{"id":34757,"date":"2018-04-22T04:20:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-21T16:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rugbyredefined.com\/wp\/?p=34757"},"modified":"2018-04-22T09:41:36","modified_gmt":"2018-04-21T21:41:36","slug":"leinster-reach-champions-cup-final-after-dominant-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyredefined.com\/wp\/erc-champions-cup\/2018\/04\/leinster-reach-champions-cup-final-after-dominant-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Leinster reach Champions Cup final after dominant win"},"content":{"rendered":"

Follow @RedefinedRugby<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Leinster produced an outstanding display to qualify for the Champions Cup final following a superb 38-16 triumph over the Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Irish province were simply excellent and the first half set the tone, with James Ryan, Cian Healy and Fergus McFadden crossing the whitewash in the opening 40 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their only blemish before the interval came via three kickable penalties, all converted by Leigh Halfpenny, but the 2017 PRO12 champions were overwhelmed by the three-time European winners.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scarlets struggled to find their fluency and Scott Fardy made their task even more difficult by going over early in the second period. Johnny Sexton, who also kicked five conversions and a penalty, then completed the victory, although Tadhg Beirne\u2019s try did provide Wayne Pivac\u2019s charges with some consolation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite a decent start from the Welsh region, which yielded a penalty for Halfpenny, Leo Cullen\u2019s men soon began to dominate proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\n

They were absolutely magnificent from thereon in, with their power, precision and intelligent running lines causing all sorts of issues for the Scarlets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke McGrath\u2019s absence may have been a blow but Jamison Gibson-Park had an easy time of it behind a pack of forwards giving the scrum-half front foot ball.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leinster\u2019s pressure duly told when a well worked lineout sent McFadden free down the right. Although their opponents\u2019 cover defence did well to stop him from scoring, Pivac\u2019s side were powerless to prevent Ryan from touching down from close range.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sexton added the extras before the fly-half and Halfpenny traded three-pointers, leaving the Irish province 10-6 ahead going into the second quarter. Despite the narrow four-point buffer, Cullen\u2019s outfit were controlling matters and deservedly crossed the whitewash for the second time when Healy went over.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once more, the Scarlets responded via the boot of their wing, but the Irishmen were dictating the gainline battle and duly scored their third as Garry Ringrose\u2019s looping pass was collected by McFadden and the 31-year-old finished in the corner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the Ireland pivot\u2019s third conversion, Leinster held a 15-point advantage at the break and it was increased 10 minutes into the second half.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan was again crucial to the score as the lock displayed his vast skill set to break the tackle and offload for Fardy to go over from close range.<\/span><\/p>\n

The game was effectively finished as a contest but Leinster did not reduce the intensity and touched down for the fifth time as Sexton weaved his way to the line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cullen\u2019s side were relentless and could have added to their tally but the Welsh region at least displayed plenty of fight to keep them out in the final quarter. They then had the final word when Beirne scampered across the whitewash, but Leinster were ultimately too good as they moved closer to a record-equalling fourth title.<\/span><\/p>\n

The scorers:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

For Leinster:<\/b><\/span>
\n Tries:<\/b>\u00a0Ryan, Healy, McFadden, Fardy, Sexton<\/span>
\n Cons:<\/b>\u00a0Sexton 5<\/span>
\n Pen:<\/b>\u00a0Sexton<\/span><\/p>\n

For Scarlets:<\/b><\/span>
\n Try:<\/b>\u00a0Beirne<\/span>
\n Con:<\/b>\u00a0Patchell<\/span>
\n Pens:<\/b>\u00a0Halfpenny 3<\/span><\/p>\n

Leinster:<\/b>\u00a015 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Se\u00e1n Cronin, 1 Cian Healy<\/span>
\n Replacements:<\/b>\u00a016 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jordan Larmour<\/span><\/p>\n

Scarlets:<\/b>\u00a015 Rhys Patchell, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 John Barclay, 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Rob Evans<\/span>
\n Replacements:<\/b>\u00a016 Ryan Elias, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 Steve Cummins, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Steff Hughes, 23 Will Boyde<\/span><\/p>\n

Referee:<\/b>\u00a0Romain Poite (France)<\/span>
\n Assistant referees:<\/b>\u00a0Mathieu Raynal (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)<\/span>
\n TMO:<\/b>\u00a0Philippe Bonhoure (France)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

–
\n\"fb_follow\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"rhladrr\"<\/a><\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Follow @RedefinedRugby Leinster produced an outstanding display to qualify for the Champions Cup final following a superb 38-16 triumph over the Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium. The Irish province were simply excellent and the first half set the tone, with James Ryan, Cian Healy and Fergus McFadden crossing the whitewash in the opening 40 minutes….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Leinster reach Champions Cup final after dominant win\r\nhttps:\/\/wp.me\/p9yf19-92B","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4748,4932],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-erc-champions-cup","category-latest-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyredefined.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/18__origin__0x0_Leinster_celebrate_v_Scarlets.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9yf19-92B","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":39954,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyredefined.com\/wp\/erc-champions-cup\/2021\/04\/leinster-battle-back-to-dethrone-defending-champions-in-heineken-champions-cup-epic\/","url_meta":{"origin":34757,"position":0},"title":"Leinster battle back to dethrone defending champions in Heineken Champions Cup epic","author":"rr_admin","date":"April 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Leinster's Hugo Keenan and James Lowe celebrate as Jordan Larmour scores a try Leinster Rugby put in a commanding display to fight back from 14-0 down to defeat Heineken Champions Cup holders Exeter Chiefs 34-22 in a classic quarter-final clash at Sandy Park. 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A late Isa Nacewa penalty proved the difference in a try-less encounter, with Jonathan Sexton kicking nine points for the Irish side. 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