Two try Healy helps Leinster to impressive win

Leinster 24-8 Clermont Auvergne

Two tries from man of the match Cian Healy helped Leinster to an impressive victory over Clermont Auvergne in freezing temperatures at the Aviva Stadium.

The Irish international scored in both halves and Sean O’Brien was also on target as Leinster denied their French opponents a bonus point and took control of Pool Two.

The atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium was fantastic and the hostility between the teams that has developed over recent meetings was clearly evident throughout.

Leinster started the game at breakneck speed and took the lead after only seven minutes when Healy powered over from close range. Jonathan Sexton added the extras and Leinster maintained their seven point lead until the break after Sexton and Morgan Parra exchanged penalties.

Healy added his and Leinster’s second try three minutes after half time when the Television Match Official (TMO) confirmed that he had crossed the line with yet another powerful drive after Sean O’Brien was held up short.

O’Brien got a try of his own after 50 minutes after receiving a pass from a quick lineout from Eoin Reddan and crossing over. Sexton converted both Healy and Sexton’s tries and Leinster were 21 points ahead with half an hour remaining.

One more try would have gained Leinster a tryscoring bonus point, but Clermont came back into the game in the last quarter and were rewarded for their efforts when Napolioni Nalaga touched down from close range after 68 minutes following a well worked maul from the French side.

Leinster failed to add another try for a bonus point but Joe Schmidt will be more than happy with what was a brilliant performance from the 2009 Heineken Cup champions.

Leinster now have a five point lead over Clermont at the top of Pool Two. In the pool’s other fixture, Saracens defeated Racing Metro 19-14 in Paris on Friday night.