O’Brien ‘proud’ but Kearney injury a cause for concern
SEAN O’BRIEN admitted that revenge was sweet as Leinster scored a bonus point win in Italy over a Benetton Rugby side who had shocked them at the RDS last April.
That setback six months ago was just a minor blip on Leinster’s march to double glory in the PRO14 and the Champions Cup.
But, no more than ousting Connacht in the Sportsground last month having been defeated by them in the final round of last season’s PRO14 schedule, Leinster made no mistake this time round.
They showed no hangover from their Champions Cup loss in Toulouse just six days earlier and O’Brien acknowledged they were fired-up coming into this clash in Treviso.
“It’s a tough place to come and we knew what type of team we were coming up against,” O’Brien said.
“They beat us last year at home. We had to come here fully prepared and ready for a battle. The boys stuck to their guns and we can be very proud of each other after that win.”
Marker
Leinster laid down a marker early on and were well on their way to victory when they led 12-3 at the break. And they didn’t relent after the interval as they pushed on for the bonus point to make it six wins from seven to remain on top of Conference B in the PRO14.
O’Brien said they came into the match with the right attitude and knew they needed to get on top from the outset.
“I suppose just to control the game as much as we can, especially away from home was the key,” he added.
“There was a big focus on set-piece during the week and I think we did a good job in our maul and our scrum, and that brought us into the game early on.”
The victory though was clouded by Rob Kearney having to go off injured early in the second half and he will be assessed today to establish if the full-back is available for Ireland duty for the autumn internationals. Leinster knew they could afford no complacency against a much-improved Benetton side but the hosts offered only token resistance shorn of so many Italian internationals.
Italy coach Conor O’Shea was an interested spectator at Stadio Monigo on a wet afternoon which made it difficult for both sides.
But Leinster got on top early on and led 12-3 at the break with Adam Byrne giving them a perfect start after five minutes when he pounced following a neat kick from man of the match Jamison Gibson-Park to
punish a sleepy home defence.
Hooker James Tracy added their second try after a good drive as Leinster piled on the pressure before the break.
The only reprieve for the Italians came from a penalty from Antonio Rizza as they failed to penetrate a resolute Leinster defence.
Conor O’Brien helped push them 19-3 ahead after 50 minutes when he scored his first Leinster try shortly after coming on for the injured Kearney.
Replacement prop Andrew Porter then drove over to seal the bonus point short of the hour mark and the rout was completed in the final stages when Joe Tomane registered his first try for Leo Cullen’s side since the Wallaby’s summer move from Montpellier. Gibson-Park paid tribute to his pack for the way they dominated and gave them a platform for the win.
“We came here knowing that Treviso were going to be very physical. We had to play the game in the right areas and for the most part, I think we did that.
“Our forwards were very physical. Obviously, Treviso fronted up defensively and put in a few good shots, as you could see out there. But we knew that was coming and we just had to absorb that pressure and play in the right areas of the field.”
The champions will now bid to negotiate a few weeks without their international contingent with Cullen bringing an understrength squad to South Africa next weekend.
They will take on the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth and, following a break of two weekends, resume with a home clash against Ospreys as they bid to hold on to their top spot in Conference B; on this form they have the strength in-depth to deal with those challenges.