Image source, InphoImage caption, Leinster's Robbie Henshaw and Rieko Ioane celebrate after the match
ByIssy ToddBBC contributor- Published1 hour ago
United Rugby Championship quarter-final
Leinster (21) 59
Tries: Sheehan, Keenan, Ryan, Penny, S Prendergast, G McCarthy, J O'Brien, Lowe 2 Cons: Prendergast 7
Lions (5) 10
Tries: Van Wyk 2
Leinster bounced back from their Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux-Begles last week by scoring nine tries in an emphatic 59-10 United Rugby Championship quarter-final win over the Lions at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Dan Sheehan, Hugo Keenan, James Ryan, Scott Penny, Sam Prendergast, Gus McCarthy and Jimmy O'Brien all crossed for the Irish province, with James Lowe, on his 100th cap, scoring twice.
The victory books Leo Cullen's side a place against the Stormers in the second of the tournament's semi-finals next Saturday (17:30 BST). Glasgow will host the Bulls in the other.
Both sides came out with huge intent, but it was Leinster who got on the scoreboard first, with Sheehan getting over the whitewash 10 minutes in.
A line break from Keenan edged the home side close to the try line and a final pass from Jimmy O'Brien found the Ireland hooker on the wing and he was able to ground. Sam Prendergast landed the first of seven successful conversions.
A well-executed line-out move and a series of quick hands involving Lowe, Rieko Ioane, Keenan and Prendergast eventually found O'Brien, but he was met by three Lions defenders and held up over the line.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Leinster built attacking momentum and full-back Keenan found space with ease for their second try.
The home side continued to enjoy the upper hand but were reduced to 14 when prop Thomas Clarkson was sent to the sin-bin just shy of half-time for a dangerous tackle on Nico Steyn.
Henco van Wyk capitalised on the visitors' numerical advantage and got over from close range for Ivan van Rooyen's side's first try, Chris Smith's conversion attempt hitting the post.
Leinster's response was almost immediate as Joe McCarthy executed a monstrous carry to advance to the cusp of the Lions line.
Ryan burrowed over from close range and Prendergast's additional points made it 21-5 at the break.
Leinster run in six second-half tries
The second half got off to a quick start for the hosts, with two tries in six minutes.
Captain Caelan Doris broke through the Lions defence to gain territory for the home side and Ioane sent the ball out to Penny, who finished it off in the corner for Leinster's fourth try of the game.
A huge hit from Max Deegan saw Prendergast intercept the Lions' ball and run in an impressive try from his own half, and on his 50th cap for Leinster, the 23-year-old converted his own try successfully.
Quan Horn was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on near the Lions' try line and then Gus McCarthy broke off the back of a maul to score Leinster's sixth try in 55 minutes.
A fantastic break by Van Wyk saw him get over for his second touchdown of the match, reducing the deficit to 30 points.
With 15 minutes remaining, O'Brien dived over the line for another Leinster score and the crowd in Dublin then erupted as Lowe went over for his 70th try on his 100th appearance.
That saw him make some history as he became the province's all-time record try-scorer, breaking Shane Horgan's previous benchmark of 69.
Lowe was not finished there as he dotted down for a second try and extended his record to 71.
Leinster remain on course to secure some silverware and make up for the disappointment of their Champions Cup decider defeat.
Line-ups
Leinster: Keenan; J O'Brien, Ioane, Osborne, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, J McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Doris (capt).
Replacements: G McCarthy, Usanov, Slimani, D Mangan, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, H Byrne, Henshaw.
Lions: Q Horn; A Davids, van Wyk, Kriel, Cronje; Smith, Steyn; Kotze, Botha, Lombard, Nothnagel, Landsberg, Mahashe, Hlekani, F Horn (capt).
Replacements: Marais, E Davids, Schoeman, Delport, Qoma, Pretorius, Jonker, Pead.
Match officials
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU) and Ru Campbell (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
