Leinster player ratings from the San Mamés Stadium as Bordeaux achieve greatness by demolishing the province to become the first back-to-back Champions Cup winners since La Rochelle.
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Leinster's hunt for their fifth star started out strong following the announcement that Paddy McCarthy, Tommy O'Brien, and Tadgh Furlong would all return for the 2026 Champions Cup final. However, it would take each and every one of them to face the most statistically dominant team in European rugby, with Bordeaux topping the tournament in turnovers, meters, tries, and points.
In particular, the threat of the tournament's two top try scorers, Six Nations record breaker Louis Bielle-Biarray and Salesi Rayasi, was the biggest one identified going into the final, as Jacques Nienenaber's defense was faced with one of the most dangerous ball-in-hand teams in temperatures that surpassed 30 degrees.
The ultimate test for the South African coach's system, an early shutout courtesy of Leinster's aggressive line speed allowed the Irish side a rare stop of Bordeaux's usual explosive attack to set the tone. Going on to score the opening try of the game, a world-class defensive effort from Harry Byrne further frustrated Bordeaux as they were denied what looked to be an easy score. Bordeaux managed to crash over eventually off an offside penalty, yet it guaranteed that Leinster were not giving up anything easy
However against the most electric attack in Europe, they could only keep this aggression up for so long as a series of simple penalties allowed Bordeaux easy platforms of attack which they naturally exploited, giving them an early two-score lead that Leinster would need to cut down.
Ultimately, poor set pieces and little control meant that Leinster were unable to deal with the sheer firepower that Bordeaux threw at them, as they offered little to nothing, allowing the French side to perfectly dictate the game. Going into next season, Leinster will need to restructure if they want to match the top French sides. Completely outclassed and outmatched. A practical gift of a try further put the nail in the coffin as Leinster had thrown the game away by half-time. Despite a spirited effort to keep Bordeaux at bay for most of the second half, it was far too little, and far too late.
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Scroll down for Leinster player ratings vs Bordeaux.
Leinster: 19
O' Brien (6')
McCarthy (45')
Ringrose (70')
Byrne (7') Frawley (71')
Bordeaux: 41
- Tries:
Lucu (14')
Uberti(17')
Bielle-Barrey (24' 36')
Moefana (40')
- Cons:
Lucu (14' 17' 24' 36; 40')
- Pens:
Lucu (60') (65')
LEINSTER PLAYER RATINGS VS BORDEAUX:
Player ratings by Liam Reynolds.
15. Hugo Keenan — 3
Irregular, poor mistake to begin the game, allowing Bordeaux an easy platform of attack, extremely lucky to go unpunished. Another mistake of being too aggressive in defense continued his poor run of the day, giving Bordeaux a second platform with a scrum in Leinster's 22, which they would convert. Looked completely lost compared to his usual consistency.
14. Tommy O'Brien — 6
Leinster's premier defensive winger, forced to deal with one of the most dangerous back 3's in the history of European Rugby, off the back of an injury. Beautiful finish in the corner to continue his hot try-scoring form. Aggressive defensively, yet only served to aid Bordeaux's back three, shooting out of line and missing tackles. A victim of Leinster's system.
13. Garry Ringrose — 5
Detailed by analysts in the buildup as the key to Jacques Nienabaer's system shutting down Bordeaux's exotic attack. The usual aggressive line speed gave the French side trouble to begin the game. However, as time went on, this system continued to be exploited by Bordeaux as Leinster tired in the fierce heat.
12. Robbie Henshaw — 4
Lack of game-time in the lead-up to the final meant that the Irish international took time to get up to speed with Leinster's regular attacking lines.
11. Rieko Ioane — 4
Similar to his performance against RC Toulon, he clearly fared better offensively on the wing. However, it looked lost as the last line of defense against Uberti. Eventually resulted in the Bordeaux winger crashing over completely unchallenged, a liability on the day.
10. Harry Byrne — 3
The toughest test of the season to decide once and for all if Harry Byrne truly is the successor to Sexton for Leinster over Sam Prendergast. Came up with a decisive tackle to stop what looked to be a guaranteed try response from the French side. However, a poor response off the back of a Bordeaux try told the story of a mixed game. Completely lost control of the game as time went on, practically throwing the game away with an intercepted pass before half-time. Unable to cope when put under pressure.
