The Leinster Listen

Episode 57, and we're back at Croke Park for the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final, an exact repeat of last year's decider as Leinster defend their title against the Vodacom Bulls on Friday night. Leo Cullen has named a side with Tadhg Furlong returning, Caelan Doris passed fit, and James Lowe starting in his final game for the province, while Johan Ackermann's Bulls arrive at full strength off the back of that remarkable 22-21 semi-final comeback in Edinburgh. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, weather, why Croke Park and a Friday night, where to watch, and Andrea Piardi in the middle for his fourth consecutive URC decider.📋 Team lineups; Full run-through of both confirmed matchday 23s. Furlong and Lowe in for Leinster, eleven Springboks in the Bulls XV, Porter out, and the 5-3 vs 6-2 bench splits.🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; The bookies' 2/5 and -6 handicap, semi-final form from both sides, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as man of the match.🏉 Discussion Point; Club Rugby in mid June — why the season shouldn't run this late, Croke Park vs the Aviva, Metallica, ticket prices, empty seats, and whether anyone can afford to show up in Dublin.

We did it! I'm back for Episode 55, and Leinster are through to the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final after a hard-fought 20-11 win over the DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium. It wasn't pretty at times — but when the stakes were highest, the boys in blue found a way. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship match results; My run-through of both semi-finals this weekend — Glasgow Warriors vs the Bulls in Edinburgh, and our tense Dublin showdown with the Stormers.🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this felt like the story of our season in microcosm — strong start, Stormers fightback, indiscipline deciding it, and Jamison Gibson-Park delivering when it mattered most.📋 Analysis of the game events; Rieko Ioane's early try, Sam Prendergast's boot, Adré Smith's Stormers response, Ruan Ackermann's red card, Salmaan Moerat's yellow, and Gibson-Park's late seal-the-deal score.🗺️ BKT United Rugby Championship positioning after this weekend; Leinster vs the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday 19 June — a repeat of last year's final and a shot at back-to-back titles on home soil.

What a response! I’m back behind the mic for Episode 53, and the healing process from Bilbao has officially begun. We absolute clicked at the Aviva Stadium, bouncing back in spectacular style to put a staggering 59 points past a dangerous Fidelity SecureDrive Lions side to march right into the final four.Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:🏆 URC Quarter-Final Match Results; My run-through of a high-scoring knockout weekend across the league as the big hitters laid down their markers.🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this was the flawless, clinical tonic we desperately needed to shake off the European hangover and prove our domestic intent.📋 Analysis of the game events; I break down Sam Prendergast steering the ship, our relentless defensive line-speed, and how we clinically blew the floodgates wide open.🗺️ URC Semi-Final fixtures after this weekend; Mapping out the road to the trophy as we prepare to welcome our old rivals, the DHL Stormers, back to Dublin next Saturday.🇮🇪 Discussion Point; Lowe and Behold; Paying ultimate homage to James Lowe on his milestone 100th appearance as he bags a brilliant brace to officially become Leinster’s all-time top try-scorer.

Bordeaux blew Leinster away 41-19 in Bilbao and completed a French hat-trick of European titles. The fifth star stays out of reach for another year. A blistering first half in the Spanish sun proved too much for Leinster, with the heat and the intensity of the reigning champions combining to unravel them in the worst possible way. A brutal end to the season, but one that demands honest reflection on what comes next.🏆 Investec Champions Cup Results; The final scoreline from Bilbao and what Bordeaux's second successive title means for the European landscape🗣️ Overall Opinion and Match Analysis; Where it went wrong, the Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey show that caused havoc, and whether this Leinster squad has another final run in them💬 Discussion Point: Cullen, Nienaber and Bleyendaal's Future; All three are contracted until the end of the 2026/27 season, but after five consecutive final defeats, what does next season look like and is there a path back to the top?

Before we get into the rugby, a massive shoutout to Westmeath this weekend. The senior men claimed the Leinster GAA football title and the intermediate women's side did the same. A proud weekend for the county and well worth acknowledging before we dive in. Back to Province business, and Leinster saved their best for last in the regular season, putting the Ospreys to the sword in a dominant display at the Aviva that sent them into the play-offs with real momentum and a statement made.🇱🇻 Westmeath Leinster Champions Shoutout; A proud weekend for the county on the GAA front🌍 URC Match Results; How the final round of the regular season played out across the league📊 URC Table and Quarter-Final Details; Where Leinster finish, who they face in the last eight, and the full play-off picture🗣️ Overall Opinion of the Game; First impressions on a dominant Leinster display to close out the regular season🔍 Analysis of the Game Events; Breaking down what worked, who shone, and what it means heading into the knockouts

Leinster got the job done, but the Lions made them work every minute of it. The scoreboard flatters the hosts somewhat, with the South Africans causing real problems throughout and pushing Leinster closer than most expected. An individual masterclass ultimately proved the difference, and the top four is secure heading into the final round. One eye is already on Bilbao.🌍 URC Match Results; How the rest of the weekend played out across the league📊 URC Table Standings; Where everything sits with one round of the regular season to go🔮 Updated Final 8 Prediction; How the play-off picture is shaping up and who needs what on the final weekend🗣️ Overall Opinion of the Game; A win that was harder than it looked, and what it tells us about Leinster's readiness for the Champions Cup final🔍 Analysis of the Game; Where the Lions caused the damage, the individual brilliance that made the difference, and what Leo will want to fix before Bilbao📋 Key Match Events; The tries, the turning points and the moments that shaped the scoreline

