Gerry Thornley: Gap between French sides and the rest is a worrying trend La Rochelle’s budget only mid-table in the Top 14 but it’s a least double that of Leinster
Tue, May 4, 2021, 06:00 Updated: Tue, May 4, 2021, 06:44
In the fallout from Sunday’s sobering events in La Rochelle we can’t forget Leinster’s excellent display in the laquarter-final win away to Exeter. To keep the semi-final defeat in context, that quarter-final was only three weeks previously.
The only changes to the starting line-up were Ross Byrne (who played over 50 minutes in Sandy Park) replacing a sidelined Johnny Sexton along with the return from injury of James Ryan and Garry Ringrose.
Stuff Sports
2 May, 2021, 11:00 am
Former All Black Jerome Kaino has helped Toulouse make the European Champions Cup rugby final for the first time in 11 years.(File photo). KAI SCHWOERER/GETTY IMAGES
Jerome Kaino’s stellar career continues at 38 with the former All Blacks star helping French club Toulouse make the European Champions Cup final.
Kaino started at No 8 in Toulouse’s 21-9 semifinal win over French rivals Bordeaux- Begles on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).
Playing alongside former Blues and All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina, Kaino helped set up a spectacular try for Matthis Lebel with a powerful carry up the middle of the field.
The former World under-20 player of the year was a standout in the All Blacks pack in the World Cup winning 2011 and 2015 teams. He left New Zealand after the 2018 Super Rugby team, having won 83 caps to join Faumuina – a World Cup winner in 2015 – at Toulouse in the south of France.
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Jerome Kaino (L) was a colossus in the All Blacks World Cup winning teams in 2011 and 2015. Most All Blacks quitting for foreign climes are simply seeking superannuation seasons – high-paying gigs as their careers wind down. Kaino, however, has seemed bent on adding more titles to his CV.
Captain Johnny Sexton ruled out of Leinster s clash with La Rochelle
The 35-year-old continues to be sidelined due to a head injury. By Murray Kinsella Tuesday 27 Apr 2021, 2:27 PM 2 hours ago 5,287 Views 9 Comments
Sexton is sidelined due to head injury.
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
LEINSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that Johnny Sexton has been ruled out of their Heineken Champions Cup semi-final clash with La Rochelle in France on Sunday.
The 35-year-old captain continues to be sidelined by a head injury, having suffered his latest blow in the quarter-final victory over Exeter on 10 April.
Sexton also suffered head injuries earlier this year for Leinster and Ireland.
Leinster skipper Sexton out of Champions Cup semi
Issued on:
27/04/2021 - 16:10 Ireland s Johnny Sexton has won all four of Leinster s European Champions Cup titles STU FORSTER POOL/AFP/File 1 min
Dublin (AFP)
Leinster captain Johnny Sexton will miss this weekend s European Champions Cup semi-final at La Rochelle due to concussion, the Irish province said on Tuesday.
Sexton, 35, who also leads Ireland, suffered the head knock during the quarter-final victory at holders Exeter Chiefs on April 10. Unfortunately captain Johnny Sexton continues to be unavailable and will continue to train and be assessed as part of the Graduated Return to Play process, the Dublin-based side said.