It was a dreadful game from start to finish on a wet, blustery night in Ballsbridge but somehow, Leinster managed to have a try bonus point in the bag when the clock struck 80.
The first half was a struggle against a tenacious Zebre team in which Leinster managed just one try, scored by inside centre Noel Reid after 33 minutes. The Italians scrambled defence was excellent up until then but they were weakened when they went down a man 4 minutes previously, Tommasso Iannone was sent to the sinbin for not releasing. The outhalf and opposite number Ian Madigan found conditions tough with both kickers missing twice before the break. Madigan did manage a penalty early on helping Leinster to an 8-0 lead at half-time.
The second-half didn’t get any better as a spectacle and it wasn’t until the hour mark that try number two came with Luke Fitzgerald scoring off a Leinster maul despite some savage defence work by the Italians. The winger completed a brace 6 minutes later, finishing off a good backline move. Birthday boy Madigan could only secure the afters for the first of those two but made amends converting Jordi Murphy's late try. The number 8 touched down after a last minute heave over the Zebre line from the Blues pack. Leinster ensured the bonus point and whatever happens tomorrow between Munster and Treviso, Matt O'Connor's side will be at least a point ahead of the men in red on the Rabo Direct Pro 12 table when the sides clash at the Aviva next weekend.
