A slow burner.
Anybody looking for an open, entertaining Champions Cup final was shot down by a tight, attritional first half with space at a premium and defences on top in the colourful San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
There was plenty of shadow boxing but little evidence of flair or trickery, certainly not enough for either Leinster or Racing to break down their opponent’s defence in the first half of Saturday’s Champions Cup decider.
Neither defence was really tested in a first half where forwards were more involved, with scrums, rucks aplenty as the teams battled it out on the ground.
No forward was more involved than James Ryan. The 21-year-old lock forward made countless effective bursts, testing the French side’s tacklers. He was as solid in the line-out as his record in professional rugby, let’s not forget this is a man who has never tasted defeat in his 21 games to date, and he was just as effective at the breakdown.
Racing got off to a better start in the final, with their fourth choice kicker in Iribaren obliging from a penalty just two minutes into the game. Fourth choice because starting fly-half was Pat Lambie injured early on, while Dan Carter and Machenaud were ruled out before the game began.
Iribaren and Sexton would exchange penalties again with the sides going in tying 6 points apiece.
A whole lot of people were raving about that man Ryan, who continues to show disregard to his own physical well-being, throwing himself into every single tackle with bravery.
James Ryan the best of the bunch so far but this game has been slow to get going
Racing lead 6-3
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) May 12, 2018
James Ryan hunting that ball in the maul like a bloodhound. Didn’t work out that time, but getting those levers in the middle of attacking mauls is such a defensive weapon.
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) May 12, 2018
James Ryan has been absolutely immense so far. Come on Leinster #LEIvR92
— Kieran (@kierang35) May 12, 2018
James Ryan is a machine #LEIvR92 #ChampionsCup
— Paul Mulrone (@PaulMulrone) May 12, 2018
