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30th March 2025
02:45pm BST
Leinster ground out a remarkable 10-7 win over the Sharks in Durban on Saturday, giving them an eight-point lead over Glasgow at the top of the URC table.
The province fielded a largely second/third/fourth string side with no bonafide first-choice players, and without their NIQs, Jordie Barrett, Rabah Slimani, and RG Snyman.
And it was clear that the players knew the scale of their achievement, given their exuberant cheers and hugs at the full-time whistle.
However, captain and Player of the Match, Max Deegan, and substitute Henry McErlean nearly took it too far as they dived head first into the shallow swimming pools at the side of the pitch at the Kings Park Stadium.
Physio and medical staff........ pic.twitter.com/QlpBeGmUIH
— Croí Na hÉireann (@na_croi) March 30, 2025
Neck breaking dives there, lucky enough 😅
— Brian Timmons (@BrianTimmytron6) March 29, 2025
After the game, head coach Leo Cullen said: “We had a good plan, we saw the opportunity to beat the Sharks and we worked out a way to do it. It required good intent, and that was plentiful, and we ground it out. We have no regret that it was not the prettiest of contests. We came to a difficult place to win and we are so pleased to get the result.
“This game was nail-biting, as it was last week in Pretoria, but so many guys were working hard and scrambling. The young guys understood the pride in playing for Leinster. This time, our mental attitude prevailed and we are delighted. To take five points home from South Africa is outstanding.”
