How’s tricks, everyone? Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Leinster’s final Champions Cup pool game, in which they’ll host Bath at the Aviva Stadium.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here and I’ll bring you live updates of all the scores and big moments if you can’t make it to Landsdowne Road or to a TV (RTÉ 2/Premier Sports) this evening.
The URC leaders and the Premiership leaders will go at it from 5:30pm. Leinster are chasing the highest seed possible and home advantage in the knockouts. Bath are chasing the point, or points, that would steer them into the last 16.
Let’s go!
Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
18 Jan
5:09PM
Teams
Bath are locked and loaded with recent Leinster man Ross Molony starting at second row alongside former Ireland international and Connacht lock Quinn Roux.
7′ - TRYYYYYYYYY FOR BATH AGAIN! Wow! Electric by the visitors.
They attack the slightly shorter side off the scrum through Barbeary. Russell takes it towards the line and pops to Tom de Glanville, and he bounces and rolls over the line.
Russell, again, nails the extras from a tough angle. Bath lead by 14 in Dublin!
The hosts gain a foothold in the Bath 22′ after good work by Jordie Barrett. Jamison Gibson-Park swings it openside to Hugo Keenan. The fullback feeds Henshaw on an inside line and the Ireland centre crashes over on the right-hand side.
Sam Prendergast is wide with the conversion, which was about 10 metres infield from the touchline but still a tricky angle.
18 Jan
5:46PM
15′ – LEIN 5-14 BAT: A brilliant Leinster attack almost puts Barrett over in the right-hand corner but he offloads blindly behind him as he’s tackled, and the pass is intercepted by a scrambling Bath defender.
Leinster, though, win a penalty as Bath try to plot their exit. I didn’t quite see what that was given for — apologies. But Leinster will have a five-metre lineout.
16′ - TRYYYYYYYYY! HENSHAW AGAIN! He crashes over from close range.
Leinster are suckin’ diesel now.
Prendergast chips over the gimme conversion and Leinster trail by only two.
Some start to this game, but it’s been decidedly one-way traffic since Bath made their brilliant start.
18 Jan
5:56PM
23′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: I referred to Andrew Osborne earlier — it is of course his older brother Jamie on the wing, sorry.
Finn Russell is off for what I think is a HIA for Bath. Would be a massive blow for the visitors to lose him, obviously.
Leinster playing with a lot more ball in hand here than they have in recent weeks, at times resembling a Stuart Lancaster-influenced team in possession. Jordie Barrett has been sensational on both sides of the ball and Hugo Keenan is making a huge difference.
Bath digging in well, though, in fairness.
18 Jan
5:57PM
25′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Russell coming back on for Bath which is good news for them and for the game as a spectacle.
18 Jan
5:59PM
26′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Leinster have an attacking platform on the Bath 22′ after Ollie Lawrence tackled Keenan without the ball.
Van der Flier runs one straight at Ross Molony, who stands up well to the offensive hit. Barbeary then wins a penalty with a superb jackal poach.
Stout defence by Bath, who are defending well in close quarters but have struggled when Leinster have found the edge.
18 Jan
6:04PM
32′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Miles Reid makes a nice half-break up the middle for Bath but Molony concedes the pen as he clears out McCarthy beyond the ruck!
Leinster lineout on the Bath 22′ once more.
They look to attack wide left and Osborne is tackled without the ball. Leinster penalty once more.
Prendergast taps and goes, but none of his teammates were tuned in.
Hugo Keenan eventually knocks on.
18 Jan
6:06PM
33′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Leinster’s scrum looks to come under pressure but Rabah Slimani actually wins the penalty on our far side!
And upon a replay, that’s the correct decision by the touch judge on that side as Beno Obano was folded. Leinster to go again with a five-metre lineout!
18 Jan
6:08PM
34′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Leinster take it to within inches but Josh van der Flier knocks it on at the base of a ruck right under the sticks.
