Leinster dominate Benetton as Snyman debuts

Leinster cruised to a third straight win in the BKT United Rugby Championship at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo in Treviso on Saturday evening.

A penalty try was the scene setter for four more by Ciarán Frawley, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris and replacement Lee Barron.

World Cup-winner RG Snyman, making his debut, was part of a power-packed Leinster eight while Olympian Hugo Keenan returned at full-back.

Leinster were used the boots of James Lowe and Jamie Osborne to pin Benetton back, with Lowe’s second effort taking his team to just outside the Italians’ 22.

The long arms of Snyman caused Michele Lamaro to concede a knock-on which was immediately repaired by a scrum penalty to Benetton.

Josh van der Flier was disruptive in defense and his aggression in contact shook the ball free for Frawley to launch a tumbling kick inside the 22.

The presence of Snyman at the maul forced Benetton into a rushed exit to hand Leinster a prime lineout position. Prop Mirco Spagnolo collapsed the maul for a yellow card and a penalty try in the 10th minute.

From the restart, Leinster exploded from deep as delightful passing set Garry Ringrose free. Jamison Gibson Park added metres in a hurry before locating Frawley on the inside for a tremendous try, converted by Frawley himself to double the advantage to 14 points.

The Benetton runners looked to establish a rhythm but they were met with a patient defence, Jack Conan snatching a penalty on the floor.

Lowe once again put Benetton under pressure with his kicking and his dogged chase forced Matt Gallagher into giving up a five-metre scrum.

Jamie Osborne breached the gain line and Gibson-Park flipped a pinpoint pass for Conan to make the left corner and extend the lead. Frawley converted.

The rise in offloads was a reflection of Leinster’s sky-high confidence, Gibson-Park’s kick returning Benetton to their 22.

The inevitable bonus point try arrived from a scrum, Gibson-Park dictating play and captain Doris dotting down for Frawley to convert to leave the score 28-0 in the 26th minute.

The physicality of Frawley and Osborne in the 10-12 channel provided a security blanket in defence.

A second scrum penalty for Benetton prompted Jacob Umaga to plumb the 22 for an attacking lineout.

The well-co-ordinated rush defence, led by Ringrose and Lowe, was supported by a destructive lineout defence, led by the impressive Snyman.

The Italians were tempted into moving the ball away, Umaga slipping through the first line before Leinster swiftly regrouped to close the door.

The withdrawal of Jimmy O’Brien forced a reshuffle in the Leinster backline, with Ross Byrne entering the action in his place.

A blazing break by Paolo Odogwu turned defence into attack, leading to another opportunity to activate the maul but Leinster were wise to the front-of-the-line move and Conan clamped down for a penalty which signalled an end to the half.

There was a scrappy opening to the second period, as Benetton did their best to respond to coach Marco Bortolami’s call to arms.

The creeping number of scrums slowed the pace of the game and neither side could make a mark on the scoreboard.

A remarkable steal by Conan at a five-metre lineout, Lowe’s booming left-foot and pressure applied by the blitz of Ringrose and Keenan drove Leinster beyond halfway.

Out-half Byrne’s grubber and smoother movement of the ball were designed to tempt the home players into poor decisions.

The looseness of the play had Keenan showing exemplary calm under pressure, Byrne fielding a Garryowen, Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong passing precisely and Osborne smashing the ball into enemy territory.

Referee Craig Evans awarded back-to-back penalties to Benetton in advance of Leinster holding their hosts up over the line.

The agility of Byrne to grab a ball he tipped into the air was the key to Leinster establishing a foothold where a rampaging Doris run was rubbed out for obstruction by Ryan Baird.

With Leinster on a warning, Baird was shown a yellow card after an infringement at the ruck. Benetton kicked for the corner and from the ensuing lineout, gathered enough momentum for Marco Manfredi to take advantage of the extra forward to leave the score 28-5 in the 66th minute.

The uncooperative conditions made handling a challenge as the game wore on. This was illustrated by the number of scrums where Benetton edged the decisions.

The discipline of Leinster eventually produced a turnover by Van der Flier to trigger a counter-attack for Byrne to kick long for Lowe to chase again.

The pressure at the ruck earned a five-metre scrum. A penalty there led to a lineout, which hooker Barron used to plunder a try from the maul. Byrne converted on the final whistle.

Scorers:

Benetton: M Manfredi try.

Leinster: Pen try; C Frawley try, 3 cons; J Conan, C Doris, L Barron try each; R Byrne con.