9. Jameson Gibson-Park — 6
A perfect matchup of creative rugby minds with Bordeaux's Maxine Lucu. Dealt patiently with Bordeaux's aggressive defense in order to set up an easy finish in the corner to give Leinster the first lead of the match. However, in a game that was largely decided by poor defensive efforts, clearly forced out of his comfort zone, he was stepped excellently by Bielle-Barrey for Bordeaux's third try.
1. Andrew Porter — 4
Faced with his toughest test yet, despite Leinster's scrum dominance in the earlier stages of the tournament. Matching up against veteran international Jefferson Poirot and the tournament's second-highest scrum success rate. Completely outclassed on the day, as Bordeaux's scrum dominated, gifting them easy platforms of attack that were practically guaranteed tries.
2. Dan Sheehan — 3
Gave Leinster an entirely new problem when already dealing with enough as their lineout struggled while Bordeaux thrived in the opening 40 minutes. Has had less impact than usual across the entire tournament and may unexpectedly be under pressure going into next season.
3. Thomas Clarkson — 5
Trusted by Leo Cullen to start the game ahead of Tadgh Furlong after a string of breakout knockout performances in the earlier rounds against RC Toulon, Edinburgh, and Sale. Not entirely at fault as Leinster's scrum were faced by what seemed to be an insurmountable task.
4. Joe McCarthy — 4
With Bordeaux's attack causing almost every Leinster player to struggle, as one of Leinster's most physically dominant players and key ball carriers, he consistently struggled to break the gainline in the face of a nonstop French defense. Leinster's set piece also looked completely dysfunctional, which the Irish international is usually responsible for keeping straight. Took the first half to heart and stepped up in the second half with a score and a crucial turnover that resulted in the dismissal of Maxine Lucu.
5. James Ryan — 5
The only Leinster player who looked as if they were giving a full effort for 80 minutes. Complete flip of his regular game, usually struggling to perform while his teammates stood out. Instead, the Irish near-veteran stood up as the only Irish player who deserved to be on a winning side today.
6. Jack Conan — 3
Performs well when the cards are in Leinster's favor, but looked lost tackling for large periods of today's game. Offered even less in attack for a system that relies on the handling of Leinster's back row, including a knock-on in a key situation when the Irish side were down by 14.
7. Josh Van Der Flier — 4
As Leinster's most key figure in the ruck, he allowed Bordeaux to run rampant for large periods of the game, consistently putting the team on the back foot both defensively and in attack. Carried the deficit of Jack Conan's attempts in defense.
8. Caelan Doris (C) — 4
Leinster's most impressive performer across the tournament, and the key to matching Bordeaux on the scoreboard as the province's top ball carrier, as well as having the highest amount of defenders beaten for Leinster across the entire tournament. Simply did not offer that today, completely outmatched by Bordeaux's forwards on a day that the rest of Leinster's forward packs looked to him for inspiration.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Ronan Kelleher — 5
Little time to make any real impact in the game, struggled in maul defense against a rampant Bordeaux lineout. Yet fewer mistakes than Dan Sheehan's stint at Hooker.
17. Paddy McCarthy — 4
Leinster's handling errors began to kick in once again as McCarthy replaced Porter. Not the reason that Leinster couldn't fight back, but ultimately didn't aid their efforts.
18. Tadgh Furlong — 7
Real impact off the bench. Helped steady Leinster's scrum and won them their first scrum penalty of the day on his first attempt. Regained a foothold in the competition between him and Clarkson in the starting role, looking vastly superior.
19. Diarmuid Mangnan — 5
Spirited in his brief cameo, carrying well and making a nuisance of himself across the park.
20. Max Deegan — 5
Zero time to make any impact. Could have been considered earlier in the game in place of a struggling Jack Conan with his carrying ability and handling.
21. Luke McGrath — 5
Came on with only 7 minutes left.
22. Ciaran Frawley — 6
Came into the game when Leinster were already down by 28. Yet it would have been difficult to have a worse performance than Harry Byrne today. A missed conversation to begin his stint, yet he looked much more controlled than the starter. Questions over whether the Irish side made the correct decision.
23. Jamie Osborne — 5
Called into the game far too late when he could have made a real impact when the chips were down earlier in the first half over Henshaw.
Rugby Quiz: Can you name every previous Champions Cup winner?
Every season has added another name to the roll of honour, a roll call of the teams that have stood tallest in Europe when it mattered most.
Ahead of this weekend’s final in Bilbao, where Leinster and Union Bordeaux Bègles meet for continental glory, this quiz challenges you to go back through the history books and name every Champions Cup winner since the competition began.
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