Leinster score seven tries to beat Clermont 48-23 in Champions Cup opener

Leinster began their Champions Cup campaign with a 48-23 bonus-point victory over Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Saturday, October 17. BBC Sport reported that the Irish province scored seven tries in their Pool One opener, turning a 16-15 half-time deficit into a win by 25 points.

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Dan Sheehan contributed two tries, while Tadhg Furlong, Sam Prendergast, Jack Conan and Tommy O'Brien also crossed. A penalty try completed Leinster's tally. The result gave the four-time European champions a winning start to another attempt at a fifth title, following their fifth final defeat in eight seasons in May.

Clermont stayed ahead at the interval through a Joris Jurand try and Harry Plummer's kicking. Plummer supplied 11 first-half points, including a long-range penalty that secured the narrow lead. Leinster had already scored through Furlong and Sheehan, but those two tries were not enough to put the visitors in front at the break.

Leinster's opening score came from close range, with Fintan Gunne getting the ball away under pressure for Furlong to finish, according to RugbyPass's account. Sheehan then capitalised on a Clermont lineout error for his first try. His second came from a driving maul, giving the visiting captain a double from two different set-piece situations.

Prendergast and Jimmy O'Brien combined for another Leinster try. The fly-half broke through and kicked towards the winger, who kept possession alive and returned the ball for Prendergast to score. Their link-up also created an earlier opportunity for O'Brien, but a knock-on as he attempted to ground the ball prevented a try, RugbyPass reported.

The scrum produced another important return for Leinster. RugbyPass described Andrew Porter's pressure contributing to the collapse that brought a penalty try. Conan later broke through two defenders to score, while Tommy O'Brien added another late finish as the visitors continued building their advantage rather than allowing Clermont back into contention.

Mathys Belaubre scored Clermont's other try, but the hosts could not match Leinster's second-half scoring. BBC Sport recorded 16 points for Prendergast, whose contribution included his try, conversions and a penalty.