Hello and welcome along as Champions Cup coverage continues here on The42.
Sinéad Farrell here and I will be taking you through Leinster’s opening clash with Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears in Ashton Gate. There’s plenty of intrigue for this one, as Jordie Barrett prepares to make his debut off the bench after linking up with the Irish province.
Bristol come into this game after a big win over Harlequins in the Premiership last weekend and will be gunning for a shot at Leo Cullen’s side.
We’ll have team line-ups for you shortly as we get closer to the 5.30pm kick-off.
Leinster
15. Ciarán Frawley
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Jimmy O’Brien
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Jack Boyle
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Rabah Slimani
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Max Deegan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan (captain)
Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Andrew Porter
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. RG Snyman
20. Caelan Doris
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ross Byrne
23. Jordie Barrett
Bristol Bears
15. Rich Lane
14. Jack Bates
13. Kalaveti Ravouvou
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg
11. Gabriel Ibitoye
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Harry Randall
1. Ellis Genge
2. Harry Thacker
3. Max Lahiff
4. James Dun
5. Joe Owen
6. Santiago Grondona
7. Fitz Harding (captain)
8. Bill Mata
Replacements:
16. Gabriel Oghre
17. Jake Woolmore
18. Lovejoy Chawatama
19. Steven Luatua
20. Benjamin Grondona
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Joe Jenkins
23. Benjamin Elizalde
Kick-Off! Bristol 0-0 Leinster
2 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Bristol attack first and make a slight break through Benhard Janse van Rensburg swivelling around a tackle with ball in hand.
They were holding the ball well through the first few phases, committed a knock-on but Leinster played on and will have a lineout now as a result of the clearance.
Over to Ronan Kelleher to set them up.
3 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Big turnover for Bristol as Max Deegan has penalty called against him. AJ MacGinty makes the kick and now the hosts will arrange their first lineout
4 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Brilliant tackle from Garry Ringrose on MacGinty to push Bristol back and Leinster pour forward to apply pressure as the ball spills away.
MacGinty is down needing treatment now as a result of that big hit. It looks like he might have to be replaced.
5 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
And MacGinty will have to come off, looking a bit shaky as well. Joe Jenkins comes in to replace him at out-half.
Play resumes with a Leinster scrum, but a penalty is called against them. That’s a blow after gaining huge territory.
7 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Leinster lose possession from the lineout. The Bears move the ball around quickly and hooker tries Harry Thacker to take off but is tripped up by Sam Prendergast.
The referee then awards a penalty against Prendergast for that slide tackle. And now they’ll have a lineout in a dangerous spot where they will look to poke a hole in the Leinster defence.
9 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
The lineout is clean and Rónan Kelleher wins the ball back with some good jackal work. A kick comes to full-back Rich Lane who releases a fine kick return and finds touch with a 50:22.
The lineout, however, doesn’t work out this time and the move ends with a scrum for Leinster.
10 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Leinster are struggling with their scrums as they concede another penalty which allows Bristol to find the corner. They’ll look to create the first real opportunity of the game from here.
13 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
The maul fails them as a knock-on is spotted by the referee and Leinster have the ball again.
They get the scum right this time, but as Jack Conan was running free from the back, the referee lifted his arm to award a penalty to Leinster.
Not much flow in this game so far.
15 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Jimmy O’Brien accelerates up the wing after catching a chip from Prendergast. But as he O’Brien goes to ground, it’s another penalty for Bristol for not releasing. Bristol are back in the Leinster 10-metre line again.
15 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
They execute the lineout well and scrum half Harry Randall opts to dink the ball through and find touch. It’s a Leinster lineout but they will hope to get another turnover from this.
16 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Leinster win a penalty in the middle of the field and Prendergast swings the ball over for another lineout opportunity.
18 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
More frustration for Leinster. Josh van der Flier tries to barrell his way through after colletcing the ball from Kelleher. He loses possession on the ground however and Bristol have the ball again.
It’s still quite scrappy and neither team has established a rhythm yet.
19 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Bristol win another penalty and the referee Pierre Brousset summons the two captains to pass on that message. We’re still in the same patch of Leinster’s half with another Leinster scrum on the way.
