into open country down the left. His grubbered ahead for Jimmy O’Brien, who fly-hacked it further forward, gathered it about 10 metres from the Clermont line, and popped it up for Prendergast who waltzed over.
The Ireland out-half also converted his own try, and Leinster are back in front at Stade Marcel-Michelin!
17 Oct
4:29PM
51′ – CLER 16-22 LEIN: Leinster weather a mini storm, albeit with something resembling ease, and then they win another scrum penalty in their own half.
Attacking platform just outside the Clermont 22′, and they win another penalty at the lineout.
17 Oct
4:33PM
56′ – CLER 16-22 LEIN: Leinster laying siege to Clermont, who are on a warning for their penalty count deep inside their own 22′.
This feels like a pivotal moment in the game. Can Leinster capitalise on their dominance?
61′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 16-36 LEIN: Leinster maul Clermont over from five metres and it’s Dan Sheehan who touches down again!
The hooker stays down, and there’s a suggestion amongst a bit of afters that a Clermont player kneed him in the chest or something to that effect, but the TMO can’t find it.
Prendergast’s conversion from the left-hand side is good, and Leinster are well on course towards a bonus-point victory here. They have five tries to Clermont’s one (and they need only three more than their opposition per the new bonus-point rule).
65′ – Try for Clermont! CLER 23-36 LEIN: Mathys Belaubre crosses for the hosts, blasting his way through Fintan Gunne and Josh van der Flier in the second phase of a tap-penalty set play.
66′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 23-43 LEIN: Jack Conan immediately cancels out that Clermont riposte!
Jimmy O’Brien, excellent throughout, rises to take Prendergast’s restart and, from the ensuing ruck, Conan saunters over through bafflingly weak Clermont defence.
Prendergast converts from centre-left.
17 Oct
4:55PM
73′ – CLER 23-43 LEIN: The game is beginning to peter out, but Joey Carbery’s introduction is a welcome sight for Leinster fans.
His first appearance for the province since departing for Munster in 2018, and a first competitive appearance for anyone since suffering an ACL tear in early February while at Bordeaux.
78′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 23-48 LEIN: Moments after Sam Prendergast is named man of the match by the host broadcaster, Tommy O’Brien finishes a backline move excellently in the right-hand corner.
Carbery’s conversion from the touchline drifts wide.
Joe McCarthy is yellow-carded at the death but what a win for Leinster in the end. A bonus-point success at Stade Marcel-Michelin to open their Champions Cup account.
Thanks for joining us for updates — we’ll have liveblogs of Connacht’s and Munster’s games later today, as well.
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As it happened: Clermont v Leinster, Champions Cup
Welcome, one and all, to The 42′s live coverage of Leinster’s Champions Cup opener against Clermont.
Leo Cullen’s side will begin their pursuit of a fifth European Cup title in France against a side who have been strong at home in recent weeks — albeit their last game at Stade Marcel-Michelin ended in an agonising defeat by European champions Bordeaux.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here. Kick-off is at 3:15pm, and if you don’t have access to Premier Sports 2 or you’re simply out and about, I’ll bring you blow-by-blow coverage — or close enough — throughout the afternoon.
Joey Carbery is set to make his second debut for Leinster off the bench in Clermont-Ferrand.
It’s a strong Leinster starting side in which Fintan Gunne is the only non-international!
Your referee will be Matthew Carley of England.
Clermont: 15. Justin Bouraux, 14. Bautista Delguy, 13. AJ Lam, 12. Léon Darricarrere, 11. Joris Jurand, 10. Harry Plummer (c), 9. Baptiste Jauneau, 1. Giorgi Akhaladze, 2. Barnabe Massa, 3. Nohem Ez Zahouany, 4. Thibaud Lanen, 5. Darcy Swain, 6. Killian Tixeront, 7. Anthime Hemery, 8. Kevin Noah
Replacements: 16. Peniami Narisia, 17. Sacha Lotrian, 18. Matheo Frisach, 19. Leo Michaux Vargas, 20. Antoine Chalus-Cercy, 21. Louis Vermeulen, 22. Baptiste Germain, 23. Mathys Belaubre
Leinster: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Jimmy O’Brien, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Fintan Gunne, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan (c), 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Ryan Baird, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan
Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Alex Usanov, 18. Tom Clarkson, 19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20. Scott Penny, 21. Oliver Coffey, 22. Joey Carbery, 23. Jamie Osborne
2′ – CLER 0-0 LEIN: Leinster’s all-Test front row blast Clermont in the first scrum of the game and win a penalty.
Leinster with an attacking penalty but Hugo Keenan eventually kicks downfield and into touch towards the home 22′, with a French put-in to the lineout.
7′ – CLER 0-0 LEIN: Leinster go close to an opening try but Jimmy O’Brien is adjudged to have knocked on in-goal as he chased a chip down the left wing!
Almost, almost.
10′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 0-7 LEIN: From a lineout, Leinster go close and after a Fintan Gunne snipe and offload, Tadhg Furlong barges over for the opening score!
