Leinster v Racing

Leinster get their Champions Cup campaign underway as Leo Cullen's look to carry their impressive United Rugby Championship form into European competition.

Ross Byrne kicks to touch to take Leinster up around midfield. Byrne makes no mistake with the extras and Leinster are seven ahead already. James Ryan and Jason Jenkins are partnered in the second row. Racing eventually turn the ball over and get it clear; an important denial as the Blues looked to punch in another score. Lowe hares forward after some smart passes crossfield from Leinster before he lays it off to Garry Ringrose who has the pace and composure to streak in for try number three. Leinster had been building in attack and got through a wealth of phases before the pop pass to Josh van der Flier set the World Rugby Player of the Year free to dig in and ground the try. Bonus point try for Leinster as immense pressure finally pays to register the first try of the second half. Van der Flier can't believe his luck as a wide gap appears which he then eats up to race in for his second try of the day. And Ed Byrne was on hand just eight minutes later to burrow in for another Leinster try from more or less the exact same position as van der Flier before him; underneath the posts. Extras were again added by Byrne and Leinster headed in for half-time with a substantial 18 point lead. As Racing became brittle in withstanding the pressure, the maul broke apart and in went Andrew Porter to ground the game's first try. Byrne added the tough conversion to stretch Leinster's lead to 11 points.