FLYING LOWE
Leinster cruise to victory over Edinburgh as winger James helps maintain strong Pro 14 start
THIS was a stroll for the reigning Pro 14 champions. Leinster didn’t need to hit the same sort of heights which also saw them conquer Europe last term, they simply brushed Edinburgh aside to duly move to the top of Conference B with a third win from four games.
The Scottish outfit had beaten Connacht on home soil last week but with nine changes to the starting 15 and a host of international players not making the trip, they were always long odds against breaking their duck at the RDS, where they have never won.
The home side weren’t at their most fluent in the opening period with seven personnel changes and one positional switch to the team which defeated Dragons at home last weekend, but they improved after the break and outscored Edinburgh by five tries to one.
The move of Jordan Larmour from wing to full-back was of particular interest with many observers believing his long-term future could be in the number 15 shirt.
The talented 21-year-old produced the highlight of the first half with a brilliant offload to James Lowe, who sprinted in for Leinster’s second try just before half-time to leave it 12-0 at the break.
Magnus Bradbury gave Edinburgh brief hope with a try five minutes after the restart but after Lowe had another effort correctly disallowed for a forward pass following the intervention of the TMO, Larmour beat two tackles to score under the posts.
Johnny Sexton marked his 150th appearance for his home club with the bonus point score after 64 minutes, the outhalf landing three conversions out of four before retiring.
Centre Garry Ringrose raced in from halfway to round off the scoring in the final minute when he collected McFadden’s pass.
Leinster’s first attack should have yielded a try as early as the tenth minute. The home side went through the phases, referee Dan Jones penalised Edinburgh at the ruck when he should have played advantage and Ringrose’s touchdown as the whistle blew was to no avail.
Sexton turned down the three points on offer as he kicked to the corner, Jack Conan won the lineout and the pack drove forward again only for Luke McGrath to knock on as he reached for the line.
It proved a short reprieve for the visitors though. Devin Toner blocked Sean Kennedy’s clearance from a ruck 30 metres out and did well to scoop up the loose ball.
The home players arrived quickly in numbers and McFadden did well to wriggle free for the try which Sexton converted from the right touchline.
Two minutes before half-time, referee Jones correctly overruled the assistant referee who had awarded Edinburgh a lineout on their own 22.
Leinster moved the ball right, McGrath looped around Toner and fed Sexton who linked with Larmour and the full-back’s sublime pass put Lowe away for the try which Sexton failed to convert.
Edinburgh finally opened their account five minutes after the restart.
Duhan van der Merwe broke down the left wing and found Chris Dean inside and Bradbury was in support for the score.
Any hope of a shock quickly disappeared however as Robbie Henshaw and Sexton sent Larmour in for the third home try and Sexton dummied past the cover for the fourth as Leinster pulled clear.
In an uncompromising final quarter, Edinburgh’s night went from bad to worse as replacement prop Pierre Schoeman was red-carded for a dangerous challenge on McGrath.
Leinster lost Dan Leavy, who had only just returned as a replacement for his first game of the season following a clash of heads.
James Ryan also left the pitch for a HIA in the first half and Cullen will be hoping some of his injured players recover ahead of the start of their Heineken Champions Cup defence in three weeks time. leinSter: J Larmour; F McFadden, G Ringrose, R Henshaw (J Tomane 69), J Lowe; J Sexton (capt) (R Byrne 66), L McGrath (J Gibson-Park 66); C Healy (P Dooley 65), J Tracy (S Cronin 49), M Bent (T Furlong 49), D Toner, J Ryan (M Kearney 21), M Deegan (D Leavy 65, M Deegan 70), J Van der Flier, J Conan. Scorers – tries: McFadden, Lowe, Larmour, Sexton, Ringrose. cons: Sexton (3). eDinBUrGh: D Fife; J Farndale, C Dean (J Johnstone 69), JP Socino, D Van der Merwe; J van der Walt (S Hickey 59), S Kennedy (N Fowles 49); A Dell (P Schoeman 49), R Ford (D Cherry 56), S Berghan , F McKenzie (capt), B Toolis, L Hamilton (C Hunter-Hill 65), J Ritchie, M Bradbury (L Crosbie 65). Scorers – tries: Bradbury. con: van der Walt. referee: D Jones (WRU).