Benetton 18

Leinster produced a powerful second half display against Benetton at the RDS this afternoon to retain their spot at the summit of the United Rugby Championship table.

Leading 21-18 at the end of an entertaining first half of the action, Leo Cullen’s men registered 26 unanswered points after the restart to convincingly see off the challenge of their Italian visitors.

Two points adrift of Leinster coming into this game, Benetton immediately set out their stall when Ignacio Mendy touched down for a breakthrough try with less than two minutes on the clock.

Full-back Jacob Umaga – nephew of former All Blacks star Tana Umaga – slotted over the conversion to give Benetton an early seven-point cushion, but Leinster’s response to falling behind was emphatic.

After a 50/22 from the returning Jamie Osborne got the hosts back into enemy territory, openside flanker Scott Penny drove over the line for his 31st try as a provincial player.

Playing for the first time since the URC clash against Munster at the nearby Aviva Stadium on November 25, Ross Byrne comfortably added the extras to get Leinster back on level terms.

This offered momentum to Leo Cullen’s men, who subsequently edged in front when Byrne’s half-back partner Luke McGrath sprinted through a gap at the heart of the Benetton defence for a converted score.

Even though a Umaga penalty brought the gap down to four, Leinster seemingly reinforced their authority when outside centre Liam Turner showcased his pace and strength to crash over the whitewash in the 34th minute.

Yet after Mendy got through on the right-flank for another try, Umaga knocked over a superb penalty from inside his own half to leave Leinster just three points to the good at the interval.

Although this left things delicately poised, a Leinster side with a bonus try in its sights were highly-motivated on the resumption. A couple of kicks from Ross Byrne – one of which was brilliantly caught by Tommy O’Brien – ensured they were camped inside the Benetton ‘22’ for an extended spell and lock Jason Jenkins eventually supplied the finishing touches underneath a slew of bodies on 43 minutes.

This score – once again supplemented by a Ross Byrne conversion – left Leinster on the cusp of claiming maximum points for the sixth time in their 2023/24 URC campaign.

Benetton remained within touching distance heading into the final-quarter, but Leinster ultimately placed the outcome beyond doubt in the 65th minute. After the ball broke free off an attacking scrum, Ben Murphy (son of current Ireland U20s head coach Richie Murphy) pounced on the loose ball and dotted down for his first try in a Leinster jersey.

Benetton were left severely deflated as a consequence of this latest effort and with replacement lock Brian Deeny powering over the line in advance of Penny’s second of the day in the closing moments, Leinster emerged as deserving 29-point winners in the end.

Scorers for Leinster: Tries – S Penny (2), L McGrath, L Turner, J Jenkins, B Murphy. B Deeny. Cons – R Byrne (4), S Prendergast (2).

Scorers for Benetton: Tries – I Mendy (2). Pens – J Umaga (2). Cons – J Umaga.

LEINSTER: H McErlean; T O’Brien, L Turner, J Osborne, R Russell; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, L Barron, T Clarkson; R Molony, J Jenkins; W Connors, S Penny, M Deegan.

Replacements: J McKee, E Byrne, M Ala’alatoa, B Deeny, R Ruddock, B Murphy, S Prendergast, B Brownlee.

BENETTON: J Umaga; I Mendy, M Fekitoa, M Zanon, O Ratave; T Albornoz, A Uren; T Gallo, S Maile, T Pasquali; G Koegelenberg, E Snyman; G Pettinelli, T Halafihi, H Time-Stowers.

Replacements: G Nicotera, F Zani, F Alongi, R Favretto, A Izekor, A Garbisi, L Marin, F Drago.

Referee: Hollie Davidson.