Leinster secured a 31-05 win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday evening in Dublin. The Sharks return home after three games in Europe and are still looking for their first win of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season.
Leinster scored three early tries to lead 21-00 before Ethan Hooker intercepted a loose pass and scored the Sharks' first point to go into the second half, trailing 21-05 at the halftime break. Nothing changed in the second half with Leinster continuing to dominate and cruise to a bonus-point try.
Leinster started like a house on fire, and following a fifteen-man attack, Jamie Osborne collected a perfect grubber to open the scoring after eleven minutes of play. Harry Byrne converted to secure a 07-00 lead.
Ten minutes later, Leinster scored their second try attacking off a scrum, and Jimmy O’Brien ran a brilliant line to cut through the Sharks' defence for an easy try.
Once again, Leinster exploits the lack of effort on the defence by the Sharks when Josh van der Flier crashed past several defenders to extend Leinster’s lead to 21-00 after twenty-six minutes of play in the first half.
A mistake by Leinster on the attack led to Ethan Hooker intercepting a loose pass, resulting in the Sharks' first points to cut Leinster’s lead to 21-06.
Following eight minutes of action in the second half, Leinster once again launched a fifteen-man attack, and eightman Max Deegan sliced the Sharks' defence in two for Leinster’s bonus-point try. Leinster led 26-00.
Leinster continued to dominate and Gus McCarthy crashed over from a Sharks overthrow to secure a well-deserved 31-05 bonus point win.
Teams:
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Max Deegan, 7 Josh van der Flier (captain), 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Paddy McCarthy. Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 James Culhane, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Hugh Cooney, 23 Joshua Kenny.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Edwill van der Merwe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Vincent Tshituka (c), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Francois Venter.