21 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Again, they’re penalised during set-piece play. Leinster then get a penalty which Prendergast kicks straight down the barrel. The Bristol defence gets bamboozled by the bounce and the ball eventually trickles out.
24 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Leinster lose possession during their own scrum. The ball is eventually booted down on top of Ciarán Frawley who kicks it clear. Bristol restart the play quickly and the ball comes to Prendergast who sends the ball back with interest.
A poor clearance gives Leinster another chance to find a spark from the lineout.
25 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Prendergast tries an audacious 50:22 kick and it looks like he’s measured it well in the air. But it’s out on the full so it’s back in Bristol’s control again.
Nobody is taking control of this game yet.
27 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Penalty given against Leinster for Jack Boyle coming in at the side. Bristol find the corner and they have a great chance now to get the opening score of the game.
28 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Yellow card for Kelleher. The referee did warn them that he wasn’t happy with the high penalty count.
28 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Relief for Leinster as Bristol are sloppy in possession and Jimmy O’Brien lunges in to reclaim the ball.
28 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
It’s only momentary relief though as Bristol surge through again and the referee has spotted a potential foot trip by Max Deegan. This could be crucial.
28 mins: Bristol 0-0 Leinster
Yellow card for Deegan!
Fitz Harding has just broken through with a potential try in front of him. Deegan stuck his boot out and there can be no complaints about that decision.
Leinster are now down to 13. And Bristol are setting up for a maul agin.
TRY! Bristol 7-0 Leinster (Max Lahiff ’30)
32 mins: Bristol 7-0 Leinster
The Bristol prop makes Leinster pay for their indiscipline and plows over for the opening score. Benhard Janse van Rensburg converts from close range and Leinster need a response now.
TRY! Bristol 7-7 Leinster (Jordan Larmour ’32)
34 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
That’s more like it from Leinster
A chip from Prendergast should have been claimed by Rich Lane but the ball bounces out of his hand as he’s sliding to catch. Jordon Larmour catches it in the air and freewheels under the posts. No hassle for Prendergast to tap over the conversion.
39 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Leinster make a change as Gus McCarthy replaces Jordan Larmour while Rónan Kelleher is still in the sin-bin.
Bristol have the ball from a scrum but they knock the ball on in their own half. Leinster seem to have stolen some of the momentum now.
40 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
McCarthy goes off as Kelleher’s time in the sin bin is up. The scrum is reset and the referee then awards a penalty to Leinster. They’re getting into phase play now to see if they can make Bristol blink.
40 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Bristol win the ball back but they knock the ball on again and Leinster regain control. They squander it too though as the half fades out.
Half-Time! Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Max Lahiff gets the breakthrough! 💥@BristolBears with the game's opening try against Leinster 🐻#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/BkbCv0Aq0z
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 8, 2024
Bristol 7-7 Leinster
An error-strewn first half. Both sides will be disappointed with their mistakes, particularly Leinster at scrum time. Bristol’s handling has been their biggest issue so far.
Two yellow cards to Rónan Kelleher and Max Deegan is another lowpoint for them although Kelleher has returned to the field already.
Second half: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
41 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
The second half has just started and Leinster could be in trouble again as Joe McCarthy appears to have tripped Harry Randall.
41 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
The referee decides to show sympathy this time and he informs captain Jack Conan that he will let this one slide as they’ve already been stung by yellow cards. McCarthy is very lucky to avoid the bin.
41 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Barrett is on!
Great news for Leinster fans as their All Blacks signing is on for Ciarán Frawley at full-back.
44 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Good kick from Prendergast to bring Leinster almost to the halfway line. It looks like Andrew Porter and RG Snyman are coming on.
46 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Leinster changes: Porter, Snyman, Thomas Clarkson and Caelan Dorris are all coming in. They take over from Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy and Max Deegan depart.
Meanwhile, Leinster continue to struggle with their scrums as Bristol earn a penalty.
46 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Bristol scrum. The structure collapses and the referee calls the captains again. He’s not happy with set-ups not staying up. He warns them that the next time a scrum falls, someone is going to the bin.
47 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Yellow cards for each team!
The scrum does end up on the ground again and it’s Andrew Porter and Max Lahiff who pay the price.
