Leinster vs Scarlets: Player Ratings
- 3270
Leinster
- Rob Kearney – 7/10
Good kicking out of hand in the first half. Was comfortable under the high ball and was unlucky not to get in for a try in the 2nd period.
- Fergus McFadden – 7/10
A couple of handling errors but he finished his try expertly. It was unfortunate that he had to leave the field through injury immediately afterwards.
- Garry Ringrose – 8/10
The outside centre was pivotal to Leinster’s defence today. He shot out of the line on a couple of occasions, making great man-and-ball tackles. He didn’t have many opportunities to get a run at the Scarlets defence today but his distribution created space for his teammates out wide.
- Robbie Henshaw – 9/10
Great passing to put his teammates through holes. He made some great carries as well which got Leinster over the gainline. Assisted his forwards at times with the pick and go’s. Epitomises the combination of skill and doggedness of this Leinster side.
- Isa Nacewa – 7/10
The kiwi import was quiet enough today, as his side played predominantly through the forwards. Nonetheless he made a couple of clean breaks for his side and attracted the attention of defenders to give his teammates more space.
- Jonathan Sexton – 9/10
Another immaculate performance by the Irish number 10. His kicking, both out of hand and from the tee was flawless. He stretched the Scarlets defence by taking it to the line and got over for a try after a clever show and go. He really wants another European medal.
- Jamison Gibson-Park – 8/10
The kiwi scrum-half was called back into the squad, due to the absence of Luke McGrath. He looked up for the challenge, as he marched his forwards around the field with good distributary skills. He didn’t look to snipe as often as usual but that wasn’t necessary, as his forwards made the yards. His good box kicking took the heat off of Sexton.
- Jordi Murphy – 7/10
Off to Ulster at the end of the season, the backrow continues to keep Conan out of the side, even after his return from injury. He carried 8 times and made 10 tackles, which was an average day at the office for the former Blackrock College man.
- Dan Leavy – 8/10
Another abrasive performance by the MOTM from the Quarter final. Held up Scarlets players winning turnovers for his side. Carried low and hard in tight, and made a couple of massive hits in defence.
- Scott Fardy – 8/10
High tackle gave Scarlets the opportunity to get the first points on the board. Piled on the pressure on Davies’ box kicking, successfully blocking him down. Went on to get over for a great try and was unlucky not to get over for another. A good option at the lineout as well when the attention of the opposition is drawn towards Toner.
- James Ryan – 9/10
A handling error early on seemed to lead to him increasing his intensity around the field. Made up for it by scoring the first try of the game minutes later. Went from strength to strength after that, making the most carries in the Leinster side with 16.
- Devin Toner – 8/10
The lineout operated magnificently and a lot of that was down to their gargantuan 2nd row reaching high to claim the ball every time.
- Tadhg Furlong – 6/10
Not his best game in blue today. The scrum was shaky enough at times and he knocked on a metre from the line in the 2nd half, giving Scarlets the ball when Leinster were threatening.
- Sean Cronin – 6/10
Asked questions of the Scarlets’ defence as he carried direct whenever he got the ball. Was a little outmuscled at times, especially when he was defending. A high tackle on Barclay gave scarlets an easy out from inside their 22.
- Cian Healy – 7/10
Got over for a try after a powerful, hard line in the first half. Helped Leinster make the hard yards, around the ruck, with some great carrying.
Scarlets
- Rhys Patchell – 7/10
Covered fantastically to clean-up the clever kicks in behind from Sexton. He looked to be exhausted on a couple of occasions as he scrambled across the pitch. Maybe better linking with his back-three teammates could’ve saved him from covering so much ground.
- Leigh Halfpenny – 5/10
His kicking at goal kept Scarlets in the game in the first half. He was very quiet other than that and that maybe could be put down to playing out of position.
- Scott Williams – 6/10
In his final European game for the Scarlets, he was one of the few that didn’t switch off when the game was lost. He made an amazing try-saving tackle on Kearney towards the end, but then threw a silly quick lineout that coughed up possession and gave it to Leinster. That kind of summed up Scarlets’ efforts today, trying their hardest but almost forcing it at time.
- Hadleigh Parkes – 6/10
Completely outclassed by his opposite number today. He really struggled to get into the game in attack but put on a good defensive performance, making 11 tackles and missing nine.
- Steff Evans – 6/10
The Welsh winger was extremely unlucky to be on the losing side today. He tried his best but with his side going backwards, he was up against it. Still he managed to make a couple of clean-breaks, but Leinster made some great in-roads on his wing in attack.
- Dan Jones – 6/10
Jones didn't get much opportunities to show his talent with very little possession. He displayed some good tactical kicking but was outplayed by his opposite number, Sexton.
- Gareth Davies – 6/10
Looked visibly-frustrated as the match wore on. Had no opportunities to run in open field, which he loves to do. He distributed and kicked well but was on the back-foot for the whole game.
- John Barclay – 6/10
Barclay was one of the better Scarlets players and showed a relentless work rate, even late on in the game when the game was dead and buried. He led from the front but struggled against a dominant Leinster back row. A decent defensive performance from the Scottish number 8.
- James Davies – 4/10
Completely played off the park. Looked to force things at times which led to a number of handling errors, and turnovers.
- Aaron Shingler – 4/10
Non-existent for his side. Made just 3 carries and 8 tackles. A lot more would be asked of the Welsh international.
- David Bulbring – 4/10
Did not make a single carry for his side, when they were looking for front-foot ball.
- Tadhg Beirne – 7/10
Got ran over by the mercurial James Ryan for the game’s first try. Other than that, he was one of Scarlets’ only players to standout against a strong Leinster pack. He won a couple of turnovers and got over for a well-deserved try at the death, against his former teammates.
- Samson Lee – 6/10
Great work in the scrum limited Leinster’s opportunities to attack from there. Won a couple of scrum penalties for his side. Was identified and exploited as a weak link in the defence on a couple of occasions.
- Ken Owens – 5/10
Really struggled to perform the ball carrying duties that are expected of him by his team. He was hit hard every time he touched the ball and Leinster obviously had him earmarked as a potential game-winner for their opponents.
- Rob Evans – 6/10
Got the shove on up against Furlong on a couple of occasions, which is not an easy thing to do. Good carrying around the field but threw a couple of silly offloads as his team c
