Leinster made history as they won in Durban for the first time in the URC as their makeshift, young lineup valiantly fought to a 10-7 win over the Sharks.
After heartbreak in Pretoria last week as an 83rd-minute penalty lost Leinser the game at the Bulls, they had yet another tough task on their hands coming up against a star-studded Sharks side with some of the Springboks double-World Cup winners like Ox Nché, Bongi Mbonambi and captain Siya Kolisi just to name a few. However it was Leinster who drew blood first as Henry McErlean scored out on the wing after a looping pass from fellow youngster Fintan Gunne.
Leinster were under the cosh for much of the first half, but their defence was impenetrable, even with the likes of Kolisi and Andre Esterhuizen running down at them. In a game which many had written off as a Leinster defeat before it started, Leinster went into the halftime break with a 5-0 lead. That lead was doubled soon after the break as Leinster went through their phaseplay which allowed Ciarán Frawley, playing at the ground he scored the winning drop goal for Ireland last summer, was able to slip Scott Penny in for Leinster's second try.
However Sharks would strike back quickly as Mbonambi was on hand to score a rolling maul to slash Leinster's lead to just 3 points and set up a grandstand finish. Leinster, now rolling on their inexperienced bench, fought hard in every collision and held on for the final 30 minutes to leave King's Park with the win.
Heaslip Vents "Frustration" With Max Deegan After Historic Leinster Win
It's a credit to the hunger in the Leinster team that even despite being well clear at the top of the URC table and with all the cards staked against them, all 23 put in a performance which will do them the world of good for the rest of the season.
Many players stood up and showed leadership, the likes of Cian Healy going over 60 minutes at 37-years old, Tommy O'Brien flying into tackles on Makazole Mapimpi and player of the match Max Deegan, who showed why so many at Leinster have rated him for years despite his lack of big-game minutes.
At 28, Deegan is no longer the young prospect many thought would replace Jamie Heaslip after starring in Ireland U20s side that reached a World Cup final in 2016. However, Deegan has become a crucial cog in the Leinster machine, on hand for URC matches and being a canny lineout operator.
That predecessor Heaslip along with fellow Leinster legend Gordan D'Arcy were in the RTÉ studio after Leinster's win and they both showed their frustration with Deegan, even after his Player of the Match display due to his lack of big game minutes.
[JH] He had a great game, led by example, showed his athletic ability that he has but I think the frustration I as a former 8 see is that he's not playing enough. It's going to be hard for him to push into Ireland when he's not playing enough for his club side.
[GD] Well the question is will he be involved in the 23 next weekend [against Harlequins in Champions Cup], probably not. Even off the back of a really really strong performance like that. It just shows how well stocked Leinster are in that particular position, which is pretty unfortunate for him.
Gordon D'Arcy and Jamie Heaslip discuss Max Deegan's future prospects after his fine showing for Leinster in their win at Sharks today #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/yDWDTmB2nd
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 29, 2025
That win now puts Leinster in an even more commanding win atop the URC table, leaving South Africa with 5 points and keeping their lead at 8 points ahead of Glasgow Warriors. But for Leo Cullen's side heads turn to next week as they host Harlequins at Croke Park in the Champions Cup quarterfinals where they hope this year they'll finally end their Champions Cup hoodoo.
