Leinster Rugby

Leinster's team to face Edinburgh Rugby in Round 15 of the BKT United Rugby Championship was rele...

Dave Kearney and Jordan Larmour join him in the back three. Michael Ala’alatoa Michael Milne, 2. He starts at full back. He starts in the second row alongside Ross Molony. Ciarán Frawley starts for the URC leaders for the first time since October.

Stuart McInally will also make his comeback from injury as Mike Blair's team bid to fight back into URC play-off contention.

“This game is huge for the club. We’ll need to be switched on from the get-go. “We know our overall performance against Scarlets wasn’t good enough and we’re expecting a reaction across the board tomorrow night. They are currently 11th in the table and may need to win three of their four remaining games to get back into the play-off places. [Happy birthday to the Scottish Rugby Union – 150 years old today](https://www.theoffsideline.com/happy-birthday-to-the-scottish-rugby-union-150-years-old-today/) [What is club rugby for? Skinner, who is at lock, came off the bench in that match at the Stade de France.

Leinster scored seven tries on the way to a 20-point win over Edinburgh in Round 15 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.

It could not keep Edinburgh away for too much longer. The men in All White were in the mood, Larmour looming again before the ball was shifted left for Penny to use Kearney as a decoy in cutting through for his second seven-pointer, a third try in six minutes by the 59th minute. The patience of Leinster close to glory was clear and present, the hard carries enabling Ross Molony to assist loose-head Milne in grabbing his second try, converted by Byrne for 33-20 in the 53rd minute.

In a month's time, Leinster will take their turn to fly south for back-to-back games against the Lions in Johannesburg and the Bulls up the road in ...

Leinster turned over 21-15 in front, changed into a higher gear, and then put the boot down. On this occasion, he was assisted nicely by Dave Kearney and Liam Turner for the first of two tries. The next indication arrived eight minutes before the break with a terrific try from Michael Milne. The first signs there would be a serious disparity came with Leinster’s second try, another variation on the five-metre penalty theme. So Ciarán Frawley looked in peak form and fitness despite getting his first run since October. Whoever is sent, they’ll be worth the entrance fee.

THEY MAY HAVE had a team's worth of players off on Ireland duty, but Leinster's march to glory in the United Rugby Championship continued uninterrupted with a ...

With Penny going off injured and replacement lock Brian Deeny picking up a late yellow card, Leinster finished the game two men down, giving Sam Skinner, the chance to earn the home side a four-try bonus with a late touchdown. When Leinster got their hands on the ball, though, they got their reply under a minute. It did not take long to extend their advantage and claim the scoring bonus point.

Edinburgh's hopes of reaching the United Rugby Championship play-offs were dealt a blow as they were overpowered 47-27 by leaders Leinster.

Leinster replacement [Brian Deeny](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/brian-deeny/) was yellow-carded for an offence in the build-up. The conversion attempt was missed. [Sam Skinner](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/sam-skinner/) scored the bonus-point try and [Charlie Savala](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/charlie-savala/) converted. Another Byrne conversion made it 21-15 at the break. Boffelli was on target this time and added a penalty minutes later. [Michael Milne](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/michael-milne/) after [Dave Kearney](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/dave-kearney/) and [Liam Turner](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/liam-turner/) had done the initial damage.

Leinster edged ever close to a perfect run into the URC playoffs defeating Edinburgh 42-27, while Ospreys fell a narrow loss to Benetton.

However, they struggled to nail the final pass, and opportunities went begging. Leinster replacement Brian Deeny was yellow-carded for an offence in the build-up. The conversion attempt was missed. Boffelli was on target this time and added a penalty minutes later. Another Byrne conversion made it 21-15 at the break. A kick to the corner and the backs joined the lineout drive, with hooker Sam Parry going over for a try converted by Walsh. Harry Byrne converted all three tries to give Leinster a 21-15 lead at half-time. Then it was a story of the kickers for the rest of the half as the penalties, which had gone the Ospreys way early on started to go in favour of the Italians. At first they were denied by the TMO, but from the drop out, they were able to work left wing Marcus Watson clear on the outside, and he went 40 yards for the try while the Ospreys were down to 14 with replacement flanker Harri Deaves in the bin. That brought the Ospreys within a point at 21-20, but the score was to stay that way as Walsh’s conversion was a few inches out, and the Italians celebrated only their second away win in their last 12 United Rugby Championship matches. Byrne’s conversion reduced the Irish side’s deficit to a single point, and they went on to regain the lead late in the half with their third try, finished off by Milne after Kearney and Liam Turner had done the initial damage. But Leinster pulled away in the second half with Penny and Milne doubling their tallies as Dave Kearney and Michael Ala’alatoa added their names to the scoresheet, Byrne converting three of the four scores.