Leinster 47-21 Bath: Hosts knock Premiership leaders out of Investec Champions Cup
2025-01-17
Category: sports

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2Leinster (19) 47Tries: Henshaw 2, Conan, Snyman 2, Ringrose, Gibson-Park Cons: Prendergast 4, R Byrne 2Bath (21) 21Tries: Barbeary, De Glanville 2 Cons: Russell 3
Bath prop Beno Obano was sent off in the second half as Leinster knocked the Premiership leaders out of the Investec Champions Cup.Obano was shown two yellow cards - the first for a high tackle on Jamison Gibson-Park, and the second for a scrum offence which Leinster punished in a clinical final 20 minutes.Benetton's surprise 32-25 victory over La Rochelle at home meant Johann van Graan's side slipped from fourth to fifth in Pool 2, and into the Challenge Cup.Leinster, meanwhile, extended their winning run to 13 matches, booking top spot in the pool and a home last-16 tie.Bath came out the quicker of the two sides and scored twice through Alfie Barbeary and Tom de Glanville.Robbie Henshaw responded with two tries before Jack Conan added a third, but De Glanville crossed for his second as Bath snatched a half-time lead.Two second-half tries from RG Snyman and one each for Garry Ringrose and Gibson-Park punished 14-man Bath.
Leinster bench proves too strong
The top side in the Premiership facing the leaders of the United Rugby Championship promised a mouth-watering match-up in Dublin.Bath knew defeat would leave their qualification hopes out of their hands - and it was clear they were not willing to rely on results elsewhere to determine their fate.Ted Hill's rampaging run helped gain ground for Barbeary to power over, before De Glanville try further quietened the Dublin crowd after Finn Russell's kick through had caused havoc in the Leinster defence.Leinster have won every game this season and came into the game fresh off an away victory at La Rochelle.The Irish province clicked into gear as Henshaw sharply finished two tries - the second assisted through sharp hands by New Zealand centre Jordie Barrett.The four-time winners are known for blowing sides away in Dublin, but were left frustrated by Bath until captain Conan forced his way over to take the lead, with Obano in the sin-bin.Despite being a player down, Ollie Lawrence produced a moment of magic to slice through the Leinster defence and set up De Glanville for his second and an unexpected lead at the break.Leo Cullen's side unloaded internationals Caelan Doris and Snyman from their bench early in the second half, which indicated just how well the visitors were smothering their attack.A sublime Snyman offload helped gain territory for the South Africa lock to then stretch over and finish the score he started.The replacements improved Leinster's scrum, and two penalties and another yellow card for Obano followed.The Premiership side would have had a tough task dealing with Leinster's bench, containing eight internationals, with a full complement of players, and simply had too much to do following Obano's dismissal.Having been defeated late in the past three Champions Cup finals, Leinster will hope their new added depth will be the difference this year.
Line-ups
Leinster: Keenan; Ringrose; Henshaw, Barrett; J Osborne, Prendergast, Gibson-Park;  Porter, Kelleher, Slimani; J McCarthy, Ryan; Deegan, van der Flier, Conan (capt).Replacements: G McCarthy, Healy, Clarkson, Snyman, Doris, McGrath, R Byrne, J O'Brien.Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga; Lawrence, Ojomoh; McConnochi; Russell, Spencer; Obano, Annett, Stuart; Roux, Molony; Hill, Reid, Barbeary.Replacements: Dunn, van Wyk, du Toit, Ewels, Bayliss, Schreuder, Bailey, Coetzee.Red card: Beno Obano (60)Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)