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Dan Leavy made his comeback after an 18-month injury layoff when Leinster posted a nine-shot victory over Zebre in the Guinness Pro14 at RDS.
The champions recorded a routine victory over the hapless Italians, but it was the return of Ireland wing Leavy that will please coach Leo Cullen and Leinster fans alike.
The full-back suffered a serious knee injury against Ulster in 2019 and saw his first competitive action since, when he came in as a replacement in the second half.
Leavy nearly capped his comeback with an attempt, but his late effort, which would have been his 10th attempt of the night, was ruled out by the TMO.
There was a first down for Dan Sheehan, one of Leinster’s four rookies, and a second for Tommy O’Brien as the hosts went ahead 28-3 at halftime.
Michael Bent and Dave Kearney also crossed when Zebre took a single penalty from Paolo Pescetto. They landed through Michelangelo Biondelli, but Harry Byrne got all nine conversions when Sheehan, Josh Murphy, Ciaran Parker, O’Brien and Scott Penny shared the rest of Leinster’s attempts.
Handling errors ruined early exchanges, while Zebre lost former Leinster lock Ian Nagle to a head injury. Leinster scored from his first trip to 22 for the visitors, with captain Rhys Ruddock in the limelight, as good work from the forwards finished off the Bent prop.
The young Byrne, half-elevated, converted and also added the extras on Leinster’s second attempt in the 19th minute. Zebre’s lineout malfunctioned near his own line, allowing 22-year-old prostitute Sheehan to rejoin the part. back and finish smartly.
Pescetto responded with a well-struck penalty from a distance 14-3, but Leinster was preparing for his task. A clever surround of a maul saw Sheehan feed inward for winger Kearney to push the lead to 18 points.
The Italians cleared space around the side of a ruck in the 36th minute, allowing Luke McGrath to cut and fire for O’Brien to attack behind the posts.
Man of the match, Sheehan, beat a few minutes into the second half. With talisman number eight Jimmy Tuivati also forced out, injured Zebre continued to fight and was lifted by Marco Manfredi’s ball penalty.
Ciaran Frawley’s ingenious footwork paved the way for wing Murphy to pass from up close, and right at the hour mark, Parker’s assignment proved unstoppable by the flat pass of fellow replacement Hugh O’Sullivan.
Two skillful kicks from replacements Josh Renton and Antonio Rizzi unlocked the home defense for winger Biondelli’s 66-minute effort.
Leavy was involved in some excellent handling setting up O’Brien’s second of the night, and wing Penny enjoyed a 100-foot taxi with five minutes to go.
More to follow …
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