{"id":23394,"date":"2021-10-09T07:55:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-09T11:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23394"},"modified":"2021-10-09T10:57:59","modified_gmt":"2021-10-09T14:57:59","slug":"leinster-put-zebre-to-the-sword-in-impressive-second-half","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23394","title":{"rendered":"Leinster Put Zebre To The Sword In Impressive Second Half"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Leinster dominated Zebre in the second half in the United Rugby Championship (INPHO)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leinster put Zebre away in the second half to claim a 43-7 bonus-point win in the United Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam Byrne marked his first appearance since December 2019 with two tries, although it was only 15-0 at half-time as Leinster \u2014 back at the RDS for the first time this season \u2014 struggled to turn their 70 per cent share of possession into points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unconverted efforts from Scott Penny and Jordan Larmour had started the scoring, but Zebre defended stoutly, with Renato Giammarioli making a dozen tackles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, with Johnny Sexton lifting the performance level off the bench, Leo Cullen\u2019s men cruised home with further tries from Ed Byrne, Sean Cronin, Adam Byrne and replacement Ronan Kelleher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A slick 66th-minute breakaway try from Pierre Bruno was the only score for Zebre, who had fly-half Antonio Rizzi sin-binned for lifting above the horizontal in a tackle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from Andrea Zambonin leading Zebre\u2019s poaching of two line-outs, it was all Leinster early on. Flanker Penny drove over inside the opening two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larmour then twisted his way over past two defenders in the 12th minute, grounding the ball despite Nicolo Casilio\u2019s best efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leinster number 10 Harry Byrne had an off day with the boot and went off injured in the 22nd minute, bringing Sexton into the fray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rizzi\u2019s penalty from far out fell short, before a timely third try followed at the other end. Good hands from Ed Byrne and Sexton released fit-again winger Byrne to go over in the right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leinster began the second half with prop Byrne\u2019s bonus-point try, a powerful finish on the back of a quick tap. Sexton converted to make it 22-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon it was one-way traffic, Cronin squeezing over by the left corner flag before Sexton \u2013 dusting himself off after Rizzi\u2019s yellow-card tackle \u2013 kicked wide for fit-again winger Byrne to score again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelleher barged over from a well-executed maul past the hour mark, with Sexton taking his kicking haul to eight points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zebre rallied and their best moment was Bruno\u2019s dummy and acceleration to get past Rob Russell for a 40-metre run-in. The consolation try was converted by replacement Paolo Pescetto.<\/p>\n

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