PERFECT 10 FOR RAMPANT BLUES

LEINSTER defended resolutely for 10 minutes before opening up and thrashing Harlequins at Croke Park yesterday, bagging 10 tries in the process.

- DEREK FOLEY

If the last 16 Champions Cup encounter had been secondarily billed as a battle between Marcus Smith and Sam Prendergast as to who should be touring with the Lions this summer, the match narrative reflected the one-against-one tale.

Smith was all flash, tricks and endeavour in the opening set as 'Quins saw a long range penalty drop short, put an immensely kickable penalty into the corner and, following the throw, got held up over the line and watched a drop goal miss, short and wide, by a country mile.

Prendergast was slower off the mark but, with Leinster starting to dominate, threw the most wonderful shape and deft pass that carved open the defence; justice allowed him take the final pass a fair time and a lot of passes later to score.

From there the Leinster out-half got into the groove and ran the fly-past with that ring of confidence that trademarks his game.