Leinster 36-12 Stormers

Daire Walsh reports from the Aviva Stadium 

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 on Ireland’s tour of South Africa, Sheehan showed few ill-effects of his long lay-off as he crossed in the 40th and 62nd minutes.

Andrew Osborne (two) and Jordie Barrett were also amongst the tries as Leinster shook off the absence of a plethora of internationals to claim their 10th consecutive victory of the URC campaign.

Returning to the starting line-up for the first time since the league victory against Connacht last month, Ross Byrne edged Leinster into the ascendancy by comfortably knocking over a fourth-minute penalty.

The hosts were aiming to make it 14 wins from 14 across all competitions and before the clock had even reached 12 minutes, they had opened up a 10-point lead over their Cape Town counterparts.

While his older brother Jamie is currently amongst the province’s contingent at Ireland’s pre-Six Nations training camp in Portugal, Osborne was afforded a chance to impress in the Leinster back three. After the play was switched towards the right flank off an extended move, All Blacks star Barrett released the Kildare man for a smooth finish in the corner.

A touchline conversion from Byrne further established Leinster’s authority, but 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 – like Osborne before him – 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reducing their advantage to three points, Leinster suffered a double blow when Liam Turner and Luke McGrath were both withdrawn because of injury – the latter being stretchered off the pitch after receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch.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.

Despite being named in the Ireland squad for the Six Nations, James Lowe and Sheehan were named in the Blues’ starting line-up to offer them some much-needed game time after extended spells on the sidelines. After he was put through by Lowe at the end of a fast-paced attack, Sheehan broke free for his 37th provincial try.

A wayward conversion by Byrne meant Leinster brought a 15-7 cushion into the second half and with Stormers also being forced to replace JD Schickerling and Libbok prior to the interval, the momentum was undoubtedly with Leo Cullen’s men on the resumption.

It was a largely scrappy third quarter with Leinster finding it difficult to break down a stubborn Stormers defence, but their persistence finally paid off in the form of a third try on 58 minutes.

Having played a significant part in Osborne and Sheehan’s tries in the first half, Barrett added his own name to the scoresheet by touching down to the left of the posts via a neat pass through the hands of flanker Scott Penny.

This put Leinster within reach of a bonus point and after Sheehan gathered a delicate kick towards the left wing from Lowe at the beginning of the final quarter, the hooker made no mistake with another clinical finish over the line.

In the wake of scoring his second try of the game, Sheehan made way for John McKee and was greeted with a warm reception from the 18,892-strong crowd at Irish Rugby HQ.

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 former Ireland U20s international intercepting a loose ball out of defence before crossing over.

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.

Leinster scorers:

• Tries – Dan Sheehan 2, Andrew Osborne 2, Jordie Barrett
• Conversions – Ross Byrne [4/5]
• Penalties – Ross Byrne [1/1]

DHL Stormers scorers:

• Tries – Ben Loader, Evan Roos
• Conversions – Manie Libbok [1/1], Warrick Gelant [0/1]

LEINSTER: Henry McErlean (Will Connors ’64); Andrew Osborne, Liam Turner (Charlie Tector ’29), Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (Cormac Foley ’39) (Brian Deeny ’76)); Jack Boyle (Paddy McCarthy ’61), Dan Sheehan (John McKee ’63), Rabah Slimani (Rory McGuire ’70); RG Snyman, Brian Deeny (Diarmuid Mangan ’55); Alex Soroka (James Culhane ’60), Scott Penny, Max Deegan.

DHL STORMERS: Warrick Gelant; Ben Loader, Ruhan Nel, Jonathan Roche, Leolin Zas; Manie Libbok (Wandisile Simelane ’39), Paul De Wet (Herschel Jantjies ’63); Ali Vermaak (Sti Sithole ’63), Joseph Dweba (Andre-Hugo Venter ’53), Neethling Fouche (Brok Harris ’63); JD Schickerling (Salmaan Moerat ’30), Ruben Van Heerden; Deon Fourie (Paul De Villiers ’63), Ben-Jason Dixon (Marcel Theunissen ’64), Evan Roos.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU).

