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Leinster's Josh van der Flier goes over to score against Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup
Four-time European champions Leinster Rugby will seek to open their bid for a record-equalling fifth title by continuing their dominant Heineken Champions Cup form against Bath Rugby, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
Leinster and Bath have met 11 times previously in the competition, with the Irish province winning nine of those encounters and losing only two.
The Pool A game, which kicks off at 15:15, will be televised live on BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.
Other key facts:
- At home Leinster have won five of their six Heineken Champion Cup games against Bath, with the Gallagher Premiership side’s sole victory coming in October 2005 via a 22-19 win at the RDS.
- Bath’s next defeat in the Heineken Champions Cup will be their 50th, which would make them the fourth Premiership club to notch up as many defeats in the competition after Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints and Harlequins.
- Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier was the top tackler in the Heineken Champions Cup last season, making 65 tackles across his four appearances, with only three players winning more turnovers than him.
- Leinster fly-half Johnny Sexton needs one more point to become the fourth player to score 700 points in the history of the Heineken Champions Cup after Ronan O’Gara, Stephen Jones and Owen Farrell.
Jamison Gibson-Park scores Leinster‘s opening try against Bath Rugby in Round 1
Four-time European champions Leinster Rugby kicked off their Heineken Champions Cup Pool A campaign as they eased to a 45-20 win over Bath Rugby at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Jamison Gibson-Park kicked things off as he dived over in the corner on three minutes, and Leinster had a second eight minutes later as Tadhg Furlong powered over.
James Lowe then dotted down after a smart offload by Hugo Keenan, and with Bath reduced to 14 men after Richard DeCarpentier’s yellow card, the pair reversed roles to supply a fourth try on 24 minutes.
Lowe produced some deft hands to send Keenan over, before Gibson-Park capitalised on some slack Bath tackling to notch his second and Leinster’s fifth inside half an hour.
Leinster cut Bath wide open! 🔷
The hosts attack down the narrow side and it's a numbers game as Jamison Gibson-Park crosses over in the corner.#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/yUvPkbvC0t
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 11, 2021
Bath did, however, manage one moment of quality at the end of the first half, with a clever lineout move releasing Jacques du Toit down the blindside to reduce the deficit slightly.
But Leinster were well in control and added to their tally seven minutes into the second half as Ronan Kelleher bundled over.
Bath’s frustrating day was typified by a potential second try on 51 minutes being ruled out for an illegal maul construction.
An impressive start for the 4-time winners 💪
Are @leinsterrugby title contenders again this season?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/eHspWiOO8A
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 11, 2021
Leinster would then score a seventh with just under an hour played as Josh van der Flier forced his way over after a period of relentless pressure.
Bath were improved in the second-half though and managed to stem the tide as the game wore on and were rewarded for their efforts when Gabe Hamer-Webb crossed late on.
Leinster travel to Montpellier Hérault Rugby in Round 2 while Bath are at home to last season’s Heineken Champions Cup finalists Stade Rochelais.
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