46 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
So Jack Boyle is back in for the penalised Porter. Conan comes off
47 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
The scrum fails once more and the referee awards a penalty to Bristol in the end. They’re back in Leinster’s half again from the resultant kick.
49 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Leinster have it back after a Bristol knock on while releasing it in the ruck. Leinster execute the scrum and Dorris takes off from the back.
50 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
Leinster penalty which Prendergast uses to kick his side further into Bristol’s half of the field. Snyman gathers the lineout and they’re away now.
51 mins: Bristol 7-7 Leinster
The ball is ripped out of Jimmy O’Brien’s hands but it’s a Bristol knock-on so Leinster will look to punish here with a scrum just outside their 22.
TRY! Bristol 7-14 Leinster (Sam Prendergast ’52)
53 mins: Bristol 7-14 Leinster
Big Sam!
The move of the game as Leinster get their lines right, and their timing right with some crisp passing. Prendergast collects from Barrett and fakes a pass beautifully to create open road under the posts.
He adds the extras with a simple tap over.
TRY! Bristol 7-21 Leinster (Jordie Barrett ’55)
57 mins: Bristol 7-21 Leinster
Now they’re motoring. Much better passing and phase work from Leinster as Barrett continues to have a huge impact on this game by racing under the posts.
TRY! Bristol 7-28 Leinster (Sam Prendergast ’58)
60 mins: Bristol 7-28 Leinster
Leinster are really opening up their lungs now. Superb break with James Ryan passing to Porter who gives it to Snyman who tears down the field and pops the ball to Prendergast for the final sprint.
Bristol probably should have defended that better but Prendergast is having a day of it now as he converts the bonus-point try.
"A moment of class!" 🎙️
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 8, 2024
A bit of magic from Leinster as Jordie Barrett and Sam Prendergast combine for the try 🔵#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/NbAZCbyr8Z
63 mins: Bristol 7-28 Leinster
Leinster change: Gus McCarthy comes on for Kelleher.
63 mins: Bristol 7-28 Leinster
That’s surely a try for van der Flier as he shows great strength and power to go over from a maul. We’re going to the TMO to check.
TRY! Bristol 7-35 Leinster (Josh van der Flier ’63)
65 mins: Bristol 7-35 Leinster
That’s a just reward for van der Flier after a brilliant show of his strength to get over the line. He’s been in great form for both club and country lately.
69 mins: Bristol 7-35 Leinster
Bristol penalty just inches from the Leinster try line. Excellent response from the hosts after that blitz of tries. They’re going to tap and go and see if they can squeeze through.
70 mins: Bristol 7-35 Leinster
Leinster push them back and Bristol keep control of the ball but a pass is knocked on by a stray Leinster hand. They’re not done with this attack yet.
Leinster change: Luke McGrath comes on for Jamison Gibson-Park.
72 mins: Bristol 7-35 Leinster
Leinster penalty!
After all that, Bristol relinquish possession as Clarkson wins the penalty.
TRY! Bristol 12-35 Leinster (Gabriel Ibitoye ’73)
75 mins: Bristol 12-35 Leinster
And Bristol get their reward as Gabriel Ibitoye uses his pace to collect a dink ball forward from former Connacht player Kieran Marmion. Benhard Janse van Rensburg fails to get the conversion but it’s something on the scoreboard for Bristol’s valiant efforts through the last few inutes.
77 mins: Bristol 12-35 Leinster
Luke McGrath sprints through following a great no look pass from Van der Flier. The road ahead is blocked but because he doesn’t have the support, he ends up giving the ball back to Bristol.
78 mins: Bristol 12-35 Leinster
Bristol penalty from a scrum. It ends up back in Leinster’s paws again after some poor handling and passing.
80 mins: Bristol 12-35 Leinster
There’s been a hold up due to issues with Bristol not having enough players on the field for a scrum. It eventually gets going as Leinster move the ball across the field quickly.
It comes out wide to Garry Ringrose who will be disappointed he didn’t secure the ball and knocks it on.
80 mins: Bristol 12-35 Leinster
Dorris pounces on a Bristol ruck and scores a try on the turn. But the referee is reviewing the footage to check if he was offside when he lunged in.
