Champions Cup: Bayonne 13 Leinster 22 (report)
“Job not quite done, but despite looking blunt and being behind for 74 minutes Leinster again found a way to provide further testimony to their depth and mental strength when seemingly in a pickle,” Gerry Thornley writes of this afternoon’s victory at Stade Jean Dauger.
“Leinster have had more commanding campaigns to this juncture but in the heel of the hunt they extended their exceptional unbeaten run to 31 consecutive pool matches in beating Bayonne to top their Champions Cup group for the fourth season running with a hard-earned 22-13 win in one of the true fortresses of French rugby.”
Read Gerry’s talking point of the game in full below:
[ Leinster resilience finds a way at Bayonne fortressOpens in new window ]
Next up it’s Munster against Castres from Thomond Park. You can follow with me here.
Two crucial tries in the second half:
80 mins: Try for Leinster! They get a third try at the end, with Bayonne’s spirit dashed. They win the ball from a Bayonne lineout and then Max Deegan gets it over in the corner.
Full-time: Bayonne 13 Leinster 22
Job done by Leinster, looked dicey at times against an inspired Bayonne. Wasn’t pretty in wet conditions, but it’s four wins from four in the pool stage, can’t ask for much more than that.
77 mins: A big blow for Bayonne after a great performance, can they respond? More grit and determination in big moments for Leinster, even if there was an element of luck to the decisive moment. Leinster win a penalty as they look to see it out. As it stands, Leinster guaranteed to top the pool.
75 mins: Try for Leinster! Some luck with the bounce, Byrne kicks it high under the posts and it bounces perfectly into Prendergast’s hands for an easy try. Byrne taps it over under the posts. Leinster lead for the first time in the game.
Bayonne 13 Leinster 17
68 mins: Penalty missed by Bayonne! It’s just not happening for Leinster as they’re blown through by a strong Bayonne maul. But they get a reprieve with a rare miss by Segonds.
63 mins: What a minute of action as Leinster misplay their lineout but a kick bounces up nicely to Prendergast who hits a wonderful grubber into Jimmy O’Brien to score in the corner. Had been given as a try, but the replay shows he let it go to knock on. Frustrating.
60 mins: Penalty scored by Bayonne! Massive kick by the exceptional Segonds, who scores from halfway straight over the posts after Leinster were penalised for offside. Jantjies is back on to make it 15 v 15 too. Bayonne back ahead.
Bayonne 13 Leinster 10
57 mins: Try for Leinster! Of course, it’s that man Dan Sheehan! Good maul by Leinster, Ryan calls for his team to go, then Kenny with an incisive run, good pass by Prendergast, O’Brien gives to Sheehan to run in. Then a very good conversion by Byrne. Back level!
Bayonne 10 Leinster 10
54 mins: Excellent clearance by Segonds from his own five-metre line way up the pitch in touch.
51 mins: Will it open up now? Jantjies illegally intercepting the ball and gets a yellow card for Bayonne. Need a try in this stretch as Byrne kicks for touch. But they’re turned over yet again. Bayonne strong in the breakdown.
In the other game in the pool on at the moment, Stormers lead Leicester 22-21, which would put them second. Leinster still top.
49 mins: Leinster have ramped up the intensity, Snyman getting through contact and offloading, but lacking creativity so far. Need something to happen.
46 mins: Leinster turn over the scrum and Gibson-Park charges towards the line and Leinster have a great chance, but they’re slowed down again and struggling to make ground. Then unsurprisingly turned over. Wasted again. Meanwhile, Dan Sheehan is on for Kelleher, can he make the difference?
44 mins: Prendergast’s first action is a grubber kick as he tries to make things happen. Then Jimmy O’Brien nearly fields a high ball but falls and Doris knocks it forward.
The second half starts and Tommy O’Brien looks like he’s pulled his calf in the first play, which means Sam Prendergast is stripping off ready to go.
39 mins: Chance for Bayonne after the lineout, Tagi the prop going through but doesn’t have the pace, lays off to Jantjies but he’s knocked into touch well by Deegan.
40 mins: Orabe chases a kick and Jimmy O’Brien is under serious pressure, Leinster survive but happy to just go off the field for half-time.
Half-time: Bayonne 10 Leinster 3
A lot of work for Leinster to do in the second half, they’re deservedly behind. Not looking like one of the favourites for the competition so far.
37 mins: The ball sits up nicely from a bounce for Tuilagi but Leinster intercept and Kelleher and Gibson-Park get up the pitch, but they’re turned over. Ioane has been brought on off the bench.
33 mins: Good chance for Leinster after Snyman takes the lineout cleanly and they advance towards the five-metre line. Gibson-Park pinging the passes but Bayonne’s defence is firm.
Henshaw gets within a few metres, but Boyle gets knocked back a few more, but a superb offload by Snyman to Clarkson, who is scrambling to get it over the line. TMO check, but may not get the try.
No try, double movement as the referee Pearce said “got a bit greedy”.
29 mins: Bayonne have been playing well so far, good with ball in hand, although a good tackle by O’Brien leads to a knock-on by Lomidze.
26 mins: Good interplay by Leinster’s backs after a lineout, then a superb kick by Byrne into the corner to Kenny who just can’t keep a hold of it! Missed chance.
