Leinster get perfect Champions Cup start with win over Clermont

Leinster have kicked off their Investec Champions Cup campaign in style with an impressive 48-23 victory over Clermont ASM at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

Leo Cullen’s outfit turned a one-point half-time deficit into a comfortable five-point haul in Pool 1, the Irish heavyweights laying down a marker in their bid to return to the summit of European rugby. While it was far from a polished effort from the URC champions, the nature of the victory suggests last year’s finalists will have something to say about where the trophy ends up at the end of the season.

The visitors made a fast start and opened the scoring after nine minutes when Tadhg Furlong powered over from close range care of a superb offload from the excellent Fintan Gunne, with Sam Prendergast adding the conversion.

Clermont replied through the boot of Harry Plummer, whose penalties kept the hosts within touching distance despite Leinster enjoying the better of territory and possession.

Dan Sheehan extended Leinster’s lead on 27 minutes after reacting quickest to a Clermont lineout error, but the French side stayed in the contest. Winger Joris Jurand crossed shortly after and, aided by further penalties from Plummer, the hosts edged into a 16-15 lead at the break.

Despite trailing, Leinster had looked the more dangerous side. After the interval Prendergast and Jimmy O’Brien combining regularly to stretch the Clermont defence and their influence told immediately after the restart when Prendergast, after spotting a midfield mismatch, put boot to ball. O’Brien kept the ball in play before passing it back inside to Prendergast, who crossed for a superb try. The fly-half converted his own score to put the Irish province back in front.

Arguably the decisive moment arrived midway through the second half when Clermont prop Nohem Ez Zahouany was yellow-carded for collapsing a dominant Leinster scrum on the home side’s line, as Andrew Porter and Furlong turned the screw. Referee Matthew Carley awarded the penalty try.

Leinster didn’t take long to make their numerical advantage count, Sheehan grabbing his second try of the afternoon from a driving maul.

Clermont replacement Mathys Belaubre offered the home crowd brief hope with a score on 64 minutes but any prospect of a comeback was extinguished almost immediately. From the subsequent restart, Jack Conan burst through two defenders to restore Leinster’s momentum and Prendergast’s conversion stretched the advantage once more.

Tommy O’Brien then crossed late on to complete the scoring as Leinster finished with six tries and five precious competition earned on the road.