Bath 7
Leinster 64
Leinster all but assured a home last 16 tie in the Champions Cup as they ran in ten tries to blow about Bath at the Rec on Saturday afternoon.
Jimmy O’Brien scored four tries, two in each half, as his star continues to rise in the absence of Ireland international James Lowe.
Josh van der Flier, Jordan Larmour, Ciaran Frawley, Andrew Porter, Hugo Keenan and Dan Sheehan also crossed as the Blues put the English side to the sword.
Leo Cullen’s side endured a tough opening 15 minutes before cutting loose with five tries in the first half.
The home side forced a series of penalties in the opening minutes and targeted Leinster’s right side but Andrew Porter did brilliantly to bring down two driving mauls.
Leinster would punish Bath’s profligacy in ruthless fashion despite being denied a try from their first real attack as Jordan Larmour needlessly pulled back Max Clark.
Bath lost Josh Bayliss and England star Sam Underhill early on to head injuries and Leinster took full advantage as their replacements found their feet.
O’Brien was disappointed to be pulled up moments earlier but there was no doubt about the opening try as the wing gathered Keenan’s flick pass to dot down in the corner.
Sexton missed the conversion but Leinster were soon back on the attack and crossed for a second time when van der Flier ran a great line to take Sexton’s pass and scamper over.
Larmour picked a lovely line shortly afterwards to take Keenan’s flat pass and rush through a gap as Leinster moved 19-0 clear just past the half hour.
Bath scored a try against the run of play soon after as Porter threw a blind offload that was intercepted by Charlie Ewels, but it was an aberration.
O’Brien added his second as he touched down a Sexton grubber before Frawley, on as a blood sub for Larmour, twisted his way over the line for a fifth as the clock ran red.
The second half was even more one-sided than the first as winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and Leinster added three quick tries.
Porter was the first to touch down after Luke McGrath had been held up short before O’Brien caught Sexton’s crossfield kick to complete his hat-trick.
Almost from the kick-off, Sexton chipped through for O’Brien to race clear and he offloaded to Ringrose, and the ball was quickly moved to Keenan to touch down out wide.
Max Deegan, on at half time for van der Flier, spent ten minutes in the bin for a cynical trip on Ben Spencer but Bath couldn’t take advantage.
Sheehan picked another stellar line to weave through for an ninth try ten minutes from time before O’Brien added his fourth as he chased down a Larmour kick.
and's Six Nations squad while Sam Underhill – who was omitted by Eddie Jones – returns at openside flanker.
Bath: 15 Ruaridh McConnochie, 14 Gabe Hamer-Webb, 13 Max Clark, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Tom Prydie, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Arthur Cordwell, 2 Jacques du Toit, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Will Spencer, 5 Charlie Ewels (c), 6 Tom Ellis, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Josh Bayliss.
Replacements: 16 Tom Doughty, 17 Will Vaughan, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Josh McNally, 20 Mike Williams, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Will Butt.
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jimmy O'Brien, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Luke McGrath; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Michael Ala'alatoa; 4 Ross Molony, 5 Josh Murphy, 6 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Vakh Abdaladze, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Ciaran Frawley.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy).
