Following a 45-28 victory for Leinster over Harlequins, here are our five takeaways from the Investec Champions Cup encounter at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The top line
Many feared a blowout, but what actually transpired was a surprisingly competitive game as an understrength Harlequins impressed before they eventually succumbed to the might of the four-time winners.
It was not the most auspicious of starts to Leinster’s Champions Cup quest as they look to finally end their barren streak and win their first title since 2018, but they managed to get the job done. When the hosts needed to up the intensity and tempo, they did, but Leo Cullen’s men were certainly pushed for an hour by the visitors.
Jordan Larmour was a standout, ending the game with a brace, but it was his opener which got the ball rolling. However, they were then stunned by Luke Northmore, who ran over Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris to touch down.
That score rather summed up Leinster’s performance with Quins the more energetic outfit for the majority of this contest. Even when Garry Ringrose touched down and Larmour went over for a second time, the Englishmen did not relent.
By the 50th minute, just three points separated the teams as Cassius Cleaves crossed the whitewash before a penalty try was awarded for Jimmy O’Brien’s deliberate knock-on. With O’Brien also receiving a yellow card, Harlequins perhaps sensed a shock victory, but that score finally woke the Irish province up.
The replacements made a difference as three tries in eight minutes from the O’Briens, Tommy and Jimmy, as well as Jack Conan, saved the hosts from embarrassment.
Leinster concerns
A big issue for the Irish province over the years is that their brilliance in the earlier rounds has not been rewarded by silverware at the end of it. Quite often, Leinster have been the best team in the pool stages only to succumb when it matters in the semi-finals and final.
They will therefore hope that this year is the opposite after a quite frankly dreadful display in their opening Champions Cup encounter. Huge credit must go to Quins, who were dogged and also showed plenty of quality, but this was not the Leinster we have become accustomed to.
Defensively, there were issues, which led to some surprising lapses – both individually and as a team – while with ball in hand, plenty of passes went to ground and attacks broke down. The final quarter was better as certain things clicked but, needless to say, a vast improvement is needed with tougher tests awaiting.
That particularly goes for the scrum, which was challenged by an understrength Quins pack. Some of the angles from the hosts’ props were rather suspect and they found themselves under pressure in the set-piece at times. It is another area which has to be much, much better otherwise the French packs will be licking their lips.
Harlequins regain respectability
It was not that long ago that Quins sent strongest-available side to Leinster in the knockout stages and were utterly demolished by Leinster. They shipped 62 points and didn’t score any, leaving a proud club utterly embarrassed.
Fast forward a few months and many feared a similar score, especially given the team that had been selected, but this second-string outfit did themselves justice. Granted, it went away from them in the latter stages, but for an hour, they went toe-to-toe with the Irish giants.
Northmore was outstanding in the midfield while the back-row of Zach Carr, Will Evans and Tom Lawday were incredibly effective and caused real issues for Leinster, at the breakdown in particular. That day in April was one of Harlequins’ lowest days but they restored some pride back at the Aviva Stadium.
Rieko Ioane watch
The decision to bring in the All Blacks centre was one of the more surprising transfers over recent times, given his spat with one of Leinster’s favourite sons, Johnny Sexton, and his general winding up of Irish rugby.
With him sitting on the bench, the reaction of the crowd to his arrival would have therefore been instructive. In the 60th minute, Ioane did come on for his debut and Leinster fans showed that they can indeed forgive and forget with cheers rather than boos greeting his entrance onto the pitch.
As for what he produced during his cameo, it wasn’t quite as spectacular as Jordie Barrett’s debut last year, but there was enough to be enthused about. Unlike for the All Blacks this season, where he has struggled to get involved, Ioane managed to get his hands on the ball a few times and carried over the gain line. He also ended with an assist as the Leinster attack looked slicker with him on the field.
Weakened teams debate
While the Investec Champions Cup remains the pinnacle of club rugby, where the highest quality teams outside of the international game go head-to-head in some of the best matches you will see, there is no doubt its image is tarnished by an underwhelming pool stage.
Usually, second-string outfits are reserved for later in the round robin phase when teams are out of the competition, not for the first game, but it is the nature of the current format when you can lose two games and still go through.
Granted, it makes it much harder when you reach the knockout stage as a series of away games will likely follow if they are to make it to the quarter-finals and beyond, but that is the risk clubs are willing to take. Quins did just that and, although they did themselves credit on Saturday, you never really felt the Londoners were going to win, even when they got to within touching distance in the second period.