Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster 35-19 Northampton Saints

Josh Murphy scored three minutes into his first European start having been a late call-up to the Leinster team

Leinster recovered from several early injury setbacks to record their second straight bonus-point win in the Heineken Champions Cup with a 35-19 victory over Northampton Saints.

Josh Murphy and Cian Healy scored early tries to put the hosts in front before Fraser Dingwall and Tom James responded for the visitors.

Dave Kearney and Jamison Gibson-Park scored in quick succession either side of the break to claim Leinster's bonus point, and Saints could not mount a revival despite Nick Isiekwe's try.

It was a thoroughly competitive performance from Northampton, who were the dominant side for large parts of the first half, but they never got on top of Leinster on the scoreboard and now have no more than a mathematical long shot of making the quarter-finals having lost both their opening games.

Leinster were forced into making two changes before kick-off with Ross Byrne replacing brother Harry, who suffered a back injury in the warm-up, and Murphy coming into the back row in place of Caelan Doris.

The late replacements meant Ciaran Frawley and Cian Kelleher were brought on to the bench, and both backs found themselves on the pitch inside 13 minutes following a collision between Garry Ringrose and Jimmy O'Brien, although Ringrose did return.

The disruption was reflected in Leinster's display, which did not capture the fluidity normally associated with the Pro14 champions.

But the hosts took their chances and never surrendered the lead they established through Murphy after just three minutes.

Ten minutes later they punished Saints for opting to go to the scrum inside their own 22, only to be penalised allowing Leinster to tap and go with Healy trucking over the line.

Fraser Dingwall ran a smart line to put Northampton on the board after 22 minutes

Saints fought back and enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges from then on, reducing the deficit through Dingwall's well-taken score before James sniped through a gap to bring the scores to 17-14 with half-time approaching.

Leinster hold firm as pace drops off in second half

Having been on the front foot in terms of possession and territory the visitors were dealt a sucker punch in the last play of the half as Kearney collected Gibson-Park's long pass to re-establish his side's two-score lead.

After they were aided by a quick first-half start, Leinster extended their lead by replicating their fast opening in the second period through Gibson-Park on his return to the starting line-up.

The Ireland international picked the ball from the scrum to sail through an opening in Northampton's defence and further deflate the Saints' game challenge.

Just a minute later though the Premiership visitors found a reply as Isiekwe charged down Gibson-Park's box kick.

From there the action became more attritional as the Saints failed to register any points in the final 30 minutes, missing out on the two losing bonus points that their performance arguably deserved.

Byrne kicked two straightforward penalties to put the province out of sight and ensure they remain in a strong position as the halfway stage of their Champions Cup pool stage campaign.

Leinster: O'Brien, Keenan, Ringrose, Henshaw, Kearney, R Byrne, Gibson-Park, Healy, R Kelleher, Porter, Baird, Ryan, Murphy, van der Flier, Ruddock.

Replacements: Tracy, Dooley, Bent, Molony, Leavy, McGrath, Frawley, C Kelleher.

Northampton Saints: Collins, Olowofela, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Naiyaravoro; Furbank, James; Waller (c), Matavesi, Hill, Moon, Ratuniyarawa; Isiekwe, Wood, Adendorff.

Replacements: Haywood, van Wyk, Franks, Coles, Harrison, Taylor, Francis, Proctor.