United Rugby Championship: Leinster advance to semi-finals with 59-10 Lions – Irish province win

Leinster bounced back from last week’s Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux-Beagles by scoring nine tries in an emphatic 59-10 United Rugby Championship quarter-final win over the Lions at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Dan Sheehan, Hugo Keenan, James Ryan, Scott Penney, Sam Prendergast, Gus McCarthy and Jimmy O’Brien all scored for the Irish province, while James Lowe, in his 100th cap, scored twice.

victory Leo Cullen’s side book a place in the second semi-final of the tournament against the Stormers next Saturday (17:30 BST). Glasgow will host the Bulls in the other.

Both sides came out with great intent, but it was Leinster who got on the scoreboard first, with Sheehan whitewashing on 10 minutes.

A line break from Keenan neared the home side try line and a final pass from Jimmy O’Brien found Ireland’s Hooker on the wing and he was able to ground. Sam Prendergast landed the first of seven successful conversions.

A well-executed line-out move and a series of quick hands involving Lowe, Raiko Ione, Keenan and Prendergast eventually found O’Brien, but he was met by three Lions defenders and held on the line.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Leinster built the attacking momentum and full-back Keenan easily found space for their second try.

The home side continued to enjoy the upper hand but prop Thomas Clarkson was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Nico Steyn.

Henko van Wyk capitalized on the visitors’ numerical advantage and Ivan van Rooyen’s side’s first try, Chris Smith’s conversion effort, hit the post.

Leinster’s response was almost immediate as Joe McCarthy made a monster carry to advance to the top of the Lions line.

Ryan fired from close range and Prendergast’s extra point made it 21-5 at the break.