Six-try Leinster dominate Racing

Last season’s beaten finalists ran in six tries in Le Havre, through Josh van der Flier (2), Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Garry Ringrose and Ed Byrne. Racing could only muster a Finn Russell penalty and a late Christian Wade score in response.

Leinster started the game in commanding fashion and were rewarded for their dominance as prop Porter rumbled over following a maul.

Although fly-half Russell got Racing on the board with a penalty on 24 minutes, the Irish province remained in control, and they were handed a boost as the hosts’ hooker Camille Chat was carded amid a string of offences.

Leinster took full advantage of their extra man as hooker Sheehan was picked out brilliantly by scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park to cross out wide.

They then notched a stunning third score shortly before the interval as a slick move off a lineout saw them race from inside their own half, wing James Lowe streaking through the Racing defence before offloading to centre Ringrose, who had the legs to bundle over.

Leinster continued to control proceedings in the second period and after Racing scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, they added two more tries to secure the bonus point.

Flanker van der Flier, EPCR European Player of the Year in 2022, and then prop Ed Byrne both crashed over from close range, though Racing would notch a consolation score on 74 minutes as wing Wade crossed out wide.

But Leinster had the final say when van der Flier dotted down for his second and his team’s sixth in the final play of the game, rounding off a superb performance from the United Rugby Championship (URC) leaders.

Leinster welcome Gloucester Rugby to RDS Arena in Round 2 on Friday, while Racing are away at Harlequins a week on Sunday.