URC: Leinster 36 DHL Stormers 12 

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.

WHILE HE HAS become accustomed to the concept of interprovincial derbies during his time in Ireland, there is another rivalry that continues to hold a special place in the heart of Springbok international RG Snyman.

Despite originally hailing from Potchefstroom in the North West Province of South Africa, Snyman finished his childhood in Pretoria and went on to represent the Bulls in his native country’s administrative capital. He lined out for them in Super Rugby from 2015 to 2019 and enjoyed a number of intense duels with the Cape Town-based Stormers in this period.

Both of these teams now find themselves in the United Rugby Championship along with the Lions and the Sharks and Snyman featured off the bench when Munster defeated the Stormers in a URC showpiece at Cape Town on 27 May, 2023. Now part of the set-up at the Irish province’s own arch rivals Leinster, the towering lock has been selected to face his old foes at the Aviva Stadium in the same competition later on this evening (kick-off 5pm).

“Obviously growing up in Pretoria and playing for the Bulls in the past, Stormers would be a big rivalry. I’m looking forward to playing this and looking forward to facing a familiar enemy in a sense, and some friends,” Snyman said.

“It’s kind of strange to say ‘enemy’, isn’t it? Because a lot of those guys are also team-mates and friends, but it’s definitely one I’m looking forward to and an exciting game.”

There will certainly be a sense of familiarity for Snyman in the Aviva later today as the Stormers’ match day 23 features 10 players who have represented the Springboks at test level. Included amongst this cohort are Manie Libbok, Deon Fourie and Frans Malherbe, who all won the Rugby World Cup alongside Snyman in 2023.

Although the presence of Dan Sheehan, James Lowe, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath and Max Deegan – not to mention the overseas duo of Jordie Barrett and Rabah Slimani – ensures there is plenty of experience around him, the South African second row will also be joined by fringe performers such as Brian Deeny and Alex Soroka at Irish Rugby HQ.

Given no fewer than 24 Leinster players (if you include development player Hugh Cooney) were named in Ireland’s squad for the Six Nations Championship, this is also set to be the case for their upcoming URC bouts against Ospreys (14 February) and Cardiff (1 March). The combination of a spaced out schedule and a depleted squad makes this a slightly strange period for Leinster, but Snyman believes it should be seen as a great opportunity for players to impress.

“It’s a tricky part of the season with being on and off like that, but it’s also an exciting part of the season because you get to see guys in action that’s probably sometimes a little bit on the fringe of the squad. Or some of the guys who are a bit younger,

“It’s very exciting to have those guys and to hear their voices in the meetings and stuff; to get their input and just to see the excitement in training as well. Just kind of feel that energy and excitement coming through in training.”

As a result of linking up with Leinster for the start of the current season, Snyman reunited with his former international head coach Jacques Nienaber. The qualified physiotherapist joined the eastern province as senior coach after guiding South Africa towards a successful defence of their Rugby World Cup crown in 2023.

Since becoming a part of Leo Cullen’s backroom team, Nienaber – who was also part of the Springboks set-up for the RWC triumph of 2019 – has implemented a defensive system with Leinster that is proving to be extremely effective.

There have been some concerns that this has impacted their attack, but there was enough evidence in last weekend’s 47-21 Champions Cup pool-stage victory over Bath to suggest they are capable of creating the right blend between both sides of the game.

Using out-half Sam Prendergast (currently with the Ireland squad at their training camp in Portugal) as a prime example, Snyman believes Leinster have the right personnel to compliment their defensive stability with attacking flair.

“Like we said at half-time [last Saturday], just have a bit of fun. It’s the main reason why we all started playing the game. I think that is when your skill set is best put on show, when you’re actually just having a bit of fun,” Snyman added.

“I think I’m a little bit shocked every week to see the amount of talent and then to have guys like Sam come through. It’s incredible to see the skill set that he has and it’s exciting to play off that. It’s exciting to play with guys like that, that has that read on the game.”

