McGrath happy Leinster continue to find a way

Including Saturday’s encounter, Leinster have been in arrears at the midway stage in eight of the 15 games they have played across the URC and the European Champions Cup

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026 - 07:18

Daire Walsh, Aviva Stadium

URC: Leinster 28 Edinburgh 20

Luke McGrath is pleased that Leinster continue to find a way to win after they moved to second in the United Rugby Championship table with a bonus point success over Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

One of the most experienced figures in a side that had an experimental look to it – more than 20 senior players were missing through a combination of international call-ups and injury – McGrath led Leinster out as team captain at Irish Rugby HQ. Not for the first time this season, the hosts found themselves behind at the break following opening half tries for Edinburgh from Duhan van der Merwe and Malelili Satala.

Including Saturday’s encounter, Leinster have been in arrears at the midway stage in eight of the 15 games they have played across the URC and the European Champions Cup. However, thanks to a hat-trick of tries from openside flanker Scott Penny, the eastern province executed their fifth second half turnaround in 2025/26.

“There was lads standing up all week. I thought Charlie [Tector] was brilliant, he led the week really well. We were far from perfect in the first half. We felt like we were attacking pretty well, I thought it was our defence that was letting us down at times. The way we were at half-time, everyone was quite calm,” McGrath remarked.

“We came out in the second half and just delivered a bit more intent in our attack, which is really pleasing. Everyone is so happy in that changing room. It’s a great five points for us. We are finding a way somehow, which is great. We know we’re going to have to be better later on in the season, but it’s really pleasing to get the win and finding a way to do it.”

Leinster had drawn first blood in this round 11 affair as Max Deegan powered over the opposite whitewash in the 13th minute while Edinburgh lock Callum Hunter-Hill was in the sin bin for a high tackle on Andrew Osborne.

The visitors breathed a sigh of relief when a Charlie Tector try was ruled out for a forward pass from hooker John McKee in an earlier part of the attack and Sean Everitt’s charges soon came roaring into life.

One of three players released from Scotland’s Six Nations squad for this game, van der Merwe finished off a sweeping move with typical aplomb for a five-pointer just shy of the first-quarter mark. Before also having a try disallowed, Edinburgh fly-half Ross Thompson knocked over a penalty on 23 minutes to edge his side in front for the first time.

Leinster subsequently suffered a blow when Joshua Kenny was withdrawn for a head injury assessment towards the end of the opening period – which might place some doubt over his involvement for Ireland XV against England ‘A’ at Thomond Park this Friday – and there was another set-back for the Blues when Satala evaded a Deegan challenge to score a converted try on the right-wing in the 39th minute.

This left Edinburgh 15-7 to the good heading into the second half, but Leinster very quickly got themselves back in the reckoning.

Now just a couple of appearances shy of becoming a provincial centurion, the aforementioned Penny rounded off an extended attack by powering over the opposition line for a clinically-taken try.

Tector was on hand to supply the extras, but a wayward penalty strike from the Wexford man – who was starting at out-half in the absence of Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley – ensured Edinburgh remained in the ascendancy entering the final-quarter.

Edinburgh are due to face Leinster at the Aviva in a Champions Cup Round of 16 fixture on April 5 and offered a stubborn resistance for the majority of this contest. However, Leinster continued to push for additional scores and finally regained the lead when Penny dotted down under a slew of bodies for his second try with 12 minutes remaining in the action.

This left Leinster on the cusp of claiming a maximum return from this tie and with Penny completing his hat-trick courtesy of another close-range finish, all five points were assured in advance of Charlie Shiel grabbing a late consolation try for Edinburgh.

After ending a hectic schedule that saw them playing 10 games in the space of just 64 days, Leinster will now have an extended break before returning to URC duty away to fifth place Cardiff on February 27 – during the one and only fallow week in this year’s Six Nations Championship.

Scorers for Leinster: Tries: S Penny 3, M Deegan Cons: C Tector 4

Scorers for Edinburgh: Tries: D van der Merwe, M Satala, C Shiel Cons: R Thompson Pens: R Thompson

LEINSTER: A Osborne; J Kenny (H McLaughlin 37), R Ioane, C Mangan, R Moloney; C Tector, L McGrath (F Gunne 77); J Cahir (A Usanov 54), J McKee (G McCarthy 54), A Sparrow (N Smyth 54); RG Snyman, B Deeny (C O’Tighearnaigh 77); M Deegan, S Penny, D Mangan (W Connors 43 (J Ericson 77)).

EDINBURGH: H Paterson; M Satala, W Goosen, J Lang (P O’Conor 61), D van der Merwe; R Thompson (C Scott 75), B Vellacott (C Shiel 52); B Venter (M Jones 71), J Blyth-Lafferty (H Morris 57), P Hill (O Blyth-Lafferty 43); C Hunter-Hill, G Young; B Muncaster (T Dodd 41-43 & 67), F Douglas (C Boyle 61), M Bradbury.

Referee: A Piardi (FIR).