Five factors that make Leinster formidable

Harry Ringrose notes Jimmy O'Brien's attempt against the Leicester Tigers. Photo: Getty Images/Harry Murphy

Suggest a possible reason for Leinster's superiority and you're usually greeted with a few more suggestions; such is the inexorable rhythm of the blue car at the moment.

The province appears to have been moving in a vicious circle for some time, aided by numerous factors, from intuitive coaching and meritocratic selection to generous funding through talent identification and a vast footprint supported by robust promotion systems.

On on on the field, a similarly multi-faceted performance was dismissed by the Leicester Tigers and highlighted how many bases Leo Cullen's team could cover. Their 55–24 thrashing of the Premier League champions took Leinster to the semi-finals of the European Cup. And it was a very impressive watch.

Identification of the weaknesses and strengths of the opposition

With Mike Brown at full back and Freddie Steward on the wing, with Anthony Watson and Harry Potter in the back row, Leicester were looking to manage the air exchange. Leinster took this as a challenge and dealt a psychological blow in a few seconds.

From the very beginning of the game, Hugo Keenan lines up right behind Ross Byrne. The hosts want a one-on-one meeting between Keenan and Brown:

The shot is well weighted and Ireland's fullback, arguably the best in the world in his position at the moment, fights Potter and Tommy Reffell to get up and get the ball:

Leinster 1

You don't want to be giving Leinster the ball on the edge of their 22. After a minute of patient phase play, they crush the Tigers. This screenshot shows the exact shape that allows them to outperform the sides.

James Lowe and Ryan Baird hug each sideline, stretching Leicester. Note that Brown is running across the back of the field towards the last one. But Leinster's intricate game is perhaps most dangerous in confined spaces.

Ross Moloney runs fast and straight outside of Byrne, while Harry Ringrose and the ubiquitous Keenan follow their fly half. Jimmy O'Brien is also seated to Keenan's right. George Martin, Dan Kelly and Steward are Leicester defenders to watch:

Byrne goes to get Moloney, who is treating Martin, to Ringrose. This effectively creates a three-on-two, pitting Ringrose, Keenan and O'Brien Kelly and Steward. The dummy makes Kelly drift and a tear opens:

Ringrose takes it…

Leinster 2

… and points:

The Tigers' patched midfield of Kelly and Potter, the former appearing for the second time since January and the latter more comfortable on the wing, was also used for attempt number two.

The second Ringrose estimate looks very simple:

Really, the principles are quite simple. However, the polished nature of the angles and the timing of Leinster's transmissions make the attempt.

Byrne takes a pass from Jamison Gibson-Park and sends the ball flat. Moody Pollard has to wait for Jack van Purtvliet to swim across, which creates uncertainty for the rest of Leicester's defenders. The angle of Robbie Henshaw's bait is convincing and O'Brien runs after him in a tight arc to attack the hole between Kelly and Potter. Ringrose breaks out of channel 13…

…and joins with a line break…

«Leinster 3»

…to the finish line.

Unpleasant (new) lane

For the next half hour or so, the Tigers were a nuisance to Leinster. They broke the lineout, Reffell was exceptional on the run, Martin was effective on both sides of the ball and Watson's try kept the score 17-10.

However, Leinster showed sharp persistence. Sean O'Brien, a former wide fielder for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, has joined their coaching team this year with a focus on the contact zone. Leinster often pushes the boundaries of legality when broken, but certainly seems more forceful and edgy.

Track James Ryan and Jasper Wiese out of this mess:

After Andrew Porter's transfer, Wiese tries to slow the ball down. Ryan crashes into the cancer and Wiese falls to the floor. The castle of Ireland stands over it and the couple pushes each other:

Leinster 4

Ryan has become tougher over the years and this is a good example of his uncompromising nature.

The sense of momentum is shifting

Kalan Doris' yellow card was supposed to be the signal for the Tigers to press further on Leinster. Instead, Leinster responded brilliantly.

It starts with this Leicester lineout from which they start the popular game of Pollard looping Kelly. Ringrose track:

Pollard's bad pass is picked up by Watson, who passes it to Potter. Leinster absorbs the attack and Ringrose's jackal earns a penalty:

Leinster 5

Even though the Tigers win the fight in the next corridor, the Leinster's seven-man pack senses a chance. Clearly believing that missing a penalty in this part of the field would not be a disastrous outcome…

…they make a huge push. There are some interesting angles, but referee Nika Amashukeli rewards Leinster:

Leinster 6

Soon enough the competition was over.

Shaking his back and steely, streetwise forward

The word «cohesion» seems to be forever associated with Leinster and Ireland at this stage. Nowhere is this quality more evident than in the way the back swings sideways and together, under the crab and taking its shape.

In this screenshot, Keenan is about to enter the boost line. Gibson Park, Byrne, Ringrose and Henshaw — the four men who will touch the ball next stage — are defenders to keep an eye on. Dan Sheehan and Moloney are strikers to watch:

Within a few seconds, they assume their form. Sheehan and Moloney cut through the hard lines as Henshaw and Ringrose line up behind in the second wave:

See how everyone this adds up:

Leinster 7

Ringrose can go into the pit because Steward is drifting, wary of O'Brien and James Low, approaching the near sideline:

This image shows that Ringrose could choose one of three teammates for a scoring pass, illustrating Leinster's prowess on a broken field:

Gibson Park was lucky to get more points, Ringrose diligently going closest to the posts:

Remember, there were only 14 in Leinster at this stage.

A late flurry of sledgehammer-based attempts would hurt Leicester. Scott Penny's ending was especially impressive:

O'Brien later tracked down Harry Byrne's inner shoulder:

Kian Healy kept Dan Cole close to the hammer, but it's not like the Tigers stopped the attack without this trick:

It is worth emphasizing that Leinster prepared this statement without input from Johnny Sexton, Josh van der Fliehr and Ronan Kelleher. Baird and Lowe may not return for the Toulouse semi-final in three weeks' time, which promises to be an exciting event by Friday afternoon.

Leinster are close to their fifth European Championship. since their last performance in 2018. Given the entire knockout streak in Dublin, this is a great opportunity. Looks like they have what it takes to capture it.

Match images with BT Sport