Irish youngster likened to Johnny Sexton makes promising start as Leinster get job done against Edinburgh
Sam Prendergast in action for Leinster in 2024.
Sam Prendergast produced a superb 60-minute display to help Leinster get their United Rugby Championship campaign off to a good start.
The young fly-half, who has drawn comparisons with Johnny Sexton, was excellent as the Irish province claimed a 33-31 triumph over Edinburgh.
It could well be a significant season for Prendergast, who should play a much bigger part in 2024/25, and this was a promising opening to the season.
He converted four of Leinster’s five tries as Tommy O’Brien, Charlie Tector, Jordan Larmour, Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Conan went over for the visitors.
Edinburgh fought hard throughout and earned two bonus-points thanks to scores from Pierre Schoeman, Duhan van der Merwe (twice), Dave Cherry and Matt Scott, but the third quarter proved costly for the Scots.
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Leinster arrived in the Scottish capital without several of their Ireland internationals, including Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Robbie Henshaw, but were still able to send out a strong and experienced side.
After weathering some early pressure from the visitors, Edinburgh thought they had gone ahead in the 10th minute when Matt Currie darted over but it was ruled out for a forward pass by Thompson. The hosts had a penalty advantage to fall back on, however, and following the resulting tap, Schoeman pushed his way over. Thompson converted.
Leinster hit back in the 16th minute when O’Brien finished off on the left after the ball was worked clinically through hands. Sam Prendergast was off target with his conversion attempt.
The visitors went ahead 10 minutes later when Tector seized on a weak box-kick from Ali Price and then skipped past the scrum-half. Prendergast converted.
Edinburgh responded in the 32nd minute as Van der Merwe ran in on the left following some brilliant build-up play from Thompson and Jamie Ritchie. Thompson missed the conversion, and the match was deadlocked at 12-12 at the break.
Edinburgh edged back in front in the 43rd minute when Cherry scored off the back of a rolling maul, with Thompson converting.
But their lead was again short-lived as Larmour zipped over the whitewash following a lay-off from Prendergast, who again converted.
Leinster, having got themselves level again, swiftly turned the screw with further tries from Gibson-Park and Conan in the 53rd and 57th minutes, taking them 33-19 ahead.
Van der Merwe reduced the deficit with his second of the night in the 66th minute but Ben Healy’s missed conversion meant the visitors still had some breathing space going into the closing stages.
It was just as well for the Irish as they had Ross Byrne sin-binned before Scott scored for Edinburgh in the last action of the match, with Healy converting, as they secured a losing bonus point.
Cardiff secure bonus-point win
Callum Sheedy made an impressive competitive debut for home-town club Cardiff as they got their league season off to a winning start with a 22-17 bonus-point victory over Zebre.
The former Bristol fly-half created both of his side’s opening tries scored by Cameron Winnett and Iwan Stephens.
Another debutant signed from Bristol, Dan Thomas, also touched down, along with Josh McNally, while Sheedy could only succeed with one of his conversion attempts.
Zebre, who finished bottom of the United Rugby Championships table last season, scored two tries through Giulio Bertaccini and Samuele Locatelli. Giacomo Da Re converted both, with Giovanni Montemauri adding a penalty.
Zebre began brightly to take an early lead with a penalty from Montemauri, but Cardiff hit straight back with a try from Winnett, who collected a well-judged cross-field kick from Sheedy after a break from Ben Thomas had put the defence of the back foot.
Zebre had the next chance for points but surprisingly changed kickers, with Jacopo Trulla off target from long range before the hosts added a second try.
Sheedy was again the catalyst when his neat chip ahead was collected by Stephens for a 12-3 lead at the end of a competitive first quarter.
However, the Italian defence continued to look hesitant and it came as no surprise when, after a catalogue of errors, Thomas finished off a driving line-out to put his side further ahead.
Trailing 17-3 at the interval, Zebre made a spirited start to the second half but poor handling prevented them from making any impact on the scoreboard.
Cardiff made them pay for their profligacy by scoring their bonus-point try when former Bath lock McNally crashed over from close range.
The game was up for the visitors, but they produced the best score of the night when Bertaccini tore through the Cardiff ranks for a superb individual try before Locatelli earned the Italians a well-deserved bonus point by crossing in the last minute.