81 mins: Bristol 12-35 Leinster
And the referee decides that he was offside. So Bristol will look to see if they can find touch and keep the game alive with the clock in the red.
82 mins: Bristol 12-35 Leinster
And they do find touch, although Prendergast is confused as he thought they kicked the ball out on the full.
And in an attempt to find the corner, Bristol kick it out on the full.
Full-Time! Bristol 12-35 Leinster
"Guess who! Guess who!" 🎙️
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 8, 2024
Jordie Barrett makes a massive impact and delivers his first @leinsterrugby try 🙌#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/SbKVUZ28PR
Bristol 12-35 Leinster
A scrappy end to cap off a scrappy game.
It was messy and loaded with mistakes, but Leinster have their win and their bonus point. Tries from Jordan Larmour, Jordie Barrett, Josh van der Flier and two from Sam Prendergast seal the win.
RG Snyman and Barrett made huge contributions from the bench while Prendergast marshalled the unit again with his usual precision.
So many penalties against Leinster makes me look at the ref again. When you see the ref awarding 50/50 decisions in one direction suggests the dice is loaded. France rugby and English rugby are in cohoots with the sponcers against Irish rugby.
@Brendan O’Callaghan: just look at last year’s final. Carley screaming abuse at Ross Byrne for asking if Jenkins can get medical attention.
@Brendan O’Callaghan: ah yea blame the ref for Leinster’s poor performance so far
@Brendan O’Callaghan: that time when the Bristol player played the ball on the ground after VDF broke and nearly scored. Outrageous from ref – he just invented a knock on to avoid giving the Bristol player a YC for very cynical play. Leinster discipline has been poor though
@robert kelly: Who is blaming the ref for Leinster playing bad? Weird chap.
@Mick Joe: Co the jets there Mick I must say it seemed to me like you and Brendan were blaming ref and making excuses… I’m just a neutral watching a game of rugby
@Brendan O’Callaghan: this is Top14 reffing, it’s a different beast you can get 3 yellows at once if your really lucky
@Michael Corkery: did josh not lose the ball forward just prior to that?
I thought Prendergast couldn’t carry or threaten the line?
Ref doesn’t do refing.
Can’t believe the whinging by the goys on here tonight….. unbelievable Jeff!
Ref doesn’t do scrums.
@Jofus Soap: yea, some very dodgy calls. Typically French
Give me Leinster with Lancaster any day before this Nienbar tripe
Leinster by 15
Leinster by 14
@Shanie: one more for my big bet bro
@Shanie: 14 point win would be nice, BP even better, but I am not sure it will be that easy. Really hard to tell which teams will show up for CC in the first round. Hopefully Bristol will be thinking more about the Prem.
@Paul Ennis: TBH just messing it will be a tough game
@Gary Galligan: Hopefully you get your 25 cent win
@Shanie: 40 euro
@Gary Galligan: Interesting
Was this referee born in Bristol?
No arms tackle by Sam ?
Soccer slide tackle by Sam.
@Jofus Soap: He was penalised for it.
@Mick Joe:
indeed
@Jofus Soap: Thanks for your commentary. Keep up the good work
@Jofus Soap: Are you one of these supporters who have Sam Error Alert set on your phone so you don’t have to bother enjoying watching the rugby??
@Paul Ennis:
Sam’s a sound young lad.
So TMO comes in for that but doesn’t bother with blatant hands in the ruck on Bristol’s own line? Absolute cheats
@teuO6nLS: it was a blatant trip from a try scoring opportunity
@robert kelly: Agreed. TMO absolutely had to come in for that. But he also should have checked hands in the ruck 5m from the line. Also a try scoring opportunity and resulted in a scrum to Bristol followed by a penalty given away by JGP. Ref cannot see everything but I think that is worthy of a TMO intervention. Bristol try also looked like it had a Leinster hand under it.
@robert kelly: the complete lack of consistency is my point. Blatant hands in a ruck on your own line when the referee has called a knock on and you don’t get involved? But a questionable “trip” from a player still completing a tackle has you suddenly getting involved?