Bath celebrate. JP Ferreira will enjoy his side’s strength there under savage pressure.
But… Uh oh! Leinster are going to get another penalty — at least — for a high hit by Obano on Gibson-Park, whose eyebrow is bleeding.
35′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Obano is yellowed. Right call. He was too high, it was head-to-head contact, but Gibson-Park’s last-second sidestep was sufficient mitigation to avoid red.
Leinster call for a scrum and Bath are going to need to make a change, now, as Obano goes off for 10 minutes.
Luke McGrath on for JGP who’ll be checked for a head injury.
18 Jan
6:12PM
36′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Slimani wins another scrum penalty. Leinster go back to the scrum, where they’re beginning to turn the screw.
40′ - TRYYYYYYY! OH MY DAYS, WHAT A SCORE FOR BATH!
It’s De Glanville again who finishes it off, but it was all about Ollie Lawrence who arced a massive hole in Leinster’s defence before popping outside to his fullback.
Wonderful try. And Russell makes a wonderful kick from near-enough the right-hand touchline. Bath are going to lead at the break!
41′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Sam Prendergast gets the action back underway at Lansdowne Road.
Looking forward to this second half. Would fancy Leinster to pull away, particularly with their bench, but Bath have been really good so far.
Let’s see what happens!
18 Jan
6:39PM
45′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Some sensational touches by Jordie Barrett once more and Leinster work it into the Bath 22′ — but the move breaks down with a disconnect on a the tip-on pass by Prendergast.
Bath win a jackal penalty over the loose ball and Finn Russell rockets them up to the Leinster 22′. Serious line-kick by the Scottish out-half.
18 Jan
6:40PM
45′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Bath pinged for crossing off second phase. Prendergast finds touch up towards halfway.
Bath are back to 15 men, by the way, with Obano returning from the bold-boy step.
18 Jan
6:45PM
47′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Leinster have a couple more big hitters on now in the shape of Caelan Doris and RG Snyman.
Doris just steamrolled Russell with a carry up the middle.
Some loose enough touches by Sam Prendergast today. Not been the best performance of his very young career to this point. Bath have done a good job of targeting his channel during rare bouts of possession, as well.
Prendergast has by no means been terrible or anything, to be clear. Just an interesting challenge for him so far today.
18 Jan
6:47PM
51′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Speaking of loose touches, Leinster fashion some space down the left but Jamie Osborne fires a ball out to Josh van der Flier, who can’t hold it. It flies into touch.
Leinster, though, are stressing that Bath defence, testing their lungs. Feels like a matter of time from this vantage point.
52′ - TRYYYYYYYYYYYYY! WHAT A TEAM SCORE BY LEINSTER! FINISHED OFF BY RG SNYMAN!
That’s the bonus point, too!
Virtually every player in dark blue touched the ball, there. A wonderful little delayed pass by Prendergast in there too.
Deft hands across the board and Leinster eventually move towards the Bath 5′. Snyman does the rest, reaching for the line like Michael Jordan in Space Jam.
Prendergast converts from right of centre. Leinster lead by five!
18 Jan
6:53PM
55′ – LEIN 26-21 BAT: Bath win a penalty in Leinster’s half as Prendergast tries to run his way out of a bout of kick-tennis and gets isolated.
Russell pings Bath to within about 10. Lineout for the visitors.
They win it and bang it up the middle but Garry Ringrose forces a knock-on from Alfie Barbeary — what a hit! Superb by the centre-turned-wing.
62′ - TRRYYYYYYYYY! GARRY RINGROSE ALL BUT SEALS IT!!!
Prendergast with a beautiful step through the Bath defence and an offload off the ground to Henshaw.
Leinster swing right where their numbers pay dividends and Ringrose carries one over, practically under the posts.
Prendergast converts.
I know it’s early but that’ll be game over, folks.
18 Jan
7:03PM
63′ – LEIN 33-21 BAT: Ross Molony gets two big receptions from the home crowd: one as he’s withdrawn, and another as he comes back on moments later as an injury sub!
