Leinster stay on course
Leinster clinched a home draw in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals thanks to a 25-3 triumph over Montpellier at the RDS.
Last Updated: 21/01/12 7:30pm
Leinster clinched a home draw in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals thanks to a 25-3 triumph over Montpellier at the RDS.
Sean O'Brien and Rob Kearney both crossed in the first half to give the reigning European champions a commanding 20-0 lead at the break, despite them spending 10 minutes down to 14 men.
They grabbed a third try straight after the re-start when Cian Healy touched down, though they were then unable to push on and claim the bonus point.
Martin Bustos Moyano made sure Montpellier, who finish bottom of Pool Three, weren't shut out on their travels, knocking over a 67th-minute penalty.
Sexton missing
Leinster managed to extend their unbeaten run in the competition despite being without the influential Jonathan Sexton, who suffered a knock to his left ankle in the win over Glasgow Warriors.
Ian Madigan came in for his first Heineken Cup start, distributing well early on as the hosts, backed by a strong breeze, enjoyed the early possession.
Purposeful runs from front-row duo Richardt Strauss and Healy pinpointed the chinks in Montpellier's defence, and soon after a short burst from O'Brien - aided by Damian Browne - saw him muscle over from close range.
McFadden added the conversion and also a penalty to take the hosts into double figures, before Kearney sliced through for a second try.
From a midfield scrum, Isaac Boss and Gordon D'Arcy combined to send the full-back through the defensive line and, although Paul Bosch hauled him down just short, the Ireland international was able to stretch out and score.
The visitors did threaten towards the end of the opening half, big Mamuka Gorgodze being thwarted by Leo Cullen and O'Brien.
Leinster held them up again through a series of five-metre scrums and assaults on their line, albeit with Browne being sin-binned for side entry at a ruck.
Man advantage
Montpellier, though, failed to make the most of the man advantage and when their skipper, Fulgence Ouedraogo, infringed at a ruck, McFadden rifled over the resulting penalty to push Leinster even further clear.
When Healy powered over on a muscular drive with support from Rhys Ruddock and replacement Mike Ross, it seemed the hosts would go on to secure the maximum possible haul with a fouth try.
Kearney was inches away from getting it too, his attempt from a quick tap being snuffed out by the well-placed Alex Tulou.
Substitutions diluted the intensity slightly from then on until a final spurt from both sides, including Montpellier getting off the mark thanks to Moyana.
Had McFadden received enough support late on Leinster may well have got another try, but their failure to do so was hardly a major frustration at the end of another excellent European afternoon for Joe Schmidt's side.