Either call both or neither. Only calling one stinks of bias
@teuO6nLS: Difference is that one is classified as foul play and the other is cynical play. You cannot trip a player – it will be a yellow card anywhere on the pitch. A different TMO on a different day may have intervened.
@teuO6nLS: yea fair enough. Deegan knew exactly what he was doing tho you can clearly see it on the replay. I think the majority of the penalties have been justified and calling the ref a disgrage is a bit extreme. I’m no rugby expert but the conditions are difficult which promotes a lot of unforced errors. Scrappy but also entertaining game so far with a little bit of niggle adding to it
@teuO6nLS: got away with one there Mccarthy could probably on a yellow as that trip was bordering blatant as well
@robert kelly: a “trip” where he’s got an arm wrapped around the opposition player? It’s a tackle
Lads relax. If Leinster come away with losing bonus point, it will be a good day out. They are hopeless.
@Ray Ridge: Ray ….your trolling is extremely poor. I’d expect higher class trolling from a kid in primary school. You’re an example of where practice does not make perfect.
@Ray Ridge: Your hopeless
@Ray Ridge: you were saying ?
@Shanie: They were hopeless. That first half performance won’t get them within an asses roar of the top French sides.
@Ray Ridge: Rugby is an 80 mins game fyi
@Ray Ridge: that one hasn’t worn too well….
@Ray Ridge:
Chokers should win no trophy on offer
@Tony McGrath: You’re a pathet1c boy.
@Tony McGrath: You’re sound like an expert on choking……probably have really hairy hands as a result
@Tony McGrath: your a complete tosser
Disgrace of a referee.
Leinster by 5
Class
Leinster by 13
Refereree adjudicatior should keep that man away from a rugby pitch for quite a while.
Farcical end to that game
That some mullet on the number 10
Slimani has taken Cordero’s crown of being the most useless NIQ ever to play in Ireland
@5sZl1dX2: Did you see Corderos pathetic attempt at a tackle in the 7th minute for Zebre opening try. The guy should be sent straight back to wherever he came from.
Leinster are hopeless says your man and yet there hammering the english side second in there league dumb dumb
Jesus these Leinster pukes in the comment really don’t like when they get reffed do they? Pathetic
@5sZl1dX2: Are you even looking at the game kiddo?
@5sZl1dX2: Making up their excuses already ……. Donnacha OCallaghan was right when he Leinster are under huge pressure this year to win in Europe. They have spent as much money as the Children’s Hospital Lmao!
@5sZl1dX2: stick to mini rugby please.
@Mick Joe: yes I am. Leinster are choking but what’s new?
@5sZl1dX2: At least they’re in the mixer. When was Munster last in the business end of a European competition? Remember the great Peter O’Mahony has won 1 trophy with Munster. He has more trophies with his Leinster buddies.
@Mick Joe: and Fineen Wycherley has more club trophies than Joe McCarthy, does that mean he’s a better player? Flute
@Lulu: Come again?
@5sZl1dX2: You’ve completely missed the point there Harold. Not the first thing to go completely over your head.
@Shanie: Google it Sunshine!
@Lulu: Money well spent by the looks of things. Pity Munsters big money spend in the past was such an abject failure. Makes it all the sweeter seeing him play so well for Leinster.
And poor Jack is going to lose his #10 Ireland jersey as well…
@James: on his displays against Fiji, Australia and tonight he’s a raw attacking talent but can’t tackle to save his life. Will improve but needs constant game time with Leinster.
@mark sheehan: Can’t tackle…a bit like Jack
@James: hahahahahhahahahaha
@5sZl1dX2: tosser,stade were complete shite,otherwise you red muppetts eould have lost…really agsinst 13 players thats the best u could muster
@James: spoken like a true totally biased dumdf# ck.
@5sZl1dX2: the Munster lads coming out swinging hahaha love it!
@David Clarke: bahahahahhhahHhhH
@mark sheehan: That’s not what your ma moaned to me last night…..she’s some goer
@James: that’s about your level, rooting around in graveyards.
Easy money
@Gary Galligan: least your good at preditions unlike some on here
It’s freezing here! Windy too!
@Oran Burns: North poll
Lucky boy all right.
Instinctive though
Who’s that geezer !!