Leinster started their Champions Cup campaign with a 33-19 win over Benetton at the RDS this afternoon.
A Garry Ringrose hat-trick, along with further tries from Ronan Kelleher and captain Johnny Sexton saw the hosts past the Italian outfit and to a bonus-point victory despite five-pointers from Dean Budd, Epalahame Faiva and Luca Sperandio for the away side.
Leinster’s returning Rugby World Cup stars were impressive upon their return to the European stage with Ringrose going over for the first try of the game after some good hands sent him over in the left-corner four minutes in. Sexton couldn’t converted the extras, but it was 5-0 following a fast start.
However, the Italian team hit back within minutes as Budd barged through a tackle from Andrew Porter to make it even on the scoreboard. Former Munster man Ian Keatley added the conversion to push the away team in front.
On the quarter-hour mark Leinster went ahead once again as Devin Toner set-up Ringrose for his and host’s second try. Sexton sent the kick through the posts this time around to make it 12-7.
Things got worse for Benetton just before the half-hour mark as Nicola Quaglio was sent to the sin-bin for a high-tackle on Kelleher.
The Irish hooker went over for his try three minutes later, picking from the back of a ruck, before faking a pass to Josh van der Flier, and barrelling over for his seventh try of the season already, with six to his name already in the PRO14. Sexton made no mistake with the kick to push Leinster into a 19-7 half-time lead.
Just like in the opening half Leinster went over for a try four minutes in, as Sexton secured the bonus-point as he broke through the opposition defence before getting a pass off van der Flier to go over for the try. He converted his own try to make it 26-7.
With just under half an hour remaining Faiva got in for a try as he evaded defenders to score. Keatley converted as the Italians cut into the lead, giving them a chance to push for a comeback.
Although it was not to be as the boys in blue scored their fifth try as Ringrose went over to score his hat-trick. Replacement fly-half Ross Byrne scored the conversion.
With a minute remaining the Italians got a consolation try as Sperandio went over in the corner leaving it at 33-19 when the whistle blew.
It gives Leinster a perfect start to Pool 1 as they look to try and win a record fifth European title, while Benetton put in another impressive performance as they continue to rise through the ranks.
Next up for the home side is an away trip to Lyon, while Benetton take on Northampton Saints next weekend as they hope to pick up their first points of the group stage.
