The Rugby Paper

Match action -

- By RONAN O’BRIEN

HOLDERS Leinster began this game seven points behind Toulouse in Pool 1 but an emphatic six-try bonus point win over Bath brought them right back into contention.

Leinster welcome the French Top 14 giants to the RDS on January 12 and that looks set to decide the pool after a dominant display from the four-time champions at Aviva Stadium.

Leo Cullen’s side had scored four tries before halftime through Jack Conan, Rory O’Loughlin, James Lowe and Adam Byrne. Dan Leavy and Jamison GibsonPark added two more in the second, and the efforts of Francois Louw and Sam Underhill were only consolatio­ns.

“A lot of guys were frustrated with how we performed last week,” said Cullen. “We lost all of the contacts. There was a big focus on that this week. The guys were a lot better and started the game well.

“We took some opportunit­ies when they came and we were pleased to get the win because we know Bath are a very good team.”

Leinster had wrapped up the bonus point by the 38th minute and they held a commanding 28-10 halftime lead despite a positive opening from Bath.

Louw forced an early penalty at the breakdown and James Wilson popped over the kick. But Leinster hit back with two tries in five minutes to surge clear.

The first arrived in the seventh minute when Conan skid over the try-line after a neat move involving wonderful hands from Ireland tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong.

Leinster were much more efficient at the breakdown, and with Underhill off the pitch for a HIA, O’Loughlin scored following a wrap-around move between Johnny Sexton and Garry Ringrose in midfield.

Conan and O’Loughlin were two of three changes made by Cullen after last weekend’s 17-10 win at the Rec while the other alterside ation, Adam Byrne, also touched down before the interval.

Sexton’s second conversion made it 14-3, but Bath were up for the fight and Wilson put loosehead prop Jaques van Rooyen through a hole before Louw powered over. Wilson’s conversion reduced the arrears further.

However Leinster’s third opportunit­y yielded a third try. Bath conceded a penalty five metres from their own line and when the English turned their backs Lowe pounced from a quick tap to score.

Sexton again provided the conversion and he kicked cross-field for Byrne to score the bonus point try.

Leavy put the game out of reach when he scored Leinster’s fifth try in the 45th minute after a Cian Healy turnover put them on the attack. Sexton scored the conversion again and Leinster were 35-10 clear.

Bath scored when Underhill touched down a deserved try seven minutes later but Leinster controlled the final quarter as Gibson-Park ran in another try in the 69th minute.

“The challenge for us is post-November when you get guys back so you have a week to get up and running again,” said Cullen.“We’re still chasing Toulouse. We will gear strongly towards that Round 5 game. We know how crucial it is.”

 ?? PICTURE: Getty Images ?? Electric start: Sean Maitland scores the first try for Saracens in their win over Cardiff Blues
PICTURE: Getty Images Electric start: Sean Maitland scores the first try for Saracens in their win over Cardiff Blues
 ??  ?? Jamie Roberts of Bath is tackled by Dan Leavy, left, and Ed Byrne
Jamie Roberts of Bath is tackled by Dan Leavy, left, and Ed Byrne
 ??  ?? Livewire: Gibson-Park breaks for Leinster’s sixth
Livewire: Gibson-Park breaks for Leinster’s sixth

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