Ross Byrne with the up-and-under. Hugo Keenan with the brilliant chase and contest. The ball bobbles backwards and Gibson-Park gathers it to take one to the house!
Ross Byrne converts for the big 4-0.
18 Jan
7:13PM
71′ – LEIN 40-21 BAT: Robbie Henshaw just lifted Garry Ringrose in a Leinster lineout. Taken cleanly by Ringrose but Leinster pinged for crossing as they attempt to set up the maul.
Officially into ‘enjoying themselves’ territory. The game ended with the red card but it was always likely to turn this way regardless.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
69 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
As it happened: Leinster v Bath, Champions Cup
How’s tricks, everyone? Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Leinster’s final Champions Cup pool game, in which they’ll host Bath at the Aviva Stadium.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here and I’ll bring you live updates of all the scores and big moments if you can’t make it to Landsdowne Road or to a TV (RTÉ 2/Premier Sports) this evening.
The URC leaders and the Premiership leaders will go at it from 5:30pm. Leinster are chasing the highest seed possible and home advantage in the knockouts. Bath are chasing the point, or points, that would steer them into the last 16.
Let’s go!
Bath are locked and loaded with recent Leinster man Ross Molony starting at second row alongside former Ireland international and Connacht lock Quinn Roux.
For Leinster, Garry Ringrose becomes Garry Wingrose! Nah, Gav, cop on…
Jordie Barrett partners Robbie Henshaw in midfield. Max Deegan starts at blindside and Jack Conan gets the nod at eight.
Leinster
Bath
How do you see this one going?
Poll Results:
Five minutes to kick-off at the Aviva. Still time to boil the kettle if you’ve been on the fence.
1′ LEIN 0-0 BAT: Finn Russell gets the game underway and Bath have regathered the kick-off in Leinster’s half.
2′ - TRRYYYY FOR THE VISITORS! THEY BREACH LEINSTER’S BLITZ ALMOST IMMEDIATELY!
Bath go wide-wide: Finn Russell slings a bridge pass out to Ted Hill who steams down the tracks towards the line.
Hill is stopped but Alfie Barbeary arrives at pace and blasts his way over the line on the left-hand side.
Russell nails the conversion from wide left.
What a start for Johann van Graan’s men!
6′ – LEIN 0-7 BAT: BIG chance for Bath again!
Their own linespeed forces an error from Andrew Osborne in midfield and Finn Russell fly-hacks into open field.
The ball dribbles towards the line and as Russell bends to scoop it, Sam Prendergast kicks it over his own line where it’s dotted down by Deegan.
Five-metre scrum for Bath, now.
7′ - TRYYYYYYYYY FOR BATH AGAIN! Wow! Electric by the visitors.
They attack the slightly shorter side off the scrum through Barbeary. Russell takes it towards the line and pops to Tom de Glanville, and he bounces and rolls over the line.
Russell, again, nails the extras from a tough angle. Bath lead by 14 in Dublin!
10′ - TRYYYYYYYYY! LEINSTER RESPOND IMMEDIATELY! ROBBIE HENSHAW!
The hosts gain a foothold in the Bath 22′ after good work by Jordie Barrett. Jamison Gibson-Park swings it openside to Hugo Keenan. The fullback feeds Henshaw on an inside line and the Ireland centre crashes over on the right-hand side.
Sam Prendergast is wide with the conversion, which was about 10 metres infield from the touchline but still a tricky angle.
15′ – LEIN 5-14 BAT: A brilliant Leinster attack almost puts Barrett over in the right-hand corner but he offloads blindly behind him as he’s tackled, and the pass is intercepted by a scrambling Bath defender.
Leinster, though, win a penalty as Bath try to plot their exit. I didn’t quite see what that was given for — apologies. But Leinster will have a five-metre lineout.
Big chance!
