High expectations surrounded Leinster’s latest All Black signing, Jordie Barrett, but it was the Irish province’s young, home-grown fly-half, Sam Prendergast, who stole the spotlight on a chilly Sunday night in the west country. Prendergast, who has already made his mark at Test level this autumn, once again showcased his talent at Bristol’s expense, helping the visitors secure a significant bonus point victory in Pool 2.
While Barrett made a positive early impression on his Leinster debut, scoring one try and creating another, it was the 21-year-old Prendergast who dealt the most damage to the scoreboard, scoring two sharp tries and accumulating a total of 20 points. This result added to the woes of English teams, with six Premiership sides suffering losses and only two securing wins on the opening weekend.
The match clearly favored Leinster, who demonstrated superior defensive solidity against Bristol’s attacking prowess. Despite briefly being down to 13 men in the first half, Leinster dominated the second half 28-5, with their star-studded bench making a significant impact. The giant Springbok, RG Snyman, broke through to set up Prendergast for his second try.
Prendergast’s play showed a striking resemblance to Johnny Sexton, with both of his tries executed with precision. His first try came from a Sexton-style loop and a decisive cut following Barrett’s initial pass, while his second showcased his speed from a considerable distance, securing the bonus point. Barrett, who scored by cutting in on a sharp angle, also appeared comfortable in his new northern hemisphere environment.
The cold and blustery conditions, along with some rain, were not ideal for Bristol’s intricate offloading game. Their situation worsened when their tactical leader, AJ MacGinty, was forced off the field after just four minutes due to a heavy tackle by Garry Ringrose. The center Benhard Janse Van Rensburg was moved to fly-half.
Leinster faced significant early pressure, tested by Bristol’s fast-paced handling and collective work ethic. Their penalty count was rising, leading to the yellow carding of Rónan Kelleher for pulling down a driving maul near his own line. Shortly after, Max Deegan was also sent to the bin for a trip on Harry Thacker as the Bristol hooker threatened to break through.
Bristol capitalized on their numerical advantage when Max Lahiff scored from short range, with Van Rensburg converting. However, any hopes of exploiting the 13-man Leinster were quickly dashed when Leinster regained possession and Jordan Larmour scored immediately after the restart.
The score was tied 7-7 at halftime, but not before Ellis Genge delivered a hard, late hit on Prendergast, attempting to unsettle the young fly-half. This tactic failed, as Prendergast remained unfazed.
Leinster’s second half began with a peculiar incident where referee Craig Evans sent both Lahiff and Andrew Porter to the bin due to scrummaging issues. Despite this, Leinster’s ‘bomb squad’, including Snyman and Ireland’s captain Caelan Doris, took control of the game, drastically changing its dynamics.
In addition to Prendergast and Barrett, Josh van der Flier also scored, while Gabriel Ibitoye’s late try for Bristol was too little, too late. Leinster, set to face Clermont Auvergne next weekend, are now in a strong position to pursue the title that has narrowly eluded them for the past three seasons.
Bristol at least had the opportunity to introduce their new women’s signing, Ilona Maher, who was presented to the crowd at halftime and is expected to make her English club debut under more favorable conditions in the new year. Winter rugby has its charms, but chilly late Sunday kick-offs in December truly test the dedication of fans.
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