Three-Try Leinster Ease Past Edinburgh

Luke Fitzgerald, Gary Brown and Jonathan Sexton all touched down as Leinster got their 2007/08 reign at the RDS Showgrounds off to a winning start by getting the better of a determined Edinburgh side on Saturday evening.

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A sizeable crowd of 9,630 turned up to see a Leinster line-up, which included new Argentinian signing Juan Francisco Gomez and returning Ireland-capped lock Leo Cullen, make a clear statement of intent for the season ahead. The acid test though will come next Friday when they pay a visit to the table-topping Cardiff Blues.

At the RDS, former England coach Andy Robinson, who is in Dublin as a World Cup analyst for Setanta Sports, was a notable spectator at the game – he is the favourite to be named the new Edinburgh coach in the coming days.

After missing an early penalty, out-half Sexton opened his account for the season on ten minutes after Leinster were held up inches from the Edinburgh line. This was followed nine minutes later by Fitzgerald’s first try of the season as the Blackrock teenager came off his wing at pace before out-stripping two would-be tacklers.

Sexton missed the conversion and Phil Godman reduced arrears with an Edinburgh penalty to leave it 8-3 to Leinster at the interval.

Sexton rediscovered his range five minutes into the second half with his second penalty and the result was secured soon after thanks to a fine individual try from speedster Brown. The 27-year-old winger brilliantly out-sprinted two men before gathering his own grubber kick to touch down near the corner flag.

Leinster’s third try arrived with 10 minutes remaining when Sexton, displaying his improved physicality built up over the summer months, bumped off Ben Cairns before crossing under the posts. The former Ireland Under-21 international duly added the conversion for a 13-point personal haul.

While chasing a bonus point fourth try in injury-time, Leinster were exposed by a rash pass from prop Stan Wright. His attempted pass was seized upon by Edinburgh winger Andrew Turnbull who sped clear of hooker Brian Blaney for a consolation score for the Scots, who have now only won once in their last nine league games.