Once bitten, twice shy as Leinster set record straight

FOR Joe Schmidt, the unhappy memories of defeat to Treviso in September of last year were consigned to oblivion when Leinster hoisted aloft the Heineken Cup.

Yet still, he was relieved to have avoided another harsh Italian lesson when the sides clashed Saturday.

Fourteen months on from that ill-famed night in the Venetian outpost, Leinster wiped the slate firmly clean with a composed performance to see off Franco Smith’s Benetton-backed side.

Leo Auva’a, Fionn Carr and Eoin O’Malley all touched down while Fergus McFadden hit points from the boot.

The win keeps Leinster level on points with the Ospreys at the top of the table.

“When we lost 29-13 last year, I don’t think there was ever going to be any question about our frame of mind going back there,” admitted Schmidt. “We know how good Treviso can be, and we were motivated by that fear. Last year I was asked if this (defeat to Treviso) was the beginning of the end of Leinster rugby. I’m happy to say that it wasn’t in light of the silverware we managed to collect at the end of the season. There is still a long way to go this season, but yes, I’m very happy with that performance.”

Schmidt has every reason to be content with this latest outing, although the snag list will also include some worrying issues at scrum time, where Jamie Hagan and in particular Cian Healy struggled to impose themselves.

Of the positives, Luke Fitzgerald’s resurgence continued with a commanding display at full back, whilst Devin Toner was the pick of the forwards. In between, the likes of Fionn Carr on the wing, Ian Madigan at outhalf and O’Malley at centre took their opportunities with both hands.

“Eoin did really well for his try in the second half today, he showed great awareness to spot the gap, and great acceleration to get through it. Ian Madigan is another player who is growing all the time. It’s good to have someone like Isaac Boss or Eoin Reddan inside him, so they can take some of the stress off him. But I thought he managed the game pretty well himself. These are players who really want to be involved over the next six or eight weeks with the run of games that we have.”

Scorers for Treviso: Try: Vosawai Pens: Botes 5.

Scorers for Leinster: Tries: Auva’a , Carr , O’Malley Cons: McFadden 3 Pens: McFadden 3.

TREVISO: L McLean; B De Jager (F Semenzato 39), T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, B Williams; K Burton, T Botes; M Rizzo (I Fernandez Rouyet 48), E Ceccato (F Sbaraglini 48), L Cittadini (M Muccignat 60); A Pavanello (capt) (F Minto 72), V Bernabò; P Derbyshire, A Zanni, R Barbieri (M Vosawai 48).

LEINSTER: L Fitzgerald; F McFadden, E O’Malley, G Darcy (B Macken 73), F Carr; I Madigan, E Reddan (I Boss 62); C Healy (J McGrath 73), S Cronin, J Hagan (N White 50); D Browne (K McLaughlin 62),D Toner; R Ruddock S Jennings, L Auva’a (J Heaslip 50).

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU).