Pro14: Ospreys 7-26 Leinster: Bonus-point victory for champions

Rhys Ruddock, tackled here by Adam Beard, led his side against an Ospreys side whose head of development is his father, Mike

Leinster maintained their perfect start to their Pro14 title defence with an efficient bonus-point win at Ospreys.

The hosts led thanks to an early penalty try but trailed 19-7 at half-time following tries by James Tracy, Dave Kearney and Scott Penny.

Peter Dooley crashed over to secure Leinster's bonus point, the only score of a rugged second half.

A fifth maximum-points win from five keeps Leinster top of Conference A, while Ospreys stay third.

Sandwiched between the final round of Six Nations fixtures and the opening weekend of the Autumn Nations Cup, this was a familiar meeting of two sides shorn of their current international players.

For Leinster, that has seldom been a problem. Whether it was with their first, second or third string, the reigning Pro14 champions had won their previous 23 matches in this competition, a remarkable run stretching back to April 2019.

Ospreys could only dream of such strength in depth, but made light of the gulf in resources as they started this match strongly, a driving maul leading to a penalty try and a yellow card for Leinster flanker Penny.

The hosts' joy was short lived and, within 10 minutes, Leinster were level as Tracy plunged over from close range for a try well converted by Harry Byrne.

The visitors' second score was the best of the match, a splendid team effort which started in their own half from a loose Ospreys line-out and, after a slick succession of passes, ended with wing Dave Kearney finishing in the left corner.

When Penny gathered a fine miss-pass from Byrne to touch down on the opposite flank, it felt like the Leinster winning machine was clicking into gear as they led 19-7 at the break.

Leo Cullen's side were in control and comfortably so, playing the majority of the second half in Ospreys territory without having to over-exert themselves.

Their fourth, and bonus-point try, was a work of simple graft; a quick tap-penalty five yards from the Ospreys' try-line, allowing replacement prop Dooley to burrow over.

With a lead of 26-7, Leinster's job was effectively done. Ospreys had a spell of possession inside their 22 late on, but it came to nothing as their opponents easily saw out the closing stages of yet another victory in a competition they are attempting to win for a fourth successive season.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth:

"For us to keep growing and be the team we aspire to be, against the Irish provinces in particular and the teams that bring big physicality, you have to be able to match that. At Zebre we didn't do that well enough, but today we did.

"I asked them to be proud of what they produced physically today and, yes of course, we're bitterly disappointed we've lost and, yes of course, we want to win now, but it has to be on good foundations - and consistent foundations are based on physicality and effort.

"You can see that effort and that never-say-die attitude and everyone knows how good Leinster are.

"As a result, we've come second today, but we've got some good feedback on what we can do and we need to believe in what we're doing and keep continuing to do that."

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen:

"We looked a little bit sluggish at the start and they got that early try from a driving line-out. We seemed to settle down for the next period after that.

"We got ourselves back in front, but we didn't have the same energy levels as we had had in Glasgow. Things improved in the second half.

"Losing three of our inside backs in the second half caused a bit of a disruption, but they all seem to be okay. Just bumps and bruises.

"Now we can look forward to getting back home to the RDS and having a break until we meet Edinburgh (Monday, 16 November)."

Ospreys: Cai Evans; Mat Protheroe, Scott Williams, Joe Hawkins, Luke Morgan; Josh Thomas, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Rhodri Jones, Dewi Lake, Ma'afu Fia, Adam Beard, Bradley Davies, Will Griffiths, Dan Lydiate (capt), Gareth Evans.

Replacements: Ifan Phillips, Gareth Thomas, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Olly Cracknell, Shaun Venter, Callum Carson, Hanno Dirksen.

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Cian Kelleher, Rory O'Loughlin, Tommy O'Brien, Dave Kearney; Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath; Michael Milne, James Tracy, Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Scott Fardy, Josh Murphy, Scott Penny, Rhys Ruddock (capt).

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Peter Dooley, Ciaran Parker, Devin Toner, Dan Leavy, Hugh O'Sullivan, David Hawkshaw, Liam Turner.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Assistant Referees: Adam Jones, Ben Whitehouse (both WRU)

TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU).

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