Dan Sheehan back with bang as Leinster bank another bonus-point win
The fit-again Dan Sheehan bagged tries in either half at the Aviva Stadium this evening as Leinster cemented their status as United Rugby Championship pace-setters with a commanding bonus point triumph over DHL Stormers.
Playing for the first time since injuring his anterior cruciate ligament last July in Ireland’s first Test on their summer tour of South Africa, Sheehan showed few ill-effects of his long lay-off as he crossed over in the 40th and 62nd minute to help Leinster claim their 10th consecutive URC victory.
In the absence of a plethora of international stars, Leinster were aiming to make it 14 wins from 14 across all competitions in the 2024/25 season and Leo Cullen’s men opened up a 10-point lead over their Cape Town counterparts before the clocked had even reached 12 minutes.
Following an early breakthrough penalty by Ross Byrne, Andrew Osborne (whose older brother Jamie was recently named in Ireland’s squad for the Six Nations Championship) rounded off an extended move with a smooth finish in the right-corner.
Yet although a touchline conversion from Byrne further established Leinster’s authority, a Stormers side containing a host of players who have been capped by South Africa at Test level eventually came to life in the 21st minute.
After being camped inside the Leinster ‘22’, the visitors moved the ball across the field where Ben Loader was ideally placed to dot down on the right wing.
In the wake of a successful bonus strike from Springbok star Manie Libbok reducing their advantage to three points, Leinster suffered a double blow when Liam Turner and Luke McGrath were both withdrawn because of injury – the latter stretchered off the pitch after receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch.
However, thanks to a brace of returning performers, it nevertheless proved to be a bright end to the opening period for Leinster. Also back in the Leinster starting line-up after recovering from a recent calf injury, Lowe put Sheehan through at the end of a fast-paced attack for his 37th provincial try.
A wayward conversion by Byrne meant Leinster brought a 15-7 cushion into the second half, but despite some stubborn resistance from Stormers on the resumption, All Blacks star Jordie Barrett touched down to the left of the posts – via a neat pass by flanker Scott Penny – for his side’s third try on 58 minutes.
This put Leinster within reach of a bonus point and after he gathered a delicate kick towards the left-wing from Lowe at the beginning of the final-quarter, Sheehan made no mistake with another clinical finish over the line.
While the TMO ruled out what would have been a popular try for Lowe moments after Leinster pulled 22 points clear, Osborne joined Sheehan in recording a brace of five-pointers on the stroke of 70 minutes.
The Stormers did add a second try in the closing moments when No 8 Evan Roos supplied the finishing touches to a line-out maul, but it served as a mere consolation for the travelling South African outfit.
Tries: D Sheehan 2, A Osborne 2, J Barrett Cons: R Byrne 4 Pens: R Byrne
Tries: B Loade, E Roos Cons: M Libbok
H McErlean (W Connors 64); A Osborne, L Turner (C Tector 29), J Barrett, J Lowe; R Byrne, L McGrath (C Foley 39) (B Deeny 76)); J Boyle (P McCarthy 61), D Sheehan (J McKee 63), R Slimani (R McGuire 70); RG Snyman, B Deeny (D Mangan 55); A Soroka (J Culhane 60), S Penny, M Deegan.
W Gelant; B Loader, R Nel, J Roche, L Zas; M Libbok (W Simelane 39), P De Wet (H Jantjies 63); A Vermaak (S Sithole 63), J Dweba (A-H Venter 53), N Fouche (B Harris 63); JD Schickerling (S Moerat 30), R Van Heerden; D Fourie (P De Villiers 63), B-J Dixon (M Theunissen 64), E Roos.
Eoghan Cross (IRFU).