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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Leinster v Benetton, European Rugby Champions Cup

We’ll have score updates from the RDS as Leinster kick off their European drive for five.

TEAM NEWS: Late change on the Leinster side as Joe Tomane withdraws with a hamstring injury picked up in yesterday’s captain’s run. Rory O’Loughlin comes into the starting XV, and Robbie Henshaw is on the bench.

Leinster

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Rory O’Loughlin
11. James Lowe
10. Jonathan Sexton (Capt)
9. Luke McGrath

1. Cian Healy
2. Ronan Kelleher
3. Andrew Porter
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris

Replacements:

16. James Tracy
17. Peter Dooley
18. Michael Bent
19. Scott Fardy
20. Max Deegan
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Robbie Henshaw

TEAM NEWS: Here’s how the visitors line out, with a familiar face in the 10 shirt.

Benetton Rugby 

15. Jayden Hayward
14. Angelo Esposito
13. Ignacio Brex
12. Alberto Sgarbi (C)
11. Luca Sperandio
10. Ian Keatley
9. Dewaldt Duvenage

1. Nicola Quaglio
2. Hame Faiva
3. Marco Riccioni
4. Irné Herbst
5. Dean Budd
6. Giovanni Pettinelli
7. Abraham Steyn
8. Nasi Manu

Replacements:

16. Engjel Makelara
17. Federico Zani
18. Tiziano Pasquali
19. Marco Fuser
20. Marco Lazzaroni
21. Toa Halafihi
22. Tito Tebaldi
23. Tommaso Allan

KICK OFF: Underway at the RDS.

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 5-0 Benetton (Ringrose, 4′)

Leinster work it through the phases off a lineout and after some quick hands, Ringrose crosses to score. Sexton misses the conversion from the left on the near side.

TRY FOR BENETTON! Leinster 5-7 Benetton (Budd, 10′)

Super response from Treviso as they kick a penalty to touch and then turn their lineout maul into a try, Budd wrestling his way over. Keatley converts and Benetton lead!

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 12-7 Benetton (Ringrose, 15′)

A second for Ringrose, who crashes over from close range following a big carry from Toner in the build-up. Sexton converts.

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 19-7 Benetton (Kelleher, 31′)

Kelleher picks from the base of a ruck and, after shaping to pass to Van der Flier, decides to do it himself and crashes over. That’s a try on his European debut! Sexton converts.

HALF TIME: Leinster 19-7 Benetton

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 26-7 Benetton (Sexton, 43′)

Welcome back, Johnny Sexton, and he seals the bonus point for Leinster. Benetton had him wrapped up in a tackle but he wriggles free and plays a lovely one-two with Van der Flier who unselfishly gives the return pass to allow Sexton to touch down under the posts. Converted.

TRY FOR BENETTON! Leinster 26-14 Benetton (Faiva, 51′)

Benetton aren’t giving up without a fight. Faiva evades Ruddock’s tackle, and van der Flier can’t get there in time to stop the Benetton hooker from scoring his side’s second. Keatley converts.

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Leinster 33-14 Benetton (Ringrose, 68′)

Hat-trick for Garry Ringrose, and you’d imagine that’s any chance of a Benetton losing bonus point gone. James Ryan and Michael Bent carry to bring Leinster close to the line, and then Ringrose slips through the gap to score his third. Ross Byrne converts.

TRY FOR BENETTON! Leinster 33-19 Benetton (Sperandio, 79′)

To their credit, Benetton haven’t given up. Hayward plays the final pass to Sperandio who goes over in the corner. Conversion missed.

FULL TIME: Leinster 33-19 Benetton

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