Leinster Champions Cup Final ratings: Keenan blunder and Ioane found wanting on dark day

Man by man verdicts as Leinster come to terms with being the bridesmaids again after a Bordeaux blitz

POOR SHOW: Leinster's Rieko Ioane dejected after the 2026 Investec Champions Cup Final, San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, Spain 23/5/2026. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

15) Hugo Keenan: Set the tone, the wrong tone, Keenan’s uncharacteristic blunder from the kick-off, spilling a Lucu clearance, somehow encapsulated the Leinster mood, clutching at straws, on the back foot and making little impression. 4 

14) Tommy O’Brien: A dream start only for the wing to find himself enmeshed in a nightmare along with his Leinster teammates. O’Brien did what he was picked to do as he touched down in the corner. Thereafter, he was beaten in the air and once kicked straight back to Bordeaux. 5 

13) Garry Ringrose: The leader of the line in terms of his experience, Ringrose fought hard as did those in Leinster shirts around him but the centre could do little to stem the rflow and punch of the opposition even though he scored a try. 5 

12) Robbie Henshaw: Mr Experience got the nod over Jamie Osborne, a hark back to his fine showing in the 2018 final, picked for delivering glory moments that never did arrive for Leinster. Cut in half by a Moefana hit summed up Henshaw’s day. 4 

11) Rieko Ioane: Conspicuous by his peroxide hair, pretty innocuous as to what he came up with on the field of play, the former All Black was too often found wanting in defence, allowing UBB to score off first-phase. 4 

10) Harry Byrne: On the rear foot for such long stretches it was inevitable that Byrne would get squeezed and make mistakes, kicking long and then throwing the intercept pass to Moefana on the stroke of half-time that killed the contest. 4

 

9) Jamison Gibson-Park: A trier to the tip of his boots, even Gibson-Park struggled to put his mark on the game, kicking from hand as best he could but rarely managing to inject the pace into the breakdown that Leinster so desperately needed. 5 

1) Andrew Porter: In at the coal face to help chisel some sort of meaningful possession, Porter did not wilt but his role was primarily that of holding up his end as Bordeaux ploughed forward during that all-conquering first half. 5 

2) Dan Sheehan: Treble Top was the request of the day, the call for Sheehan to deliver the 100% lineout throwing that had made Leinster so productive in the semi-final only for the hooker to come up against the One Man Lineout that is Cameron Woki. 5 

3) Tom Clarkson: Selected to do a number in the tight, Clarkson got the nod over the triple Lion, Furlong, but could not influence matters beyond his line-and-length duties in the tight and round the field. 5 

4) Joe McCarthy: McCarthy’s contribution extended beyond his straggly mullet even though it was the length of his hair that led to a silly yellow card for the irrepressible Maxine Lucu. The lock did so much to try and lead a Leinster revival, scoring a try and making a nuisance of himself. 6 

5) James Ryan: Grafted away but could not make much of an impression against the heavyweight Bordeaux forward pack. Stuck to the task though as Leinster pulled themselves together after half-time. 5 

6) Jack Conan: One of the 2018 survivors, Conan could not reprise those fond memories, scuffling away as best as he could but it was a rearguard action. He was not alone in succumbing to pressure with a simple knock-on. 4 

7) Josh van der Flier: Too hot for the characteristic headguard, too hot an opposition for even a player of van der Flier’s class to make an impact, hearty and willing as the flanker was, doing as much as anyone to repel the Bordeaux tide. 6 

8) Caelan Doris: (capt) An all too familiar feeling for the Ireland and Leinster captain as he was obliged to find a way to quell the all-consuming play of a French opponent. Doris was as steadfast as ever but it was to be a forlorn day for him and his teammates. 5 

Replacements: The bench did what it could to climb the mountain that loomed above them at half-time, led by the creative thrust of fly-half, Ciaran Frawley, who managed to do what Harry Byrne hadn’t been able to do and took the game to Bordeaux. His spark helped lift the spirits of all those around him as Leinster saved some face from what was shaping up to be a humiliating experience. Max Deegan also showed well when coming up with one thunderous run up the middle but, ultimately, it was to no avail. It was little more than a consolation period of play for Leinster as yet another final ended in huge disappointment. 6