With the sun beating down on Dublin, the stage was set for Leinster’s long-anticipated return to Croke Park. However, Harlequins could not live up to expectations as Leinster Rugby secured a humiliating 60-00 win on Saturday afternoon.
And a score inside the opening 15 minutes is exactly what they would’ve wanted. Sam Prendergast swooped in on the in-goal line to mop up the scraps of a brutish move for the easiest try he’d score all season. That's three for the season in the competition for Prendergast now, as his magic run continues.
The young star then turned provider just three minutes later as Joe McCarthy found space across the ‘Quins' backline to go over.
Jamie Osborne was the next to score for the hosts to extend the lead. Prendergast was on hand to duly convert to take his afternoon tally to nine points and an assist.
A 19-0 lead clearly wasn’t satisfactory for the Irish giants as the proceedings got underway for the second half.
Increased ball speed and passing looked threatening to a Harlequins side in need of inspiration, and it soon showed on the score sheet.
Josh van der Flier went over on the right for Leinster’s first of the half before Garry Ringrose added the side’s fifth on the opposite wing.
It was soon six for Leinster as Dan Sheehan inflicted another score on a Harlequins side all at sea in Dublin before a penalty try deepened Quins’ wounds yet further.
The introduction of Jordie Barrett would have done little to remedy the London side’s woes, and a trio of late crosses hit the visitors whilst they were down.
Leo Cullen’s men send a statement of intent to the rest of the field and ease into next weekend’s quarter-finals.
Scorers:
Leinster: Tries: Sam Prendergast, Joe McCarthy, Jamie Osborne, Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose, Dan Sheehan, Penalty Try, Ross Byrne, James Lowe (2). Conversions: Sam Prendergast (3), Ross Byrne (2).
Teams
Leinster Rugby: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jamie Osborne, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jordie Barrett.
Harlequins: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Ben Waghorn, 11 Nick David, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Will Porter, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Will Evans, 6 Jack Kenningham, 5 Chandler Cunningham-South, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter. Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Irne Herbst, 20 George Hammond, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jamie Benson, 23 Luke Northmore.