Heineken Cup: Leinster 92 Bourgoin 17

Leinster enjoyed a landslide Pool 2 victory over Bourgoin on Saturday night, as Argentine international Felipe Contepomi helped himself to three of their 13 tries at Lansdowne Road.

27-year-old Contepomi, who kicked 14 points at the same venue in the Pumas’ 21-19 loss to Ireland at the same venue seven days ago, returned to put in a man-of-the-match display in just his first European start for the province.

Declan Kidney’s side ran in eight of their tries in the second half, as they moved into a commanding position at the top of Pool Two, with the third biggest win in European history.

Contempomi’s salvo was sandwiched by efforts from 29-point fly-half David Holwell (2), Eric Miller, Victor Costello, Shane Horgan (2), Denis Hickie, Shane Jennings, Ben Gissing and Gary Brown as the under-strength French visitors shipped their third defeat from three outings.

November player-of-the-month Holwell kicked off the rout with a second minute penalty from the right flank.

Horgan drew in two tackles to send Miller scurrying over on five minutes for Leinster’s first try.

After Bourgoin wing Jean Francois Coux had been held up over the home line, a stunning line break from Brian O’Driscoll – who put in an exhaustive amount of off-the-ball work – saw a tackled Holwell put Contepomi over from 10 metres out.

Les Berjaillens earned some respite when right wing Laurent Soucaze collected Alexandre Peclier’s 16th minute chip forward to score, but any thoughts of a comeback at 17-7 down were quickly erased.

Contepomi offloaded when tackled by Bourgoin skipper Julien Bonnaire for Holwell to touch down three minutes later.
The Pumas’ number 10 then began and ended the move for his second on 28 minutes when good hands from Horgan, Reggie Corrigan and Malcolm O’Kelly sent him in at the right corner.

Holwell – who broke Mark McHugh’s European record of 27 points for the province – swung over his most difficult conversion of the night.

Costello was somehow allowed to waltz in on a quick tap-and-go in first half injury time for a 36-7 lead at the break.

Leinster, by this stage, were aiming to overhaul their record European win – a 41-point success against Swansea three seasons ago – and managed it comfortably as Horgan notched two tries in the opening four minutes of the second half.

O’Driscoll – lining out at headquarters for the fifth week in-a-row – allowed Contepomi the space to set up Horgan’s first and an O’Kelly hack on paved the way for the Ireland centre’s fourth of the competition.

Holwell and Contepomi completed their tallies nearing the hour, while Hickie, Jennings and substitutes Gissing and Brown were given a chance to stretch their legs as the game predictably petered out.

Battered Bourgoin, who ended well with substitute Anthony Forest grabbing a try, have a chance to gain revenge next Friday at Stade Pierre Rajon – where they have won an encouraging seven out of seven this season.

Pool 2:
LEINSTER 92 Bourgoin 17, Lansdowne Road

Scorers: Leinster: Tries: Miller, Contepomi 3, Holwell 2, Costello, Horgan 2, Hickie, Jennings, Gissing, Brown; Cons: Holwell 8, Contepomi 2, O’Meara 2; Pen: Holwell

Bourgoin: Tries: Soucaze, Bontinck, A Forest; Con: Peclier

LEINSTER:

(15) Girvan Dempsey
(14) Shane Horgan
(13) Brian O’Driscoll
(12) Felipe Contepomi
(11) Denis Hickie
(10) David Holwell
(9) Guy Easterby
(1) Reggie Corrigan (Capt)
(2) Shane Byrne
(3) Emmett Byrne
(4) Leo Cullen
(5) Malcolm O’Kelly
(6) Eric Miller
(7) Shane Jennings
(8) Victor Costello

Replacements used: Ben Gissing for Cullen (ht), Ricky Nebbett, David Blaney, Brian O’Meara, Des Dillon for Corrigan, S Byrne, Holwell and O’Kelly (all 64 mins), Gary Brown for O’Driscoll (66). Not used: Ciaran Potts.