Lethal Irish run eight past men from capital
Cockerill’s men torn to bits in Dublin
CHAMPIONS Leinster inflicted a brutal eighttry defeat on Edinburgh as Richard Cockerill’s side slipped to a fourth PRO14 loss of the season.
Leinster had the bonus- point win in the bag by half- time, but they didn’t relent in the second half and they showed their credentials once again at the RDS.
Nathan Chamberlain’s 31st- minute penalty was Edinburgh’s only score of the first half and Nic Groom crossed for a late consolation, while the sin- binning of Eroni Sau shortly after half- time allowed Cian Kelleher to score twice in his absence – Kelleher completed his hat- trick six minutes from time.
Edinburgh, who made the trip to Dublin without 21 players due to injury and international duties, handed a debut to second row academy graduate Rory Darge in the second half, but following victories against Cardiff and Scarlets in their last two outings this was a big blow.
With the wind blowing from all directions at the RDS it was no shock to see both sides trying to feel their way into the action. Devin Toner gave Edinburgh a shock when he charged down a Henry Pyrgos box- kick in the third minute but Jack Blain easily tidied up in defence.
A couple of Pyrgos box- kicks forced an error at the other end, but crucially Edinburgh were not able to retain possession from their attacking lineout, and 30 seconds after threatening the Leinster line, Edinburgh were desperately defending their own following a lethal counter attack. However, Dave Kearney got over for the try and a 5- 0 Leinster lead in the 13th minute.
With a lead to defend, Leinster easily soaked up Edinburgh’s forays, and seven minutes after the first try, their second arrived. A handful of powerful carries saw Leinster gain yardage, and after Eroni Sau stepped in to make a key
tackle, Leinster attacked the space on the wing and Kearney sent Luke McGrath over for a run- in try. After missing the first conversion, Ciaran Frawley slotted the second for a 12- 0 lead.
The loss of centre Mark Bennett was another setback for Edinburgh, but some poor handling and unforced errors from the home side invited the Scottish side back into the tie. And nine minutes from the interval a strong carry from Magnus Bradbury forced a penalty at the breakdown, and Chamberlain kicked the points from the tee.
On his 50th Edinburgh appearance Pierre Schoeman saved Edinburgh when he held up Dan Leavy, but it was a brief ease as Peter Dooley scored following the scrum. Frawley added the extras for a 19- 3 lead after 38 minutes.
And straight away Leinster struck again as McGrath’s second try gave them the bonus point and a 26- 3 interval advantage.
The turnaround for the second half didn’t bring any reduction in Leinster’s hunger and three minutes after the break Dan Leavy – making his first start in 18 months following a brutal knee injury – drove over for their fifth try.
A shambolic lineout denied Edinburgh a shot at the Leinster try line in the 46th minute, and they didn’t help their cause by kicking straight into touch moments later. In the next play Sau was sin- binned for a deliberate knock- on and it didn’t take Leinster long to score again through Cian Kelleher.
Kelleher’s second try came six minutes later as Leinster took advantage of Edinburgh’s disadvantage out wide, and although the visitors experienced some luck in attack it always seemed to end with an error.
Twelve minutes from the end Nic Groom managed to breach the Leinster line following his quick- tap penalty – Schoeman had come close moments earlier – and Chamberlain’s conversion made it 45- 10, but Kelleher ran in his third with six minutes left.