He’ll smash through you. He’ll dance past you. Sean Cronin isn’t bothered.
Cronin has faced trickier tacklers in his time with both Leinster and Ireland but don’t let that take away from the hooker’s stunning line break when the province waltzed to victory over a sub-par Northampton Saints side on Saturday evening.
There was little in the way of resistance from the visitors as Leinster ratcheted up a 60-13 scoreline at the Aviva Stadium, where there was no shortage of man of the match candidates.
In the end, Cronin was given the nod and it’s easy to see why as his try early in the second half was just reward for an evening of unstoppable drives.
The Heineken Man of the Match is @SeanCronin2! #LEIvNOR pic.twitter.com/cPtercRdTd
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 17, 2016
Shortly before touching down with the hosts’ sixth try of the night in what eventually turned out to be Leinster’s biggest ever win at the Aviva, Cronin announced his availability for the vacancy in case any winger or centre suffers an unfortunate injury.
All 105kgs of the man took the ball at pace and easily beat a tackler before he sidestepped like Jason Robinson in his prime, getting past another.
Cronin even had the wherewithal to cushion the offload into Luke McGrath’s path before he was eventually brought down but, my God, what a move.
"Cronin doing his best David Campese impression!" Leinster are having fun out there tonight. #ChampionsCup https://t.co/1zpsF5XmH7
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 17, 2016
It was glorious.
It was unexpected.
It was Sean Cronin at his very best.
And this crowd seemed to appreciate it.
https://twitter.com/andrecavanagh/status/810244257038614528
https://twitter.com/johnnymooney1/status/810235427877687297
https://twitter.com/DeadeyeDugg/status/810227786388537345
why is @SeanCronin2 not on the Irish Strictly #twinkletoes ?? @OLSCRugby
— FORIE (@fioreill) December 17, 2016
Sean Cronin take a bow! #twinkletoes
— Jody Ponting (@landroverjode87) December 17, 2016
Sean Cronin – a man with a wingers feet but a forwards body! Great dummy followed by a quality try! @leinsterrugby #LEIvNOR
— Alex Smith (@asmithyy4) December 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/Ciaran_O/status/810227153598054400
https://twitter.com/KeoghBloodstock/status/810226808603951104
44' Sean Cronin with a step like a winger. Unreal. #LEIvNOR
— Seán McMahon (@Sean_McMahon89) December 17, 2016
