Leinster Secure Home Advantage With Convincing Win Over Bath
Leinster Secure Home Advantage With Convincing Win Over Bath
Leinster Rugby secured a 47-21 win over Bath, guaranteeing home advantage in the knockout stages. Dominant second-half performance to remain unbeaten.
Leinster Rugby cemented their dominance in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday, defeating Bath Rugby 47-21 in a thrilling encounter at the Aviva Stadium. The victory guarantees Leinster a home run through the knockout stages of the competition.
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Bath started brightly, with Alfie Barbeary opening the scoring in the first minute, followed by another try from Tom de Glanville. Finn Russell converted both, giving Bath an early 14-0 lead. Leinster responded quickly, with Robbie Henshaw scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes. Sam Prendergast added one conversion, while Jack Conan’s try in the 36th minute, also converted by Prendergast, gave Leinster the lead. Bath regained a slim advantage just before halftime through de Glanville’s second try, converted by Russell, for a 21-19 lead at the break.
The second half saw Leinster assert their dominance. Garry Ringrose’s 60th-minute try, converted by Prendergast, swung momentum firmly in Leinster’s favour after Bath’s Beno Obano was sent off following a scrum collapse, which resulted in his second yellow card of the match. Down to 14 men, Bath struggled to contain Leinster’s relentless attack.
RG Snyman and Jamison Gibson-Park crossed for tries in the 51st and 67th minutes, respectively, with Ross Byrne converting both scores. Snyman added his second try in the 76th minute, again converted by Byrne, as Leinster sealed an emphatic victory.
Bath, despite their strong start, were unable to recover from Obano’s dismissal, with the numerical disadvantage proving decisive. Leinster capitalised on the extra man, showcasing their clinical attack and depth in the closing stages.
The win maintains Leinster’s unbeaten record this season and secures them home advantage through the knockout rounds. Their commanding second-half performance reaffirmed their status as favourites to lift the United Rugby Championship title.
Bath will rue their inability to sustain their first-half momentum and the costly red card that derailed their challenge. Leinster, meanwhile, will look to carry this form into the final rounds of the regular season and beyond as they continue their pursuit of silverware.
Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby Scoring Summary
Leinster Rugby:
Tries: Henshaw (9’, 15’), Conan (36’), Ringrose (60’), Snyman (51’, 76’), Gibson-Park (67’)
Conversions: Prendergast (15’, 37’, 52’, 61’, 68’), Byrne (76’, 77’)
Bath Rugby:
Tries: Barbeary (1’), de Glanville (6’, 39’)
Conversions: Russell (2’, 7’, 40’)
What's Next For Leinster Rugby and Bath Rugby?
Leinster Rugby returns to the United Rugby Championship, where they will look to keep their unbeaten season rolling against the DHL Stormers. Bath Rugby will travel to Manchester to face the Sale Sharks bidding to stay atop the Gallagher Premiership table.
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4
- Ulster Rugby 52 vs. Exeter Chiefs 24, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls 48 vs. Stade Francais Paris 7, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints 34 vs. Munster Rugby 32, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne 33 vs. Bristol Bears 26, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby 32 vs. Stade Rochelais 25, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby 47 vs. Bath Rugby 21, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
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When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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