Sexton sizzles as Leinster front up
JOHNNY Sexton inspired another stunning victory for Leinster in Europe, as the three-time winners made it back-to-back bonus point wins with a convincing success over Glasgow.
It’s the second season in a row that Leinster have taken all ten points from their first two fixtures in the competition, and the 17-point haul from British & Irish Lions out-half Sexton was a major warning sign to the rest of the competition.
Ireland international loosehead Cian Healy scored two tries in the firsthalf while Noel Reid clinched the bonus point with five minutes remaining to ensure Leinster stay top of Pool 3.
The Leinster pack were utterly dominant, and the immense Rhys Ruddock led the line for Leinster in the second-half as they kept Warriors at arm’s length.
Ruddock said: “It was a really good performance that we can be happy with.
“We know Glasgow are a really proud group of men and they weren’t going to lay down easy after coming so close last week.
“We just needed to get certain aspects of our game right and our maul and scrum were really good so that gave us the platform to have a crack at them when the game broke up.”
For Glasgow their cause looks lost already with two defeats, and apart from tries by the returning Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour, they were forced into an abject display in front of their home fans.
Hogg said: “Credit Leinster, they took their chances incredibly well. They managed the wind in the first-half and put us under a lot of pressure.”
Glasgow came into Europe on the back of six wins from six PRO14 games. But, having led 10-0 against Exeter Chiefs last weekend, they imploded. Here they were 10-3 up after 17 minutes.
Sexton and Finn Russell traded penalties early on before Russell kicked through for Seymour and his half-volley was touched down by Hogg just before he grazed the dead-ball line. With Russell adding the conversion Glasgow were in the dominant position.
But that soon changed and Healy burst through for his first try in the 24th minute. Scott Fardy claimed the lineout and after both Sean Cronin and Fardy had gone close, Healy got the downward pressure.
Sexton’s brilliant conversion pushed Leinster level 10-10 and shortly before half-time the Irish province took the lead.
It was Healy again, after more wonderful work from the forwards where their rolling maul brought their loosehead to within inches of the line before bulldozing his way past Leonardo Sarto to score.
Sexton slotted the conversion for a 17-10 half-time lead and within five minutes of the resumption Leinster struck again. This time Sexton and Fardy conjured up a sharp wrap-around move to see the former touch down.
It was an easy conversion for Sexton and although Seymour scored one minute later Leinster looked comfortable going into the final quarter.
Eventually a weary Glasgow rearguard was broken with five minutes left and Reid glided through to score the bonus point try.