16′ - TRYYYYYYYYY! HENSHAW AGAIN! He crashes over from close range.
Leinster are suckin’ diesel now.
Prendergast chips over the gimme conversion and Leinster trail by only two.
Some start to this game, but it’s been decidedly one-way traffic since Bath made their brilliant start.
23′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: I referred to Andrew Osborne earlier — it is of course his older brother Jamie on the wing, sorry.
Finn Russell is off for what I think is a HIA for Bath. Would be a massive blow for the visitors to lose him, obviously.
Leinster playing with a lot more ball in hand here than they have in recent weeks, at times resembling a Stuart Lancaster-influenced team in possession. Jordie Barrett has been sensational on both sides of the ball and Hugo Keenan is making a huge difference.
Bath digging in well, though, in fairness.
25′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Russell coming back on for Bath which is good news for them and for the game as a spectacle.
26′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Leinster have an attacking platform on the Bath 22′ after Ollie Lawrence tackled Keenan without the ball.
Van der Flier runs one straight at Ross Molony, who stands up well to the offensive hit. Barbeary then wins a penalty with a superb jackal poach.
Stout defence by Bath, who are defending well in close quarters but have struggled when Leinster have found the edge.
32′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Miles Reid makes a nice half-break up the middle for Bath but Molony concedes the pen as he clears out McCarthy beyond the ruck!
Leinster lineout on the Bath 22′ once more.
They look to attack wide left and Osborne is tackled without the ball. Leinster penalty once more.
Prendergast taps and goes, but none of his teammates were tuned in.
Hugo Keenan eventually knocks on.
33′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Leinster’s scrum looks to come under pressure but Rabah Slimani actually wins the penalty on our far side!
And upon a replay, that’s the correct decision by the touch judge on that side as Beno Obano was folded. Leinster to go again with a five-metre lineout!
34′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Leinster take it to within inches but Josh van der Flier knocks it on at the base of a ruck right under the sticks.
Bath celebrate. JP Ferreira will enjoy his side’s strength there under savage pressure.
But… Uh oh! Leinster are going to get another penalty — at least — for a high hit by Obano on Gibson-Park, whose eyebrow is bleeding.
35′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Obano is yellowed. Right call. He was too high, it was head-to-head contact, but Gibson-Park’s last-second sidestep was sufficient mitigation to avoid red.
Leinster call for a scrum and Bath are going to need to make a change, now, as Obano goes off for 10 minutes.
Luke McGrath on for JGP who’ll be checked for a head injury.
36′ – LEIN 12-14 BAT: Slimani wins another scrum penalty. Leinster go back to the scrum, where they’re beginning to turn the screw.
37′ - TRYYYYYY! JACK CONAN!
Leinster’s power inevitably tells and the skipper on the day burrows over having initially been stopped off the back of the scrum.
Leinster, who were down 14-0, lead 19-14 as Prendergast chips over the afters!
40′ - TRYYYYYYY! OH MY DAYS, WHAT A SCORE FOR BATH!
It’s De Glanville again who finishes it off, but it was all about Ollie Lawrence who arced a massive hole in Leinster’s defence before popping outside to his fullback.
Wonderful try. And Russell makes a wonderful kick from near-enough the right-hand touchline. Bath are going to lead at the break!
Jaysus, what a half!
Bath blitzed Leinster for two early tries, both of which were converted by Russell. That made for 14-0 to the visitors.
But sustained Leinster pressure told to the tune of three tries — two of them converted by Prendergast — and a Bath yellow card to boot.
And then, from absolutely nowhere, with the clock red, Bath strike again for a third try of their own. Russell gives them the half-time lead.
Catch you in 15!
41′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Sam Prendergast gets the action back underway at Lansdowne Road.
Looking forward to this second half. Would fancy Leinster to pull away, particularly with their bench, but Bath have been really good so far.
Let’s see what happens!
