Leinster secured an emphatic result in the Champions Cup this evening, defeating Stade Francais 43-7 in their pool clash at the Aviva Stadium.
The Irish side entered this game as heavy favourites, with their French opponents having made a number of changes to their starting XV. While the visitors would defend well for much of the first half, this ultimately proved to be a bit of a hammering.
Leinster would score three tries in the opening period, with this effort from Garry Ringrose and Dan Sheehan being the pick of them.
WHAT. A. FINISH 🤯
Sheehan turns himself from hooker to winger after finishing off this stunning chip from Ringrose 👏#LEIvSTA | #InvestecChampionsCup | @leinsterrugby pic.twitter.com/BDhQToenjE— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 13, 2024
The intensity of the game seemed to catch up with Stade Francais after the interval, with Leinster finding it much easier to craft scoring opportunities.
In the end, they were scoring tries with ease.
"Like a hot knife through butter" 🧈
Jordan Larmour breaks through the Stade Français defence for his second and @leinsterrugby seventh try of the evening #LEIvSTA | #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ANji6TOM2B— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 13, 2024
This result cemented Leinster's place at the top of their Champions Cup pool.
READ HERE: A Look At The Candidates For The 2025 Lions Captaincy
Brian O'Driscoll impressed by progress of 'forgotten man' at Leinster
There was no shortage of excellent performances on the Leinster team this evening, although Jordan Larmour was among the more eye-catching ones. He played some excellent rugby at times and looks to have made some major strides in his game.
Having dropped down the pecking order with Ireland, he could well be playing his way back into the reckoning ahead of the Six Nations.
Speaking on TNT Sports after the game, Brian O'Driscoll said he was impressed with the way the Leinster winger has developed in recent times.
What an athlete Jordan Larmous is, he really is. He's the forgotten man.
He's had a spate of injuries, been pretty unlucky, didn't get selected for the World Cup. He just needs a run of games to get a his confidence levels back up again and he will be right back in the international reckoning...
I think if you look at other players, he's kind of of the ilk of Andrew Conway down in Munster who has recently retired, he's another one that has left a void.
He started out as this electric player, but then became a more well-rounded player. He is better in the air, better defensively, mopping up work but still having that unbelievable footwork that can beat someone in a phone box.
He seems to be putting it together. If he can continue to play like that, he will definitely get more caps.
With Ireland short on wingers for the Six Nations, Jordan Larmour will no doubt come under consideration for Andy Farrell.
Even if this championship has come too soon for him, a few more showings such as this one for Leinster over the coming months would all but ensure his return to the Ireland squad at some point in 2024.
SEE ALSO: England Legend Sees Big Future For Up-And-Coming Munster Star
