"Didn't show up" - Five Leinster players who flopped in Champions Cup final defeat
Rugby NewsSaturday, 23 May 2026 at 18:21
Leinster Rugby suffered another crushing disappointment in the Champions Cup final as Union Bordeaux Bègles stormed to a dominant 41-19 victory in Bilbao.
The French side ran in five first-half tries and exposed a number of Leinster’s biggest names on the biggest stage, with several senior internationals earning brutal reviews across the rugby media.
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Rieko Ioane
Ratings: Planet Rugby 4 | RUCK 4 | Irish Times 5
Summary
Ioane struggled badly in defence and was repeatedly targeted by Bordeaux. While he offered occasional sparks in attack, critics agreed he failed to justify his selection and looked uncomfortable as Leinster’s last line of defence.
Key Quotes
Harry Byrne
Ratings: Planet Rugby 4 | RugbyPass 4 | RUCK 3]
Summary
Byrne produced a mixed opening before completely losing control of the contest as Bordeaux’s pressure intensified. His intercepted pass before half-time proved a defining moment and effectively ended Leinster’s hopes before the break.
Key Quotes
- RUCK: “Completely lost control of the game as time went on.”
- RugbyPass: “In kick tennis terms, this was 6-0, 6-0 to UBB.”
- Planet Rugby: “Byrne’s first-half was compounded by a late intercept pass to Moefana.”
Dan Sheehan
Ratings: Planet Rugby 4 | RugbyPass 4 | RUCK 3 | Irish Times 4
Summary
Normally one of Leinster’s most influential forwards, Sheehan failed to impose himself physically and endured a difficult afternoon at lineout time. Across the board, reviewers felt his impact was nowhere near the standard expected from a world-class hooker.
Key Quotes
- Irish Times: “One of Leinster’s genuinely world class players needed to be a physical force.”
- RUCK: “Has had less impact than usual across the entire tournament.”
- RugbyPass: “Did plenty of loitering on the wing, to little effect.”
- Planet Rugby: “Like the majority of his team, he struggled to impact the UBB defence.”
Jack Conan
Ratings: Planet Rugby 4 | RugbyPass 4.5 | RUCK 3 | Irish Times 4
Summary
Conan was unable to provide the physical edge Leinster desperately needed. A costly knock-on deep in Bordeaux territory summed up an ineffective display in both attack and defence.
Key Quotes
- Irish Times: “Another forward who needed a more imposing outing.”
- RugbyPass: “Cut a forlorn figure at times.”
- Planet Rugby: “Struggled to make a dent in the Bordeaux defence.”
- RUCK: “Looked lost tackling for large periods of today’s game.”
Hugo Keenan
Ratings: Planet Rugby 4 | RugbyPass 3.5 | RUCK 3 | Irish Times 5
Summary
Keenan endured one of the worst performances of his Leinster career, making costly handling and defensive errors throughout the match. Usually a model of consistency, he looked rattled from the opening minute.
Key Quotes
- Irish Times: “Spilling the first Maxime Lucu kick of the day set the tone.”
- RUCK: “Looked completely lost compared to his usual consistency.”
- RugbyPass: “Everything that could go wrong for Keenan did go wrong.”
- Planet Rugby: “Not his best day at the office and one he’d like to forget.”
Rugby Quiz: Can you name every previous Champions Cup winner?
Every season has added another name to the roll of honour, a roll call of the teams that have stood tallest in Europe when it mattered most.
Ahead of this weekend’s final in Bilbao, where Leinster and Union Bordeaux Bègles meet for continental glory, this quiz challenges you to go back through the history books and name every Champions Cup winner since the competition began.
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