PATIENCE IS KEY FOR THE BLUES
LEINSTER centre Jamie Osborne said they needed to show patience before they got on top at the RDS to bring Edinburgh’s winning start to the season to a halt.
“It was a tough game, a slow start from us. It was stop-start and we really wanted to pick the tempo up in the second half and I think we did that. It was good to get the bonus point,” said the man of the match.
Leinster displayed greater accuracy and never looked back once hooker Lee Barron got over at the end of the opening quarter.
They added two more before the break while Edinburgh lock Glen Young was in the bin with Max Deegan and full-back Ciaran Frawley scoring.
Leinster wrapped up the bonus point after 52 minutes when Barron supplied the decisive pass for Tommy O’brien to race down the right and cut in to score under the posts, with Byrne’s conversion making it 28-6.
Edinburgh hit back within a minute when replacement James Lang got over after good work from Blair Kinghorn and Shiel, with Healy’s convert reducing the margin to 28-11.
But it was Leinster who struck again when No.8 James Culhane got his first try after a good drive from a lineout after 58 minutes, although Edinburgh got a lifeline 13 minutes from time when Connor Boyle finished off a lineout in the corner.
Edinburgh set up a tight finish when Boan Venter managed to ground the ball after Charlie Shiel was stopped short, with Healy continuing his flawless kicking to get within nine but they never looked like getting a fourth try or a bonus point. SCORERS: LEINSTER - Tries: L Barron, M Deegan, C Frawley, T O’brien, J Culhane. Cons: H Byrne (4). Pen: S Prendergast EDINBURGH - Tries: J Lang, C Boyle, B Venter. Cons: B Healy (3). Pens: Healy (2)