Leinster player ratings from URC win over Zebre
Leinster vs Zebre Parma - Leinster's Joshua Kenny scores(Image: Laszlo Geczo)Leinster crossed for eight tries, registering a thoroughly deserved win over Zebre at the Aviva.They also managed to dampen the sense of unease surrounding the slow start to the season as this brings them closer to end of the November window and the return of their internationals.The mix of the untried, the reserves and the Non-Irish Eligible stars on the night were five points ahead at half-way and pulled away in the third quarter for, in the end, a handy win.RATINGSHugo McLaughlin - Leo Cullen had spoken during the week of wanting to get players such as this from 1-50 caps and the full-back's was an assured display, specifically featuring a great pick-up and offload ahead of the opening try. 7Joshua Kenny - Making his first Leinster start and scoring his second and third Leinster tries. Leinster have never been short of young wingers with pace but clearly adding his name to the options. 8Hugh Cooney - There is a lot expected from the centre this season on the back of his under-age provincial/international performances. Solid in defence which augurs well. 7Charlie Tector - Another chance for the former out-half to post time in the centre. As with Cooney, understood the need to show some physicality with so many inexperienced players in the line-up. 7Andrew Osborne - Adjudged as 'never in position to regather the ball at his 29th minute sin-bin' a yellow card that was turned to a 20 minute red on review. One stunning break with a body-swerve to die for. 7Harry Byrne - Ran the game from no10, shot calling excellent throughout while his try, identifying and then arc-ing round at pace to exploit it was top-of-the-range. Deserved Man of the Match. 9Luke McGrath - Unlucky not to have scored when losing control of the ball in the act of touching down, it was a brilliantly identified chance, well executed spoiled by the spill. 8Jerry Cahir - A score on his debut, the stuff that loosehead dreams are made of! Looked the part in the scrum, which is always a huge plus for someone on debut. 8John McKee - Another call up success for a player who has to spend his weeks in the shadow of not one but two Lions/Irish internationals. Worked well with second-rows Deeny and Mangan at the line-out. 8Rabah Slimani - When all are away, when there is every little experience around, when a calm head is needed, there is maybe nowhere better to have it than at tighthead. Rock-solid. 9Brian Deeny - Fast becoming a reliable go-to for Leinster, there is a sense of authority and know-how to his on-field presence. Line-out calling excellent in the face of a late back-row change and two inexperienced hookers. 8Diarmuid Mangan - The younger of the two second-rows, reliable and confident about the park. That was his brother Ciaran, called up late to the bench, and who is a centre/winger by trade. 7Alex Soroka - Listed to start on the bench but called in following Max Deegan being withdrawn with a back problem just before the start of the game. All action, a thorn in Zebre side and, for good measure, regularly blocking the opposition kicking. 8Scott Penny - Hard working evening, not least as Zebre weren't adverse to trying to work the ball through the channels close to the breakdown. Eight tries and none for noted sharpshooter Penny, that must be a first! 7James Culhane - The big no8s education continues and he was lively through the first-half until picking up an unfortunate injury just before the break; Will Connors came in and Leinster never missed a beat. 7Replacements: Bobby Sheehan 7 , Alex Usanov 6, Andrew Sparrow n/a, RG Snyman 7, Will Connors 7, Fintan Gunne 6, Caspar Gabriel n/a
