‘Pleased’ Leinster boss plays down crushing Leinster win
United Rugby Championship
Benetton 17
Leinster 61
Daire Walsh
It may have been their biggest win in the competition to date, but Leinster head coach Leo Cullen wasn’t getting carried away with his side’s 44-point victory against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship at Stadio Monigo on Saturday.
The absence of several internationals significantly tested Benetton’s already limited resources and although Leinster were shorn of their sizeable Irish contingent, Seán Cronin, James Tracy and Jimmy O’Brien all recorded a brace of tries to comfortably restore their four-point cushion at the URC summit.
“We know Benetton, they’re underpowered this time of year. They’re probably the most affected team in the league. They’re missing up to 20 players. It’s very, very challenging for them,” Cullen acknowledged.
“I thought our guys applied themselves pretty well over the course of the game. We’re pleased to get a win.”
Despite the loss of Harry Byrne to injury, tries from Max Deegan, Cronin, Jordan Larmour and Byrne’s older brother Ross (the game’s player of the match) ensured the visitors were 28-3 in front at the interval with a bonus point already secured.
Limerick man Cronin added another score on the resumption before his replacement Tracy and recent Ireland call-up O’Brien contributed two tries of their own. Nicola Piantella and Lorenzo Cannone crossed the whitewash for the hosts, but Leinster effortlessly moved into pole position ahead of next weekend’s meeting with second-placed Ulster.
Scorers – Leinster: Tries – S Cronin (2), J Tracy (2), J O’Brien (2), M Deegan, J Larmour, R Byrne; Cons – R Byrne (7), J O’Brien.
Scorers for Benetton: Tries – N Piantella, L Cannone; Cons – R Smith (2); Pens – R Smith.
LEINSTER: J O’Brien; J Larmour, J Osborne, H Byrne, T O’Brien; R Byrne, L McGrath; P Dooley, S Cronin, T Clarkson; R Molony, J McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Penny, M Deegan.
Replacements: D Kearney for H Byrne (30), J Tracy for Cronin, E Byrne for Dooley, M Ala’alatoa for Clarkson (all 52), D Leavy for Penny (56), Penny for Ruddock (58-61), C Foley for McGrath, R O’Loughlin for Larmour (both 63), D Toner for R Byrne (74).
BENETTON: A Coetzee; L Sperandio, J Riera, F Drago, R Smith; T Albornoz, A Garbisi; F Zani, C Els, N Tetaz; N Piantella, C Wegner; M Meggiato, L Cannone, T Halfihi.
Replacements: M Drudi for Zani (h-t), A Steyn for Halafihi (42), C Traore for Tetaz (46), T Baravelle for Els, M Zanon for Riera (both 49), A Izekor for Piantella (54), L Petrozzi for Garbisi (59), T Bell for Wegner (61).
Referee: B Whitehouse (WRU).