While he has become accustomed to the concept of interprovincial derbies during his time in Ireland, there is another rivalry that continues to hold a special place in the heart of Springbok international RG Snyman.

Despite originally hailing from Potchefstroom in the North West Province of South Africa, Snyman finished his childhood in Pretoria and went on to represent the Bulls in his native country’s administrative capital.

HE MAY NOT have made the cut for Ireland’s latest Six Nations squad, but Leinster scrum-half Luke McGrath hasn’t given up hope of once again donning the green jersey at test level.

Despite accumulating 19 caps as a senior international, McGrath hasn’t featured for Ireland since their World Cup quarter-final exit to New Zealand back in October 2019.

He was named in his original squad for the 2020 Six Nations – and was also drafted in as injury cover ahead of an autumn international against Argentina in November 2021 – but the St Michael’s College graduate has otherwise been out of the Irish reckoning under Andy Farrell.

Even though Munster’s Craig Casey is currently sidelined through injury, interim head coach Simon Easterby has selected McGrath’s Leinster colleague Jamison Gibson-Park, Conor Murray and Caolin Blade as his scrum-half options for the forthcoming Championship.

While acknowledging he wasn’t checking his emails for a potential recall, McGrath stresses he still holds an ambition of picking up a 20th Ireland cap at some point in the future.

“Honestly I wasn’t [checking emails]. I’d love to be available, but it’s been a few years now since I’ve been in the squad. It is difficult. I’m always hopeful and if there was ever a call, I’d love to take it. No, unfortunately it wasn’t this year. I just have to keep the head down, keep going and see what happens,” McGrath remarked at a Leinster media briefing on Monday.

“The only way I’m going to get picked for Ireland is if I keep playing well here [Leinster] so it’s important I just focus on that. Dealing with the disappointment with Ireland, it’s great to come into an environment like this and how enjoyable it is to be in here. I’m still loving my rugby and I just have to put the head down and keep going now.”

Although he hasn’t received recent correspondence about his absence from the squad, McGrath did reveal Farrell had previously been in touch when he wasn’t named in his set-up for upcoming international windows.

“Probably not in the last year, but Faz has called me throughout the last few years. Telling me I’m not in the squad or things like that. So I have heard a little bit of communication, but not much now to be honest. It is what it is. I have to deal with it, but I have heard a little bit. It was more ‘Yes, you are in our thoughts’.

“He knows it’s a different phone call, telling you you’re not in the squad. He might say the odd thing here or there. Ask how you think you’re going or what you can improve, but it’s a quick phone call and it’s just saying ‘listen, you’re not going to be in the squad, you’re in our thoughts. Keep the head down and keep your phone on as well, because injuries happen pretty quickly’.

“It’s so competitive in this squad [Leinster] and the Irish squad is incredibly competitive, especially that position. I know it’s some difficult calls, but every player wants to play.”

Regardless of his status on the international front, McGrath remains a valuable asset for Leinster and he is set to make his 11th appearance of the current season when the eastern province take on Stormers in the United Rugby Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 5pm).

Dan Sheehan and James Lowe are set to feature against the South African side before heading off to Ireland’s pre-tournament training camp in Portugal, but Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is having to deal with the fact that 22 others within his set-up have linked up with the national squad to prepare for the Six Nations Championship.

This means McGrath will be one of the most experienced faces in what is expected to be a youthful selection from Cullen and while Stormers are currently nine places and 22 points behind pace-setters Leinster in the URC table, McGrath is anticipating a tough battle in Irish Rugby HQ this weekend.

“We look at their Racing squad [in the Champions Cup] and we know they will be stronger. We’ve a younger group as well and we need to focus on ourselves. We understand what is coming our way,” added McGrath.

“Similar defensive systems and you see how impressive they are with the ball. They scored some great tries at the weekend. [Manie] Libbok is an unbelievably good footballer. It’s a massive challenge, so much experience from the Springboks squad. They’re going to be ready for it, but it is a massive challenge.”