Leinster underline supremacy with seven-try assault in Edinburgh
LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Leinster’s Rhys Ruddock is tackled by Edinburgh’s Stuart McInally. Pic: INPHO/Craig Watson
URC leaders Leinster cruised to an easy win over Edinburgh with a seven-try victory at the Dam Health Stadium in round 15 with a performance that underlined the visitors’ supremacy in this competition.
Edinburgh offered opposition in the first half but after the break Leinster dominated territory and possession to produce some very viewable rugby, although not for the Edinburgh fans, with training ground moves that always seemed to produce results.
It was Edinburgh who had the first chance of points only for the Scottish capital side to falter after poor finishing following a break by James Lang, but minutes later further pressure earned Edinburgh a penalty, with a kick to the corner setting up an attacking line-out.
Multiple close-range surges followed but Leinster showed resolute defence to keep their line intact. When Edinburgh turned up the heat again a break by McInally paved the way for an unconverted try by Emiliano Boffelli.
As though hurt by Edinburgh’s score, Leinster then demonstrated why there are unbeaten this season with flowing play and precision near the Edinburgh line ending with a try for back row Max Deegan, Harry Byrne’s conversion giving the visitors a 7-5 lead.
Taking their cue from Leinster, Edinburgh attacked from the restart with clever back play before the forwards finished the approach work with a crash-over by prop Boan Venter, Boffelli adding the extras.
Then when Edinburgh turned up the heat Leinster conceded a penalty in their 22 allowing Boffelli to increase his side’s lead with a successful goal kick only for Leinster to hit back after running a penalty in front of the posts, the clever move producing a try for Scott Penny and a further two points by Byrne.
Leinster then showed their engine was warming up as Dave Kearney broke clear before linking with Liam Turner to create space for Michael Milne to crash over, Byrne again converting for a 21-15 interval lead.
The gap increased shortly after half time as Kearney ran on to a flat cross kick to score in the corner of the dead ball area for the bonus point.A quick reply from Edinburgh produced a second try for Boffelli.
The hosts were quickly disabused of any notions of catching up when Leinster produced a trademark close-range try, again by Milne, Byrne’s conversion opening up a 13-point lead. The Leinster outside half then added the extras to a try by Michael Ala’alatoa and later a sixth conversion after Penny ran in his second try.
Although well beaten Edinburgh, aided by Penny leaving the field, had enough in the tank to grab a bonus point try by Sam Skinner and the conversion by Jaco Van Der Valt for something of a consolation prize.
Boffelli (2), Venter, Skinner, Boffelli, Van der Walt Boffelli
Deegan, Penny (2), Milne (2), Kearney, Ala’alatoa Byrne (6)
E Boffelli; D Hoyland, M Bennett, J Lang, W Goosen; C Savala, B Vellacott; B Venter, S McInally, LR Atalifo, M Sykes, S Skinner, L Crosbie (capt), H Watson, V Mata.
D Cherry for McInally (53), J Jack for Venter (), E Millar-Mills for Atalifo (53), J Hodgson for Sykes (59), N Haining for Mata (17-25), C Shiel for Vellacot (65), J van der Walt for Boffelli (70), C Dean for Goosen (33).
C Frawley; J Larmour, L Turner, J Osborne, D Kearney; H Byrne, L McGrath; M Milne, J McKee, M Ala’alatoa, R Molony, J Jenkins, R Ruddock (capt), S Penny, M Deegan.
L Barron for McKee (59), J Boyle for Milne (60), T Clarkson for Ala’alatoa (63), B Deeny for Jenkins (59), W Connors for Ruddock (54), N McCarthy for McGrath (59), C Tector for Frawley (69), R Russell for Larmour (60)
C Evans (WRU)
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