Parma Prove No Match For Leinster
The Leinster coaching reign of Australian Michael Cheika began in fine style on Saturday as the province sent Overmach Parma packing from Naas RFC with a 64-14 thrashing.
Brian O’Driscoll (centre) was amongst the watching crowd in Naas
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY: Saturday, August 20
Leinster 64 Overmach Parma 14, Naas RFC
Scorers: Leinster: Tries: Rob Kearney 3, James Norton 2, David McAllister, Gary Brown, John Lyne, Jamie Heaslip; Cons: Felipe Contepomi 5, McAllister 3; Pen: McAllister
Parma: Tries: Alejandro Canale, Gianmario Mori; Cons: Marco Coletti, Francesco Mazzariol
The Leinster coaching reign of Australian Michael Cheika began in fine style on Saturday as the province sent Overmach Parma packing from Naas RFC with a 64-14 thrashing.
A largely experimental Leinster side ran in nine tries in all, with Cheika, his coaching assistant David Knox and injured Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll watching on, and they garnered plenty of information on their extended squad for the season ahead thanks to a combative display.
Ireland Under-19 full-back and captain Robert Kearney grabbed most of the plaudits as he ran in a hat-trick of tries on his first start for the province. After a second-minute penalty from David McAllister, it was try-time all the way for Cheika’s charges.
They built up a 36-0 lead as James Norton, Kearney (2), McAllister and John Lyne all touched down. Argentine international Felipe Contepomi came off the bench to convert Lyne’s effort.
Alejandro Canale, as he had done in Tuesday’s 20-13 loss to Connacht, proved to be Parma’s most attack-minded player throughout, and he deservedly crossed for their opening try in the second half.
Marco Coletti converted but was soon sent to the sin-bin for a 62nd-minute ruck infringement. Credibly, Parma cancelled out a Gary Brown try with a breakaway score from Gianmario Mori, but Leinster clinically closed out their pre-season opener with confidence.
Left winger Kearney, number 8 Jamie Heaslip and Norton, with his second, all managed tries in the closing quarter-of-an-hour to rack up Leinster’s 50-point buffer.
Cheika’s men return to their regular home of Donnybrook, which has a newly relaid pitch, next Friday when Northampton Saints visit Dublin (kick-off 7.30pm).
LEINSTER: Eoghan Hickey; James Norton, Greg Stafford, David McAllister, Robert Kearney; Christian Warner, Guy Easterby (Capt); Johnny Wickham, David Blaney, Ronan McCormack, Stephen Bradshaw, Ben Gissing, Ciaran Potts, Niall Ronan, S Crawford.
Replacements used: Dermot O’Sullivan, Gary Brown, Ross McCarron, Felipe Contepomi, Brendan Burke, Brian O’Meara, Brian O’Riordan, John Lyne, Will Green, Conor Geoghegan, Emmett Byrne, Keith Tait, Adam Byrnes, Rob Connolly, Jamie Heaslip.
PARMA: Ezio Galon; Giovanni Ghidini, Paul Emerick, Andrea Orsi, Nicola Mazzucato; Franceso Mazzariol, Jose Pellicana; German Fontana, Sebastien Busato, Fabio Staibano, Federico Minello, Fabio Gumiero, Liviu Pascu, Pablo Sciarretta, Manoa Vosawai.
Replacements used: Alejandro Canale, Marco Coletti, Gianmario Mori.
Referee: Donal Courtney (IRFU)