Irish galacticos on song as Leicester are sent packing

LEINSTER, supercharged by Garry Ringrose on his return from injury, strolled into the Champions Cup semi-final in a style which suggests they will be claiming a fifth title next month. 

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Fielding the rump of Ireland’s Grand Slam side, most of them rested and refreshed after their labour in green, Leinster played at a pace way beyond Tigers and demonstrated enviable continuity in everything they did.

Remarkably there were periods when, by their standards, they went off the boil, yet still they had the firepower to accumulate 55 points against last year’s Premiership champions. They are an awesome machine when fully revved up.

Tigers fought the good fight until half-time when, at 17-10 down, they were just about in touch but got blown away after the break when the Irish galacticos really went to work.

The process started when Leinster scored 10 unanswered points when reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes after a yellow card to Caelan Doris – perhaps that was the challenge they needed to engage top gear – and the writing was well and truly on the wall after that.

Leinster seemingly scored at their leisure thereafter although Tigers did manage a couple of tries themselves to keep the score semi respectable.

It was Ringrose, looking fully restored to rude health after a month out with a concussion, who set the tone from the off as he sprinted home after a remorseless 11-phase Leinster attack after Mike Brown had fumbled the kickoff.