Sam Prendergast converts.
The eastern province lead at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
16′ – CLER 6-7 LEIN: Harry Plumber has responded for Clermont with a couple of quickfire penalties.
24′ CLER 0-0 LEIN: Leinster, and Andrew Porter especially, are crucifying Clermont at scrum time but a golden chance goes abegging!
Leinster win a five-metre scrum penalty and decide to scrum again, but with the Clermont front row under serious pressure, Matthew Carley penalises Fintan Gunne for his put-in.
Big celebrations by Clermont, who are under the pump on their own patch here.
27′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 6-12 LEIN: DAN SHEEHAN!
After struggling to secure ball on their own lineout so far, Leinster capitalise on a Clermont error on the home side’s five-metre line.
The French side throw to the back but get it just wrong, and as the ball bounces back into the in-goal and captain Sheehan is the first to pounce!
Sharp by the Ireland hooker. Sam Prendergast misses the conversion from the right-hand touchline, but Leinster have extended their lead.
33′ – TRY FOR CLERMONT! CLER 13-12 LEIN: Joris Jurand!
A linebreak from Justin Bouraux off a Clermont scrum in Leinster territory. He beats Henshaw and is deemed not to be held, rolling forward another five metres.
Clermont bash away from close range before a ball is floated left to Jurand, who falls over the line in acres.
Plummer nails the conversion from the left-hand touchline.
However, moments later, Leinster retake the lead through the boot of Prendergast as Anthime Hemery fails to wrap in a counter-ruck attempt.
40′ – CLER 16-15 LEIN: Joe McCarthy is pinged for offside on halfway and Plummer, who has been faultless so far, blasts over a kick which puts the hosts in front on the cusp of half-time.
It’s been a game in which Leinster have been the better side and enjoyed the lions’s share of possession and territory, but they just haven’t been able to make it count to the extent that they’d have liked.
Their scrum is dominant but their execution around the lineout has been sloppy, albeit in the face of fine Clermont defence.
The hosts lead at the break at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
42′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 16-22 LEIN: SAM PRENDERGAST!
A bit of magic by the out-half. Clermont botch a try opportunity of their own with Bautista Delguy slipping with the try-line seemingly at his mercy. His offload could find only a Leinster hand.
Leinster then won a penalty and went quickly, with speeding into open country down the left. His grubbered ahead for Jimmy O’Brien, who fly-hacked it further forward, gathered it about 10 metres from the Clermont line, and popped it up for Prendergast who waltzed over.
The Ireland out-half also converted his own try, and Leinster are back in front at Stade Marcel-Michelin!
51′ – CLER 16-22 LEIN: Leinster weather a mini storm, albeit with something resembling ease, and then they win another scrum penalty in their own half.
Attacking platform just outside the Clermont 22′, and they win another penalty at the lineout.
56′ – CLER 16-22 LEIN: Leinster laying siege to Clermont, who are on a warning for their penalty count deep inside their own 22′.
This feels like a pivotal moment in the game. Can Leinster capitalise on their dominance?
56′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 16-29 LEIN: Nohem Ez Zahouany falls to his knees in the scrum and Matthew Carley walks under the posts.
Leinster’s pressure does tell, and they lead by 13 in France!
61′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 16-36 LEIN: Leinster maul Clermont over from five metres and it’s Dan Sheehan who touches down again!
The hooker stays down, and there’s a suggestion amongst a bit of afters that a Clermont player kneed him in the chest or something to that effect, but the TMO can’t find it.
Prendergast’s conversion from the left-hand side is good, and Leinster are well on course towards a bonus-point victory here. They have five tries to Clermont’s one (and they need only three more than their opposition per the new bonus-point rule).
65′ – Try for Clermont! CLER 23-36 LEIN: Mathys Belaubre crosses for the hosts, blasting his way through Fintan Gunne and Josh van der Flier in the second phase of a tap-penalty set play.
Nice score, which is converted.
66′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 23-43 LEIN: Jack Conan immediately cancels out that Clermont riposte!
Jimmy O’Brien, excellent throughout, rises to take Prendergast’s restart and, from the ensuing ruck, Conan saunters over through bafflingly weak Clermont defence.
Prendergast converts from centre-left.
73′ – CLER 23-43 LEIN: The game is beginning to peter out, but Joey Carbery’s introduction is a welcome sight for Leinster fans.
His first appearance for the province since departing for Munster in 2018, and a first competitive appearance for anyone since suffering an ACL tear in early February while at Bordeaux.
78′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! CLER 23-48 LEIN: Moments after Sam Prendergast is named man of the match by the host broadcaster, Tommy O’Brien finishes a backline move excellently in the right-hand corner.
Carbery’s conversion from the touchline drifts wide.
The player of the match — bang in form, this guy:
Joe McCarthy is yellow-carded at the death but what a win for Leinster in the end. A bonus-point success at Stade Marcel-Michelin to open their Champions Cup account.
Thanks for joining us for updates — we’ll have liveblogs of Connacht’s and Munster’s games later today, as well.
Take care!
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