We got there, but only just. Leinster were the better side for large stretches of a gripping semi-final at the Aviva, building a 29-11 lead before Toulon came roaring back to make it a nerve-shredding finish. Job done, Bilbao booked, but there will be plenty to fix before the biggest day of the season.🏆 Investec Champions Cup Semi-Final Results; Leinster through 29-25, and Bordeaux Begles beat Bath 38-26 to set up the final showdown in Bilbao on May 23🗣️ Overall Opinion of the Game; A dominant display that nearly unravelled, two yellow cards, a Henshaw injury scare, and nerves right to the final whistle🔍 Analysis of the Game Events; Tries from Conan, Van der Flier, Ringrose and Doris, the sin bin chaos that let Toulon back in, and how Leinster held on💬 Discussion Point: How to Beat Bordeaux; Their halfbacks Lucu and Jalibert and wing Bielle-Biarrey who scored one of five tries against Bath are the dangermen. What does Leinster need to do on May 23?

Leinster head to Treviso looking to keep the pressure on at the top of the table, with the top two still very much in their sights. Leinster sit third, level with the Stormers on 51 points and four behind Glasgow, so a bonus point win in the Italian sunshine is the target. Benetton are in 13th place and have only won once in their last seven URC matches, but Leinster have a poor away record outside Ireland this season and these points are crucial for us.🔮 URC Game Predictions; How the weekend could unfold across the league including a top of the table clash in Cape Town📍 Details of Our Game; Form, venue context and what a bonus point win in Treviso means for Leinster's top two push📝 Team Lineups; The players in Blue and Green detailed🎯 Score & MOTM Prediction; My predicted result call and standout performerPwTd1i0vLHdct6J3yUfs

European knockout rugby is back at the Aviva. Leinster host Sale Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final on Saturday evening, unbeaten in Europe all season and with a home crowd behind them. Sale arrive as proper underdogs with a front row crisis, but they have nothing to lose and Alex Sanderson's side are not coming to Dublin to make up the numbers. One slip in discipline and this could get uncomfortable.🔮 Investec Champions Cup Quarter-Final Predictions; How the other quarter-finals could unfold across the weekend📍 Details of Our Game; Form, European pedigree, and what Sale bring to the Aviva📝 Team Lineups; Dan Sheehan captains with Ringrose and Ryan back, Usanov in for his first European start, and Sale forced into a makeshift front row🎯 Score & MOTM Prediction; Our result call and standout performer🏟️ Discussion Point: Women's Six Nations; The standout stories and performances from this year's championship

Back to the heavy-duty stuff. After the Six Nations dust settles, the focus shifts from green back to blue as Leinster return to the Aviva this Easter Sunday. It’s a massive Round of 16 clash against an Edinburgh side that always travels with a point to prove. The road to Bilbao starts now.🔮 ICC Knockout Predictions; How the Round of 16 bracket could shake out and which heavyweights are on upset alert across the weekend📍 Details of Our Game; Form, the Easter Sunday Aviva factor, and why Leinster’s set-piece dominance is the key to silencing the traveling Edinburgh support📝 Team Lineups; Selections from Leo Cullen with 4 changes, the impact of the returning internationals, and who gets the nod in that ultra-competitive back row🎯 Score & MOTM Prediction; Our final result call and the player we think will define this knockout encounter🏟️ Discussion Point: Scotstoun Semi-Final; A look back at our recent trip to Scotstoun. A tough 38–17 defeat and the tactical shifts required if we find ourselves heading back there to face Glasgow Warriors in a high-stakes ICC semi-final.

Back to Province business. After the Six Nations dust settles, Leinster return to the Aviva on Friday night with something to prove after a chastening defeat up in Glasgow. The Scarlets arrive in 14th place and fighting for their season, but wounded Leinster sides can be dangerous, and with Porter back and the top two still very much in their sights, there's plenty riding on this one.🔮 URC Game Predictions; How the weekend could unfold across the league📍 Details of Our Game; Form, venue context, and what a win means for Leinster's top two ambitions at the Aviva📝 Team Lineups; Selection calls, notable inclusions and the return of Andrew Porter from a calf injury🎯 Score & MOTM Prediction; Our result call and standout performer🏟️ Discussion Point: Our Next URC Games; A look ahead at Leinster's remaining fixtures and what the run-in could mean for their league position

Six Nations done, but there's no rest for the wicked. Leinster head to Scotstoun this Saturday to face the URC's current league leaders, Glasgow Warriors, in what is shaping up to be a genuine top of the table clash. With Six Nations players returning and fresh faces earning their shot, Leo's panel looks as deep as ever. Glasgow will be full of confidence on home turf though, and this is exactly the kind of fixture that defines title credentials.🔮 URC Game Predictions; How the weekend could unfold across the league📍 Details of Our Game; Form, venue context, and what's at stake at Scotstoun📝 Team Lineups; Hugo Keenan returns for his first appearance of the season, Scott Penny on the verge of his 100th cap, and Alex Usanov set for his first Leinster start🎯 Score & MOTM Prediction; Our result call and standout performer🏟️ Discussion Point: Six Nations Best Players; One standout player per nation from this year's championship