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Blow for Leinster as Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out of URC Grand final after picking up knock

Blow for Leinster as Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out of URC Grand final after picking up knock

Irish Examiner13 hours ago

Leinster's hopes of claiming a first ever BKT URC title have suffered a major blow with the news that Jamison Gibson-Park has been ruled out of Saturday's decider.
The scrum-half was pulled from the starting XV this morning having picked up an unspecified knock in last week's semi-final win over Glasgow and failing to train properly during the week.
Gibson-Park is a world-class No.9 who is due to tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions this summer.
Luke McGrath, an experienced player who has played second-fiddle to Gibson-Park in the last five years, will step up from the bench while the inexperienced Fintan Gunners is added to the bench.
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Jamison Gibson-Park: From failed out-half to world-class nine

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Rúaidhrí O'Connor: Huge relief as Leinster secure important win for Irish rugby at the end of underwhelming season
Rúaidhrí O'Connor: Huge relief as Leinster secure important win for Irish rugby at the end of underwhelming season

Irish Independent

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Rúaidhrí O'Connor: Huge relief as Leinster secure important win for Irish rugby at the end of underwhelming season

No one summed up the province's will to succeed more than their No 6, Ryan Baird When the Bulls were finally put out of their misery, Ryan Baird threw both hands into the air and roared into the sky. All around him, large South Africans in white jerseys sank to their knees in despair. No one summed up Leinster's refusal to let another final slip by more than their No 6. Man of the match in the semi-final and the final, Baird spoke about how he'd felt the pressure in the build-up, mentioned the fact that he is among a large contingent of Leinster players who have never enjoyed a trophy-winning moment in front of a crowd.

'Leinster are not a normal team. 19-0 up and they bring on RG Snyman'
'Leinster are not a normal team. 19-0 up and they bring on RG Snyman'

The 42

time4 hours ago

  • The 42

'Leinster are not a normal team. 19-0 up and they bring on RG Snyman'

BULLS BOSS JAKE White said he needs more international players if his side are to close the gap on Leinster, who he lavished with praise after their dominant URC final performance. The Irish province were convincing 32-7 winners in Croke Park. Leo Cullen's men won 19 of their 21 games in the URC this season, topping the regular season table and powering through the play-offs to claim the title. White, a World Cup winner with the Springboks in 2007, has now seen his Bulls team lose three URC finals. He was gushing in his words about the quality of Leinster as he highlighted the excellence of their showing. 'You have to understand, this is not a normal rugby team,' said White. 'We are naive when… I made a note in my book, they are 19-0 up and they bring on RG Snyman. 'It's just a different league altogether and that's why Leinster supporters are probably so disappointed because they were waiting for that performance the whole year and we just happened to get the 40 minutes that they were waiting for the whole year. 'We couldn't get our hands on the ball, they started well. After 17 minutes, they are 19-0 up and that is after everyone says, 'Don't let them start well.' Advertisement 'I say again to all the Irish, I don't think they give the credit to that Leinster team. They are well-coached, they are fantastic guys as well. 'Since I started at this level with URC, they are the benchmark and tonight they showed it again. 'We were never going to win that game when they got that 14-point start. I can't remember any team that has come back from 19-0 down and beaten them. We need to find out how you turn silver into gold now.' White referenced how smoothly Leinster dealt with losing Jamison Gibson-Park to injury late on in the week, with the experienced Luke McGrath stepping in impressively. The Bulls boss pointed to Leinster's scrum performance as important too, while he praised the impact of his compatriot Jacques Nienaber on Leinster's defence. The Bulls were second best. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'It would be wrong of me not to say Jacques' defence was outstanding,' said White. 'We tried bashing their line. They kept us out just before half time and it must have been a massive boost for them. 'Credit to Jacques and the defence. We were a little bit one-off instead of running with numbers, people around the ball, but that's what happens when you're under the pump against a good team. You have to give credit where credit's due. Out of the three finals, this is by far the toughest final we've had. 'Make no bones about it, they've gone another level up. That was Test rugby. It's like everything is in fast forward.' Two-time World Cup winner Handré Pollard is among the new additions for the Bulls ahead of next season, but White is worried that the gap to Leinster won't close any time soon. 'The lesson I've taken from that is we need more international players to play in our province,' said White. 'I need what Leinster have. I need to be able to fight fire with fire. Leinster, Toulouse, La Rochelle, what do you need to win those games? Academy players or seasoned internationals? 'The biggest cheer tonight was for Jordie Barrett. He's not Irish. Please don't take it the wrong way but that's what I've learned. They're sitting in the coaching box, 19-0 up, and say, ' RG, warm up.' They put him on and let him menace the defence like he did tonight. 'I keep banging the same drum. I've coached some of the best players in the world, players who have won player of the year twice. If you're playing against 23 internationals, I think today Leinster were short with only 22, there is a complete difference. 'That's a phenomenal provincial team. That must be the best Leinster team, I know that's going to be headline but that must be one of the best Leinster squads they've ever had.'

