Leinster punched their ticket to a 17th Champions Cup semi-final with a 38-15 victory over Sale, but the performance left more questions than answers ahead of a clash with Toulon at the Aviva Stadium.
Sale arrived in Dublin missing key starters, yet they frustrated the hosts for 50 minutes before Leinster’s bench depth and Sale’s discipline woes turned the tide. Four tries in the final half-hour sealed the win, but Leinster’s attack sputtered early, echoing last week’s struggle against Edinburgh.
“We are spoilt for breathtaking games of rugby these days, but this was not one of them – for the first half certainly,” noted an observer, contrasting it with Bath’s skill display the previous night. A persistent drizzle hampered handling, with Leinster players in blue frequently spilling possession despite dominating the ball.
Leinster managed just one try in the opening 40 minutes. Hooker Dan Sheehan slid over in the 10th minute after a lineout drive, but Sale’s scrum and lineout held firm early. George Ford’s 40-meter penalty before halftime cut the deficit to 7-3, with Sale’s reserves trailing by only four points at the break.
The game swung on two yellow cards. Dan du Preez was binned just before halftime for a deliberate knock-on, and Si McIntyre followed three minutes into the second half after head contact with James Ryan. With Sale down to 13 men, Leinster struck quickly.
Harry Byrne, now Leinster’s apparent first-choice fly-half, unleashed a pinpoint pass to spring Ryan Baird down the right. Baird fed Hugo Keenan for the score, and McIntyre’s yellow was confirmed post-try. Ford answered with a 45-meter penalty, but Leinster capitalized again during the sin-bin period.
Rieko Ioane’s slick hands sent Garry Ringrose away, and Baird finished a left-wing gallop to extend the lead. Two more tries in the next 10 minutes – Ioane dotting down and Tommy O’Brien scoring after Byrne’s chip – put the game out of reach at 38-8.
Sale mustered a late consolation through Alex Wills, but Byrne’s penalty and Jamie Osborne’s last-gasp try added gloss for Leinster. The final scoreline flattered the hosts, who now face a Toulon side that “will fancy their chances” in three weeks.
Leinster’s set-piece issues and attacking rustiness must be addressed quickly. With Toulon looming, this win offers momentum but little reassurance for the semi-final battle ahead.
