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Rugby

Leinster book home Pro12 playoff after 31-point win over Treviso

Leinster guaranteed themselves a home Pro12 playoff with an eight-try 50-19 win over Treviso in T...



Leinster book home Pro12 playo...
Rugby

Leinster book home Pro12 playoff after 31-point win over Treviso

Leinster guaranteed themselves a home Pro12 playoff with an eight-try 50-19 win over Treviso in The RDS.

The home side knew a bonus point win was needed to guarantee a home playoff match in a fortnight. Leo Cullen’s side regularly ran the ball from deep in their own half, easily breaking through a porous Treviso defence.

Johnny Sexton scored the game’s first try after starting the move in the middle of the field. The Ireland fly-half broke through the Treviso defence, passing to captain Isa Nacewa, before Rob and Dave Kearney got their hands on the ball in a move that opened the Treviso defence. The younger Kearney was tackled near the tryline, before eventually offloading to Sexton to give his side a 5-0 lead.

The win was all but assured by half-time, as hooker Richardt Strauss scored two tries to give the team a 17-0 lead at the break. Treviso turned down numerous opportunities to kick at goal as the team chased tries. Leinster’s defence held firm on each occasion.

Leinster's Johnny Sexton scored the team's first try.  Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

A home playoff was confirmed early in the second half,when Jack McGrath crossed over from close range. Nacewa followed Sexton’s lead from the first-half ten minutes after the break by starting and finishing a try. The captain chipped the ball through the Treviso defence, as Garry Ringrose and Jordi Murphy linked together before Nacewa touched down under the posts.

The floodgates opened after that try as Jordi Murphy and Noel Reid both got their names on the scoresheet. Treviso scored their first try in between the Murphy-Reid double from substitute Marco Lazzaroni.

The Italians scored two late consolation tries as substitutes Matteo Muccignat and Enrico Bacchin crossed over in the final ten minutes, before Garry Ringrose crossed over in the corner with the last score of the game. It was a disappointing day for the Italian side as they lost out on a Champions Cup spot to rivals Zebre.

Leinster return to action in a fortnight, with a home playoff. After having their season disrupted by the World Cup and Six Nations, it is an excellent return for the province.

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