Sean Cronin's late try secures bonus-point win for Leinster over Zebre

Sean Cronin: Scored Leinster's fourth try against Zebre

Sean Cronin's last-gasp try sealed a flattering 29-8 bonus-point victory for Leinster over bottom side Zebre at the RDS.

Five days on from losing at home to the Dragons, Matt O'Connor's men were facing another shock result when South African full-back Hennie Daniller's try gave the visitors an 8-3 half-time lead.

But the Irishmen came good in the second half as converted tries from Dominic Ryan and Jimmy Gopperth fired them in front, and further efforts from man-of-the-match Luke Fitzgerald and replacement Cronin sealed a five-point return for the defending Guinness PRO12 champions.

Zebre were well organised in defence in the first half, keeping their error-prone opponents at bay, and they raided through for a brilliant breakaway try in the 21st minute.

A loose kick by Fergus McFadden invited Daniller to counter over halfway. He linked with Andrea de Marchi before the latter's pass was expertly palmed back by Michele Visentin to Daniller, who finished neatly near the left corner.

Edoardo Padovani missed the conversion but Zebre stayed in front after Jack Conan had a try ruled out for a knock-on by captain Shane Jennings at the previous maul.

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Highlights of the Guinness PRO12 Round 15 clash between Leinster and Zebre.

Leinster had to settle for a 32nd-minute penalty from Gopperth, before Samuela Vunisa won a ruck penalty which allowed Mirco Bergamasco to restore his side's five-point advantage.

Impact

Early second-half replacements Cian Healy and Cronin made an immediate impact for Leinster and with Zane Kirchner and Ben Te'o countering to good effect, the latter's pass sent Fitzgerald through on an angled run past four players.

The damage was done and quick ruck ball saw flanker Ryan touch down from close range for Gopperth to convert.

Attacking off a dominant scrum near the Zebre posts, Gopperth took advantage of a Brendon Leonard slip to score and convert their second try.

Leinster's power up front was evident again as they mauled up close to the line, seven minutes from the finish. Healy went close off quick ruck ball before Gopperth's long pass gave Fitzgerald a simple run-in on the left.

Cronin completed a bonus-point victory in the dying moments, barrelling over on the left with Gopperth’s conversion completing a 26-point turnaround.