24 mins: Penalty scored by Bayonne! Excellent kick from distance by Segonds after Leinster infringed in a maul.
Bayonne 10 Leinster 3
22 mins: Penalty scored by Leinster! Byrne knocks one over from short range.
Brilliant run by Jimmy O’Brien who collects a kick and charges 30 metres. The ball is with the backs and Bayonne give up a penalty. Gibson-Park tries a crossfield kick that doesn’t work, but back for the penalty and they opt for the posts.
Bayonne 7 Leinster 3
19 mins: Early change for Leinster as Furlong is swapped for Clarkson in the frontrow.
Some possession for Leinster and Byrne tries to find Tommy O’Brien in the corner, but just slightly overhit.
15 mins: Try for Bayonne! Leinster’s defence ripped open by Orabe after the scrum, who expertly runs through a gap and slips Maqala in to speed through for a try. Segonds adds the extras and Bayonne take the lead.
Bayonne 7 Leinster 0
11 mins: After a scrum, Gibson-Park with a crisp pass to Byrne and then Kenny on the wing, but he’s put out of play. Then a bright piece of play from Kenny, who runs to the other wing with serious pace, but is smashed with a tackle and misses the pass.
8 mins: Leinster escape with the ball from the maul after the lineout, Boyle grabbing it, and Gibson-Park clears. Leinster then knock the ball on and from the scrum, the scrumhalf Jantjies goes quickly and finds spring. Byrne covers but put out of play in the corner.
Five-metre scrum for Bayonne, but they’re turned over by Leinster! Strong scrum.
5 mins: Turnover by captain Doris early on after Bayonne won a few aerials. Solid scrum by Leinster, but they lose it around halfway, then give away a penalty for obstruction. Bayonne kick into touch for an attacking lineout.
2 mins: Early possession for Bayonne then they exchange a few kicks back and forth, kick tennis on a wet day in the south of France.
Caelan Doris leads the Leinster team out to the pitch, wearing white today.
In the Challenge Cup, Ulster have beaten Stade Francais 26-19 with a bonus point in Belfast to win their pool.
Here’s Gerry Thornley’s match preview:
“When the fixtures were unveiled, Leinster players, management and supporters alike circled this Pool Three finale for its setting, novelty value and potential high stakes.
“As it transpires, Bayonne are already out of contention, but this remains an attractive and significant game in Leinster’s season.
“Bayonne’s lack of tangible reward should enhance Leinster’s prospects of a 30th consecutive pool win and favourable passage in the knock-out stages.
“But history shows us to beware a French side swinging from the hip against celebrated opposition in front of their fans. And, though beaten by Stormers here in round one, this is regarded as the ultimate fortress in French rugby.”
[ Leinster can get valuable win if they conquer French rugby’s ultimate fortressOpens in new window ]
More on the defence from Nathan Johns, who writes that a fascinating dynamic is at work under Jacques Nienaber in the province’s Champions Cup campaign as more and more opponents find ways to exploit Leinster’s imperfections.
[ The Jacques Nienaber conundrum: What’s going on with Leinster’s defence?Opens in new window ]
Matt Williams critiques Leinster’s defence today in his column, writing “If Leinster are to win the URC or the Champions Cup, they need to have some deeply honest and open discussions about the frailties of their defensive system because defence wins championships.
“There are three main scenarios that defensive systems have to deal with. The first two are when the number of attacking players and defenders are equal. The second is when there are more defenders than attackers. Leinster’s system is coping with both of these scenarios.
“When Leinster’s rushing defence is faced with more attackers than defenders, then the system is deeply vulnerable to failure. Last weekend, when La Rochelle had superior attacking numbers, it was their inability to quickly transfer the ball to the flanks, where Leinster are leaving huge tracks of space, that cost them the game.
“What should deeply worry Leinster is that Toulouse, Bordeaux, Bath and Northampton all have players with exceptional catching and passing skills that can exploit these spaces.”
Read more from Williams:
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Leinster against Bayonne, in the final round of the Champions Cup pool stage. Kick-off at Stade Jean Dauger is at 3.15pm. Leinster are in a strong position in their pool after three wins from three, and can guarantee top spot with a win against the French opposition. They will have one eye on the top seeding though as well, given to the top two teams with the most points in the pool stage, as it would ensure home advantage all the way to the Champions Cup final. Still some business to be done here though first before thinking ahead. Here are the teams:
Leinster: J O’Brien; T O’Brien, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Kenny; H Byrne, J Gibson-Park; J Boyle, R Kelleher, T Furlong; RG Snyman, J Ryan; M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt). Replacements: D Sheehan, J Cahir, T Clarkson, J McCarthy, S Penny, L McGrath, S Prendergast, R Ioane.
Bayonne: J Tiberghien; T Spring, S Maqala, M Tuilagi, Y Orabe; J Segonds, H Jantjies; I Calles, L Martin, L Tagi; E Johnson, L Paulos; A Fischer, A Iturria, N Lomidze. Replacements: F Bosch, E Tumania, E Setiano, AG Iandolino, B Heguy, M Ariceta, G Martocq, V Hannoun
