Leinster stroll past Cardiff for happy homecoming

Tries: Keenan, J O'Brien 2, Conan, Osborne Cons: Prendergast 2

Cardiff (5) 5

Tries: Grady

Champions Leinster made a successful return to the revamped Laya Arena by beating Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The Irish province recorded their first victory of the 2026-27 season in front of 20,600 supporters, and condemned the Blue and Blacks to a first loss.

Leinster scored three tries inside the first quarter through Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien and Jack Conan, then O'Brien's second in the 37th minute secured the four-try bonus.

But, with a raft of Ireland internationals making their first outings of the campaign, the second half was flat and scoreless until Jamie Osborne went over with five minutes to go.

Cardiff failed to claim a URC match point just once when making the play-offs last season, but left Dublin without anything after being limited to Mason Grady's first-half try.

Leo Cullen's side started the defence of their title in South Africa and returned with three bonus points from defeats by Lions and Sharks.

The head coach brought back his big hitters to ensure it was a successful return to the redeveloped €52m Laya Arena, formerly the RDS Arena, after two seasons playing at Aviva Stadium.

A sell-out crowd was treated to a glitzy pre-match show and then a rapid Leinster start, with the hosts hitting the front when full-back Keenan kicked ahead and gathered after being found on the left wing by fast handling.

Cardiff scrum-half Aled Davies was sin-binned for cynically killing the ball on his line and tries followed by wing O'Brien and number eight Conan.

It looked set to be a long night for the Welsh side but they made light of being a man down to make it 15-5 thanks to the cunning of Callum Sheedy.

The Wales fly-half caught Leinster sleeping from a penalty to find Grady on the wing with a cross-kick.

But the hosts were in control at half-time thanks to a set play that foxed Cardiff to give O'Brien a run-in for a fourth try down the same flank, Sam Prendergast kicking his first conversion for a 22-5 lead.

Cardiff lacked the power - or accuracy - to make a dent in the Leinster defence from several entries into the 22 after the restart.

The Welsh side had plenty of territory and showed tenacity in a subdued atmosphere, but it was centre Osborne that got the first score of the half in the closing stages with a strong finish from close range.

Cardiff named eight Taulupe Faletau in their starting line-up on Thursday afternoon, although boss Corniel van Zyl admitted the Wales number eight still had a few boxes to tick because of niggles.

The Blue and Blacks opted against fielding the 35-year-old for the first time since a shoulder injury suffered at Sharks in March.

In-form Taine Basham was a late inclusion and continued his strong start to the season as his side's most dynamic carrier.

Cardiff travel to free-flowing Northampton in the Champions Cup on Sunday, 18 October (17:30 BST).

With a five-day turnaround from that fixture to a home URC game against Sharks, they must choose the right time to reintegrate Faletau.

Leinster: Keenan; Kenny, Ringrose, Osborne, J O'Brien; Prendergast, Coffey, Usanov, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Dooley, Clarkson, Spicer, Ericson, Gunne, Gabriel, Henshaw.

Cardiff: Young; Beetham, Millard, Malan, Grady; Sheedy, Davies; Southworth, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, T Williams, Mann, Thomas, Faletau.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Barratt, Wainwright, Nott, Paea, Mulder, J Evans, S Emanuel.

Yellow: Aled Davies 16.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland), Jonathan Erskine (Ireland)