LeinsterRugby

2022 - 12 - 10

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Image courtesy of "RTE.ie"

Champions Cup: Racing 92 v Leinster - updates (RTE.ie)

13:00 · TEAM NEWS · Racing 92: Max Spring; Christian Wade, Francis Saili, Gael Fickou (capt), Juan Imhoff; Finn Russell, Nolann Le Garrec; Eddy Ben Arous, Camille ...

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Image courtesy of "Irish Mirror"

Leinster v Racing 92 live updates from the Champions Cup clash (Irish Mirror)

Leinster get their Champions Cup campaign underway as Leo Cullen's look to carry their impressive United Rugby Championship form into European competition.

Ross Byrne kicks to touch to take Leinster up around midfield. Byrne makes no mistake with the extras and Leinster are seven ahead already. James Ryan and Jason Jenkins are partnered in the second row. Racing eventually turn the ball over and get it clear; an important denial as the Blues looked to punch in another score. Lowe hares forward after some smart passes crossfield from Leinster before he lays it off to Garry Ringrose who has the pace and composure to streak in for try number three. Leinster had been building in attack and got through a wealth of phases before the pop pass to Josh van der Flier set the World Rugby Player of the Year free to dig in and ground the try. Bonus point try for Leinster as immense pressure finally pays to register the first try of the second half. Van der Flier can't believe his luck as a wide gap appears which he then eats up to race in for his second try of the day. And Ed Byrne was on hand just eight minutes later to burrow in for another Leinster try from more or less the exact same position as van der Flier before him; underneath the posts. Extras were again added by Byrne and Leinster headed in for half-time with a substantial 18 point lead. As Racing became brittle in withstanding the pressure, the maul broke apart and in went Andrew Porter to ground the game's first try. Byrne added the tough conversion to stretch Leinster's lead to 11 points.

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Times"

Live Champions Cup - Racing 92 vs Leinster (The Irish Times)

All the action from Le Havre as Leinster start their European campaign with a tough assignment on the road.

A few offloads from Racing threaten to break the line but Doris gets in over the ball to win the turnover. Leinster turn down the easy 3 and go to the corner. All of a sudden Leinster have a platform deep inside the Racing half. Clever really, they wait and wait for Racing to start pushing at the scrum, Gibson-Park doesn’t put the ball in and Pearce has to penalise them for repeated early shoves. Russell points to the posts and will try to get his side on the board. They stop the maul and haul Sheehan down close to the line and after a series of brutal collisions around the fringes, Jenkins spills in contact. Wade tries to throw the offload but it hits the deck and then Russell knocks on when he tries to regather. They did a job on Leinster’s breakdown and dislodged the ball a number of times in contact. Byrne and Ngatai combine to rip the ball out but Porter then plays it off his feet, gifting Racing a penalty. First of all Russell nearly pulls off the 50:22, a superb kick but then Lowe comes across to keep the ball in play cleverly. After a break from deep, Woki looked to have a canter to the line but the Leinster wing tracks back and hauls him down from behind. 61 mins: The handling from Byrne and then Doris is excellent as Leinster patiently pick holes in the Racing defence.

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Image courtesy of "Independent.ie"

European Champions Cup: Racing 92 v Leinster (Independent.ie)

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Image courtesy of "Irish Post"

Leinster vs Racing 92 preview (Irish Post)

Leinster return to European rugby action later today when they take on French side Racing 92 (1pm...

They’re a passionate bunch and playing really well so it’s going to be a tough match no matter where you’re playing them.” Hugo Keenan: “I think going on to an Astro pitch indoors would have been nearly more of a challenge. Chouzenoux, A. Bresler, B. Palu, A. Nyakane, B. Leo Cullen's have won all of their 9 fixtures in the United Rugby Championship this year. The Top 14 side lie in second place in their domestic table Teams for the game The team is in Odds for the game Here are more details for the game later today.

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Image courtesy of "The42"

After their travel nightmare, Leinster must be close to best against ... (The42)

Garry Ringrose captains Leinster today. Image: Billy Stickland/INPHO. IT WAS SUPPOSED to be a handy skip across to France yesterday. It turned into a travel ...

Their attacking kicking game creates try-scoring chances but they sometimes leave space in the backfield. They’re lethal in transition but Racing do have a looseness around them at times too. Juan Imhoff is as hard-working a winger as you’ll find but finishes with finesse too, while former Munster man Francis Saili can be impactful with his strike-running in midfield and 21-year-old fullback Max Spring is classy. 20-year-old scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and Scotland’s Finn Russell are an instinctive, creative halfback pairing who will hope to get the array of stars outside them firing. Whatever about the absences, Leinster have many weapons to call on. It’s interesting to see Leinster name Healy as their back-up tighthead again. Being without captain Johnny Sexton and tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong today isn’t ideal but Leinster can back their depth with some confidence. Many teams think this is going to be their season in Europe but there’s a hint of desperation about Leinster’s desire to claim the title for the first time since 2018. They were the lucky ones who actually made it to France. Spare a thought for the travelling supporters who were left stranded in Beauvais and Charles de Gaulle airports yesterday evening. Leinster’s flight was delayed by five hours and after they finally got into the air, they had to circle Le Havre before being diverted to Aéroport Paris-Beauvais. It turned into a travel nightmare for Leinster and their fans.

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