The game data reveals that Toulouse managed to secure 19 turnovers as opposed to Leinster’s eight during the Champions Cup final in rucks and mauls, thereby making a clear difference. However, the available statistics do not describe the team’s field position during these turnovers, the score at the given time, the point of the match when it happened or the resultant implications. Neither does it shed light on the incidents where Leinster, unexpectedly, repeatedly and easily relinquished the ball, which led to increments in turnovers and was a significant factor in their defeat.
A memorable incident was when Dan Sheehan successfully wrestled control of the ball from Antoine Dupont and majestically sprinted almost the length of the field akin to a centre. He was subsequently tackled by Blair Kinghorn from Scotland, five metres from his target. Toulouse then stepped in to seize the grounded ball since only Jamie Osborne was close by.
Robbie Henshaw, despite his commendable performance, accidentally threw the ball behind Jamison Gibson-Park during a promising initial attack, while Osborne was overthrown twice in the same duration. Notably, the towering Jason Jenkins lost the ball early on whilst charging through, just as the remarkable Sheehan lost his turnover.
When Sheehan’s replacement, Ronan, took the baton, he instantly got into the thick of things. After grounding the ball inside the French 22, Dupont swooped in and took control. Even team captain Caelan Doris was not immune, as he was spotted touching the ball whilst grounded during added time by referee Matthew Carley of England. The result – a penalty.
Given Leinster’s habitual strictness with ball possession, it was highly unusual to witness their carelessness throughout the match that saw an array of errors and inaccuracies increase in a heated environment. An attempted drop goal from Ciarán Frawley to seal the victory for Leinster just added to the agony, considering how the match quickly turned against them during injury time.
Leinster’s positioning might have been significantly improved if they had managed to reduce by half the 19 turnovers that they incurred during rucks and mauls in what proved to be a fiercely contested match. Although we can only speculate, it’s highly probable that their performance would have been far superior than what it was.