Leinster Rugby is the only unbeaten team in the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship following their 24-06 win over the Emirates Lions on Saturday. Leinster was made to work hard for the win by a gutsy, determined and disciplined Emirates Lions team.
Leinster started like a house on fire and dominated early possession and collisions. A converted penalty by Sam Prendergast after just two minutes of play in the first half, however, was the last time Leinster scored until late in the first half.
The Lions clawed their way back into the match until two converted penalties by Kade Wolhuter had them leading 06-03.
As customary, Leinster stepped up their assault and Josh van der Flier bulldozed his way over the visitor's tryline to retake the lead 10-06 and seven minutes to play in the first half.
Despite Leinster's best efforts on the attack brilliant and sometimes desperate defence by the Lions kept them from scoring to go into the second half, still leading 10-06.
Leinster started from the start of the second half to rebuild their initial dominance, launching several attacks on the Lions' tryline until captain Caelan Doris scored Leinster's second try of the match to lead 17-06 and twenty minutes to play in the second half.
Leinster continued their onslaught and was rewarded with a penalty try following the Lions' desperation to stop a driving maul. Leinster won 24-06.
Scorers:
Leinster Rugby: Tries: Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Penalty try. Conversion: Sam Prendergast. Penalty: Sam Prendergast.
Emirates Lions: Penalties: Kade Wolhuter (2).
Teams:
Leinster Rugby: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Osborne, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 Ryan Baird, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Michael Milne. Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 James Culhane, 21 Cormac Foley, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Charlie Tector.
Emirates Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Erich Cronje.
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