45′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Some sensational touches by Jordie Barrett once more and Leinster work it into the Bath 22′ — but the move breaks down with a disconnect on a the tip-on pass by Prendergast.
Bath win a jackal penalty over the loose ball and Finn Russell rockets them up to the Leinster 22′. Serious line-kick by the Scottish out-half.
45′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Bath pinged for crossing off second phase. Prendergast finds touch up towards halfway.
Bath are back to 15 men, by the way, with Obano returning from the bold-boy step.
47′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Leinster have a couple more big hitters on now in the shape of Caelan Doris and RG Snyman.
Doris just steamrolled Russell with a carry up the middle.
Some loose enough touches by Sam Prendergast today. Not been the best performance of his very young career to this point. Bath have done a good job of targeting his channel during rare bouts of possession, as well.
Prendergast has by no means been terrible or anything, to be clear. Just an interesting challenge for him so far today.
51′ – LEIN 19-21 BAT: Speaking of loose touches, Leinster fashion some space down the left but Jamie Osborne fires a ball out to Josh van der Flier, who can’t hold it. It flies into touch.
Leinster, though, are stressing that Bath defence, testing their lungs. Feels like a matter of time from this vantage point.
52′ - TRYYYYYYYYYYYYY! WHAT A TEAM SCORE BY LEINSTER! FINISHED OFF BY RG SNYMAN!
That’s the bonus point, too!
Virtually every player in dark blue touched the ball, there. A wonderful little delayed pass by Prendergast in there too.
Deft hands across the board and Leinster eventually move towards the Bath 5′. Snyman does the rest, reaching for the line like Michael Jordan in Space Jam.
Prendergast converts from right of centre. Leinster lead by five!
55′ – LEIN 26-21 BAT: Bath win a penalty in Leinster’s half as Prendergast tries to run his way out of a bout of kick-tennis and gets isolated.
Russell pings Bath to within about 10. Lineout for the visitors.
They win it and bang it up the middle but Garry Ringrose forces a knock-on from Alfie Barbeary — what a hit! Superb by the centre-turned-wing.
60′ – LEIN 26-21 BAT: WOW. Beno Obano receives a second yellow card as Leinster fold him for the third or fourth time in the scrum.
Bath had been warned when the previous scrum went to the ground. Unfortunate for the loosehead but dem’s the breaks.
62′ - TRRYYYYYYYYY! GARRY RINGROSE ALL BUT SEALS IT!!!
Prendergast with a beautiful step through the Bath defence and an offload off the ground to Henshaw.
Leinster swing right where their numbers pay dividends and Ringrose carries one over, practically under the posts.
Prendergast converts.
I know it’s early but that’ll be game over, folks.
63′ – LEIN 33-21 BAT: Ross Molony gets two big receptions from the home crowd: one as he’s withdrawn, and another as he comes back on moments later as an injury sub!
68′ - TRYYYYYYY! GIBSON-PARK!
Ross Byrne with the up-and-under. Hugo Keenan with the brilliant chase and contest. The ball bobbles backwards and Gibson-Park gathers it to take one to the house!
Ross Byrne converts for the big 4-0.
71′ – LEIN 40-21 BAT: Robbie Henshaw just lifted Garry Ringrose in a Leinster lineout. Taken cleanly by Ringrose but Leinster pinged for crossing as they attempt to set up the maul.
Officially into ‘enjoying themselves’ territory. The game ended with the red card but it was always likely to turn this way regardless.
77′ - TRYYYYY! SNYMAN AGAIN!
Leinster racking it up now as the big Bok dots down from close range again. Byrne converts. Bath want home.
Job well and truly done by Leinster, who were sublime for much of that second half.
They survive an early scare to dish out a beating to the Premiership leaders, who were reduced to 14 men in the second half.
That’s it from me — thanks for joining us for live updates!
Murray Kinsella will have a report and reaction from the Aviva, so keep an eye on The 42 for all of that.
Catch you soon!
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Liveblog Rugby Sport Liveblog