THE RUINING OF THE BULLS

Leinster's 'lions' emerge from shadows to take centre stage in URC final victory with battered Bulls as Farrell's men look like a warm-up act

- BY DEREK FOLEY

LEINSTER'S own lions were sensational, reducing Farrell's Lions to the support act.

How else to judge the URC Grand final performances of TV Man of the Match Ryan Baird, viewers' man's player of the match Thomas Clarkson, the step-up hero for the day Luke McGrath and All Black Jordie Barrett.

The blindside and tight-head were surrounded by six Lions tourists in the pack - the scrum-half wasn't even in the original team selection and the first-centre gilded the day with a try that will be remembered for a long time to come.

A four-star constellation producing five-star displays, instrumental in bringing the Bulls’ house crashing down around their ears.

Sure, the British and Irish Lions guys got on with the day-job, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Garry Ringrose doing well but...

It begs the question being posed and that needs to be looked at again, have too many of the big-time Central Contracted players, ‘Club Ireland’, lost provincial focus, are they struggling with the small-time?

Clarkson gaining a scrum penalty after four minutes electrically-charged his side, winning a second soon after meant Leinster knew this was their day.

"TC's physicality, his set-piece work, is really what got us into that game because the Bulls obviously came with their plan to disrupt our set-piece," said front-row colleague Sheehan.