Leinster player ratings vs Benetton | 2025/26 URC

Leinster player ratings: A game that took off at 100 miles an hour and barely came up for air. Breathless stuff from both sides at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Leinster were full of ambition in attack, constantly looking to stress Benetton, but passes just didn’t quite stick at crucial moments. Benetton were similar, both sides lacking a clinical edge in the first forty. The second half was scrappy as hell, with Benetton’s superiority in the forwards ultimately costing Leinster dearly, the home deservedly bagging a famous 29-26 win thanks to a late Jacob Umaga penalty.

Here are our Leinster player ratings.

1. Ed Byrne – 6
His first Leinster start in two years and he didn’t look overawed. Got properly stuck in early against an aggressive Benetton pack and never shirked the heavy traffic. Taken off at 47 minutes but laid down a physical marker.

2. Dan Sheehan – 6
Electric in broken play and loitering in wide channels as usual, including a 30-metre break that set Leinster steaming toward the line late on. However, falling off four tackles is a concern, as was a botched lineout. Brilliant on the ball, but the rest of his game dipped.

3. Tadhg Furlong – 5
A frustrating night cut short. Replaced after just 27 minutes, and Leinster missed his authority thereafter. Not enough time to impose himself.

4. Conor O’Tighearnaigh – 8
A unit. Huge frame, massive physical presence and a menace at the breakdown early doors. Rumbled over from close range for Leinster’s first try and looked every inch a top-level lock prospect, even if his influence faded in the red.

5. Brian Deeny – 6
Brave and industrious, but Benetton won the physical battle up front and Deeny was one of several Leinster forwards who sometimes came off second best in contact as the game wore on.

6. Jack Conan – 6.5
Busy from the off, both sides of the ball, and very much Leinster’s go-to man at the lineout. His involvement dipped after the break, but his early graft mattered in a frantic opening hour.

7. Josh van der Flier – 7.5
Made some hard, hard yards against an exceptional and aggressive Benetton defensive line and crashed over for Leinster’s second try. Relentless industry and accuracy. Hard to fault here.

8. Caelan Doris – 7
Just kept on carrying like a 6’4 Duracell bunny. Huge involvements in the tight, including a key line around the corner in the build-up to van der Flier’s score, before departing on the hour.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 7
The frenetic pace suited him perfectly. Set up tries, finished one himself, and constantly probed around the fringes. Botched a trick lineout play but otherwise drove Leinster’s tempo superbly.

10. Harry Byrne – 7
Very nearly scored after a lovely dummy and was unlucky to be held up. Mixed the silk with a couple of miscues and a missed conversion, but kept asking questions throughout. Hard to fault, despite the result.

11. Jimmy O’Brien – 6
Busy and sharp in the first half, poking his nose through gaps and asking Benetton questions. Couldn’t quite create the decisive incision when it mattered most.

12. Jamie Osborne – 5
Trucked up bravely early in traffic and showed good hands, but didn’t threaten the line enough himself. With his large frame, Benetton’s defensive wall would have felt another gear of direct damage.

13. Rieko Ioane – 4
Involved early with a key shutdown on one Benetton attack, but it went downhill. Stripped twice in contact, including at 63 minutes, and never fully imposed himself on proceedings. The story of his season really.

14. Tommy O’Brien – 5.5
Did brilliantly to cover back and dot the ball down after a Jacob Umaga chip on seven minutes, and later pulled off a sensational tap tackle when a try looked on. Bit in for Garbisi’s try, overplayed his hand, conceded two penalties and turned over ball too often. Not his night, eventually hauled off at 75.

15. Ciarán Frawley – 6
Good and bad. Superb touchfinding under pressure, constantly popping up where Leinster needed him. Had a try chalked off for a forward pass but strolled over later after Sheehan’s break and Gunne’s sharp service. One late loss of the ball proved terminal, but this was still good stuff for the most part from a player often unfairly scapegoated.

Replacements – 4
Thomas Clarkson impressed initially, winning a penalty at his first scrum, but Leinster’s scrum disintegrated late on, with Clarkson and Jerry Cahir suffering badly. Gunne had plenty of pep if a little scatter-gun [no pun intended]. Prendergast had endeavour, while Penny and Tector saw limited ball. Overall impact wasn’t enough as Benetton’s pack finished stronger and snatched a famous win. Some real brainrot moments crept in at the death.