Leinster trounce Zebre 70-6 in Dublin

Leinster 70-6 Zebre, Dublin

Leinster ran a 10-try onslaught as they trounced Zebre by 70-6 in their Pro 12 encounter in Dublin on Friday.

Ireland international Johnny Sexton returned to action after seven weeks and had an impressive outing with six conversions while winger Rory O'Loughlin scored hat-trick of tries.

Sean O'Brien (4'), lock Hayden Triggs (17'), scrum-half Luke McGrath (25'), prop Cian Healy (29') followed by first of O'Loughlin's (40') try allowed Leinster amass 40 points in the first half. Sexton converted all the five tries.

In response, fly-half Edoardo Padovani scored two penalties which remained the only points for Zebre in the game.

After a quiet start to the first half, centre Garry Ringrose opened his account with a 47th minute try while O'Loughlin strolled past the post two more times in the 68th and 71st minute to take the gap to 50 points.

Zebre replacement Guillermo Roan was sin-binned in the 73rd minute and Leinster capitalised on the advantage as Ringrose and replacement Jamie Heapslip rumbled past the line in the 74th and 79th minute respectively while replacement fly-half Ross Byrne scored four conversions in the second half to secure a massive 64-point win for Leinster.

The win has taken Leinster to second position while Zebre continue to be at the bottom of the table.