Leinster put on an impressive show as they cruised into the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup, smashing Harlequins 62-0 at Croke Park. The score really captures how one-sided the match was, with Leo Cullen’s team hardly breaking a sweat. Looking ahead, they’ll face either Leicester Tigers or Glasgow Warriors, but neither team will be eager to come to Dublin after seeing this performance. Leinster Crush Harlequins Reach Quarters.
Leinster’s Offense Comes Alive
Leinster’s attack, which hadn’t really clicked in previous games, found its rhythm just in time. Flanker Josh van der Flier was on fire, carrying the ball with strength and scoring one of the ten tries. In front of a huge crowd of 55,627, Leinster steadily gained momentum, breaking the deadlock just 13 minutes in with Sam Prendergast, who played confidently even with a few missed conversions.
By halftime, Leinster was up 19-0 thanks to tries from Joe McCarthy and Jamie Osborne. After the break, they kept the pressure on. Van der Flier scored again, followed by sharp finishes from Garry Ringrose and Dan Sheehan. Harlequins found themselves down to 14 players for the last 15 minutes after Luke Northmore and Jamie Benson were both shown yellow cards. Leinster took full advantage, adding a penalty try, a score from Ross Byrne, and a couple of late tries from James Lowe.
Harlequins Show Glimpses of Promise Before Crumbling
Harlequins actually started strong, with Leigh Halfpenny trying a long-range penalty early on. They managed to gain some ground, but Leinster’s defense stood strong. Once Leinster found their rhythm, the Quins couldn’t keep up. Prendergast’s perfect pass got Jack Conan free, leading to the first try. Leinster Crush Harlequins Reach Quarters.
After that, Leinster was in control. McCarthy added the second try after a smart chip from Prendergast, and Osborne finished off a great team play for the third. Despite a few good plays, Quins lost their way, especially after Ringrose broke through a tackle to score another try early in the second half.
Final Rush Leaves Harlequins Wounded
With over 30 minutes left, the game felt done. Sheehan’s try from a maul and Byrne’s finish in the corner extended the lead. Northmore’s deliberate knock-on earned a penalty try and a sin-bin, while Benson’s trip on Barrett only made things worse for Harlequins. Lowe’s two late tries sealed the deal, making it one of Leinster’s biggest wins ever.
This dominant win shows Leinster’s strong desire to claim a fifth European title. The big question now is who can stop them?
