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Leinster Rugby after defeat to Toulouse in Round 2
Defending champions Leinster Rugby will be hoping to hit back after defeat to Toulouse in Heineken Champions Cup Round 2 when they take on Bath Rugby at The Rec on Saturday at 15:15 GMT, live on BT Sport.
- Bath have won just two of their nine games against Leinster in the tournament (L7) however, one of those victories came the last time they hosted the four-time champions.
- Leinster lost in Round 2 against Toulouse and will be aiming to avoid consecutive pool stage defeats for the first time since 2015/16 when they lost their opening four matches, including one at The Rec.
- Bath’s 35-35 draw with Wasps in Round 2 was the second highest scoring draw in European Cup history after Ulster and Edinburgh’s 38-38 tie in 1998/99.
- Leinster’s James Lowe has made more metres (294) than any other player after two rounds of action, while Bath’s Semesa Rokoduguni ranks third (235).
- Johnny Sexton has landed 10 out of 10 kicks at goal so far, only Newcastle’s Joel Hodgson can match that record.
Leo Cullen: "The group is motivated but we’re not underestimating the challenge either."
Read: https://t.co/bk4qg3Yd7i#BATvLEI #LeinsterRugby pic.twitter.com/V5lJINxcww
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 7, 2018
Heineken Champions Cup Round 3. Recreation Ground, Bath, England 8/12/2018 Bath vs Leinster Bath's Jamie Roberts and Garry Ringrose of Leinster Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Four-time European champions Leinster Rugby beat Pool 1 rivals Bath Rugby 17-10 after a hard-fought battle at The Recreation Ground.
It was Bath that started off the better side with Springbok Francois Louw and England’s Sam Underhill combining excellently at the breakdown.
Henry Thomas took advantage of the good work from his back-rowers to power over for the games’ first try with fly-half James Wilson adding the extras.
The Irish province hit back through their powerful maul to level things up with Sean Cronin’s scoring and recently named World Rugby Player of the Year, Johnny Sexton, converted his effort.
The defining moment came in the 48th minute when Irish international Jordan Larmour intercepted Wilson’s speculative pass at the halfway mark to sprint over and give Leinster the lead. Sexton kicked the conversion to give his side a 14-7 lead.
Jordan Larmour is lightning ⚡️
Leinster lead for the first time thanks to an intercept try!
You're just not catching him… pic.twitter.com/XZHxXxdrLF
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 8, 2018
Ross Byrne kicked a penalty to stretch Leinster’s lead, while Wilson ensured Bath were not left empty handed as he slotted over a penalty in the 80th minute for a losing bonus point.
James Ryan was named Heineken Man of the Match after putting in a massive shift. The 22-year-old lock carried 12 times, made 33 metres, tallied up 12 tackles and claimed 2 line-out wins.
The two will next play in the reverse fixture at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin at 17:30 (BST) next Saturday.
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