LEINSTER SURVIVED AN awful first-half display to brush Zebre aside in a bonus-point 29-8 at the RDS.
Three points from the boot of Jimmy Gopperth was the only return in the opening 40 but having trailed 3-8 at the break, tries from Dominic Ryan, Gopperth, Luke Fitzgerald and Sean Cronin saw their class prevail.
With a host of internationals returning after last week’s defeat to the Dragons, they never got into their stride.
Jimmy Gopperth dragged a fifth-minute penalty wide and an aimless Fergus McFadden kick resulted in Hendrik Daniller touching down. He ran the ball back from the left and an interchange between Andrea De Marchi and Michele Visentin left Daniller to touch down for an unconverted try.
Gopperth traded penalties with Mirco Bergamasco as the Italians led at half-time.
Cian Healy bulldozed his way through a few tackles in the second half. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
The second-half didn’t start much better with Gopperth kicking out on the full, replacement Cian Healy knocking on, and Fergus McFadden unable to gather a pass out wide.
But a quick line-out resulting from the latter led to Leinster’s opening try.
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Luke Fitzgerald cut inside from the left touchline to leave five players in his wake. He drew two further tackles and then Gopperth made further yards before Dominic Ryan touched down under the posts, with Gopperth converting
Gopperth ended the game as a contest on 64 minutes, stepping inside Brendon Leonard to score a try under the posts which he converted.
Man of the match Fitzgerald got in on the scoring with seven minutes left, and then Cronin crossed in the corner to secure a bonus point at the death, with Gopperth converting in what was a lacklustre performance by Matt O’Connor’s side.
Sean Cronin celebrates Leinster's fourth. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Leinster scorers
Tries: Dominic Ryan, Jimmy Gopperth, Luke Fitzgerald, Sean Cronin.
Conversions: Jimmy Gopperth (3/4)
Penalties: Jimmy Gopperth (1/2)
Zebre scorers
Try: Hendrik Daniller
Conversions: Edoardo Padovani (0/1)
Penalty: Mirco Bergamasco (1/2)
Leinster
15. Zane Kirchner (Dave Kearney, 66)
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Ben Te’o
12. Gordon D’Arcy
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Eoin Reddan (Isaac Boss, 66)
1. Michael Bent (Cian Healy, 42)
2. Aaron Dundon (Sean Cronin, 42)
3. Marty Moore (Tadhg Furlong, 64)
4. Mike McCarthy
5. Kane Douglas
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Shane Jennings (Dan Leavy, 60)
8. Jack Conan (Ross Molony, 60)
Replacements not used: Cathal Marsh.
Zebre
15. Hendrik Daniller
14. Dion Berryman
13. Mirco Bergamasco
12. Matteo Pratichetti
11. Michele Visentin
10. Luciano Orquera (Edoardo Padovani, 2, 35),
9. Brendon Leonard
Fitzgerald provides the spark as sluggish Leinster get bonus point against Zebre
Leinster 29-8 Zebre
LEINSTER SURVIVED AN awful first-half display to brush Zebre aside in a bonus-point 29-8 at the RDS.
Three points from the boot of Jimmy Gopperth was the only return in the opening 40 but having trailed 3-8 at the break, tries from Dominic Ryan, Gopperth, Luke Fitzgerald and Sean Cronin saw their class prevail.
With a host of internationals returning after last week’s defeat to the Dragons, they never got into their stride.
Jimmy Gopperth dragged a fifth-minute penalty wide and an aimless Fergus McFadden kick resulted in Hendrik Daniller touching down. He ran the ball back from the left and an interchange between Andrea De Marchi and Michele Visentin left Daniller to touch down for an unconverted try.
Gopperth traded penalties with Mirco Bergamasco as the Italians led at half-time.
The second-half didn’t start much better with Gopperth kicking out on the full, replacement Cian Healy knocking on, and Fergus McFadden unable to gather a pass out wide.
But a quick line-out resulting from the latter led to Leinster’s opening try.
Luke Fitzgerald cut inside from the left touchline to leave five players in his wake. He drew two further tackles and then Gopperth made further yards before Dominic Ryan touched down under the posts, with Gopperth converting
Gopperth ended the game as a contest on 64 minutes, stepping inside Brendon Leonard to score a try under the posts which he converted.
Man of the match Fitzgerald got in on the scoring with seven minutes left, and then Cronin crossed in the corner to secure a bonus point at the death, with Gopperth converting in what was a lacklustre performance by Matt O’Connor’s side.
Leinster scorers
Tries: Dominic Ryan, Jimmy Gopperth, Luke Fitzgerald, Sean Cronin.
Conversions: Jimmy Gopperth (3/4)
Penalties: Jimmy Gopperth (1/2)
Zebre scorers
Try: Hendrik Daniller
Conversions: Edoardo Padovani (0/1)
Penalty: Mirco Bergamasco (1/2)
Leinster
15. Zane Kirchner (Dave Kearney, 66)
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Ben Te’o
12. Gordon D’Arcy
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Eoin Reddan (Isaac Boss, 66)
1. Michael Bent (Cian Healy, 42)
2. Aaron Dundon (Sean Cronin, 42)
3. Marty Moore (Tadhg Furlong, 64)
4. Mike McCarthy
5. Kane Douglas
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Shane Jennings (Dan Leavy, 60)
8. Jack Conan (Ross Molony, 60)
Replacements not used: Cathal Marsh.
Zebre
15. Hendrik Daniller
14. Dion Berryman
13. Mirco Bergamasco
12. Matteo Pratichetti
11. Michele Visentin
10. Luciano Orquera (Edoardo Padovani, 2, 35),
9. Brendon Leonard
1. Andrea De Marchi (Laert Naka, 51)
2. Oliviero Fabiani
3. Luciano Leibson (Luca Redolfini, 48)
4. Valerio Bernabò (David Odiete, 64)
5. Michele Sutto (Giacomo Bernini, 19)
6. Jacopo Sarto (Lorenzo Giovanchelli, 61)
7. Mauro Bergamasco (Ruben Riccioli, 61)
8. Samuela Vunisa
McCloskey sees red but 13-man Ulster cling on for a big win in Edinburgh
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bonus territory Cian Healy Guinness PRO12 Leinster Luke Fitzgerald Zebre