'To lift a trophy in the Hogan Stand with all your mates, it's incredibly special'
'To lift a trophy in the Hogan Stand with all your mates, it's incredibly special'

The 42

time6 hours ago

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'To lift a trophy in the Hogan Stand with all your mates, it's incredibly special'

LEINSTER DID THEIR trophy lift, enjoyed their lap of honour, and then they went up into the Hogan Stand for another trophy lift. Croke Park traditions and all. The first moment Jack Conan got his hands on the URC trophy down on the pitch was as delightful as he had imagined. In keeping with another tradition, he shared the lift with injured captain Caelan Doris and the retiring Cian Healy. Others like Ross Byrne, Liam Turner, and Rob Russell are leaving Leinster too, but it was only right that Healy got his moment in the limelight, even if he fought against it. 'I would have loved to have Ross and Liamo and Robbo up there, but three people lifting a trophy is enough,' said Conan. 'Caelan is a fantastic captain and I'm only here today because he unfortunately has been injured. He has led the team unbelievably well. We compete for a position but get on so well. He has been brilliant. 'Then for Cian, who is probably Leinster's greatest ever servant, for all he has done. He would hate that. I said it to him that I knew he would say no, but to please come up and lift the trophy because it's only fitting that someone like that who has given their all and done incredibly well over the years gets their final moment with the trophy. I'm glad he said yes because I thought he was going to fight me. It's the least he deserved.' As for the second trophy lift in the Hogan Stand, Conan was just going with the flow. Advertisement He couldn't shed light on whose idea it was. 'I have absolutely no idea,' said Conan. 'Marcus O'Buachalla [Leinster's head of communications], he needs a shout out at least once a week! 'I was conscious of the lads trying to lift up my shirt and making an absolute mug of me so I was tucking that in. 'Look, to be in the Hogan Stand to lift a trophy with all your mates, family, loved ones, it's incredibly special and something that will live long in the memory. 'I had a few words as Gaeilge but I was told my pronunciation was all over the place, so they told me not to do it! I don't think they wanted me to do a speech, I was told less is more!' Leinster's first trophy lift. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Conan was beaming with pride after Leinster's 32-7 win over the Bulls. He was clearly eager to get back into the celebrations but he took the time to underline his pride at their performance on the big occasion 'I'm just delighted for the lads they performed. That's what we spoke about during the week. We didn't want to be outcome-focused, we wanted to be performance-focused. And it think we did that in spades today. 'For 80-odd minutes, I think the lads showed up really well, were incredibly physical and that's what we asked of each other.' Leinster's brilliant start was crucial as they raced into a 19-0 lead, but there was as much satisfaction in shutting the Bulls out with two massive defensive stands just before half time. 'It boils down to man on man and wanting to put your head where you wouldn't put a shovel,' said Conan. 'Getting off the line and trying to whack people. You can lose focus a little bit and think about all the different parts of rugby but ultimately it's a physical game and what we teed ourselves up for all week was the physicality of it and winning a battle and I think we did that throughout. 'Everyone spoke about the threat of their scrum and I thought the lads were great. A few decisions didn't go our way but you look at the lads who came on in the second half were incredible – and the lads who started as well were brilliant 'So unbelievably proud of everyone's effort, not just the lads who played today but everyone who contributed throughout the season.'

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