Following a 42-24 victory for Leinster against Cardiff at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, here’s our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture.

The top line

Leinster picked up a 12th win of the season as their perfect record in the competition continues thanks to this six-try success that saw them cut loose after the break.

Cardiff, to their credit, were leading 12-7 with half-time in sight but a score with the clock in the red from Jack Boyle proved the catalyst as Leinster were rampant.

Earlier, John McKee crossed at the back of the maul before Harri Millard responded for Cardiff and they took the lead on 30 minutes when Thomas Young scored.

But then Leinster turned the screw as that score on the stroke of half-time was followed up by Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Charlie Tector and Rob Russell efforts.

Millard and Ellis Bevan did cross for Cardiff who can be proud of their start to the game and how they dug in late on but ultimately Leinster had too much quality.

The show goes on

Despite missing over a team’s worth of players due to Ireland duty, it seems nothing can stop Leinster from sealing win after win as number 12 is now on the board.

Of course Leinster know these victories will mean nothing if they can’t back it up in the knockout stages and they will be desperate to do just that after recent woes.

But in terms of their regular season form it feels almost inevitable they will get the job done, which is a credit to their deep squad and how the players are coached.

The question is though will it be unlucky number 13 as next up for Leo Cullen’s team is a visit to the Bulls, most likely without their resting Ireland internationals.

Promising centres

The official Player of the Match was young fly-half turned centre Charlie Tector, who formed an excellent midfield partnership with fellow 22-year-old Hugh Cooney.

Tector was a handful in the carry and looks ready-made to be a 12 moving forward, with his try on 53 minutes, a wonderful moment he will remember for a long time.

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Cooney too was electric with ball in hand and with Ross Byrne orchestrating at fly-half on the week he announced he is set to leave the club, they were in good hands.

Option for Ireland

Much has been made of Ireland‘s lack of elite scrum-half talent coming through at URC level and the fact that all three of their Six Nations squad members are 30 plus.

This week Conor Murray confirmed he would be stepping down from international duty after the tournament so that will open the door to a new nine in the green shirt.

Why not one they know? McGrath consistently plays to a high level and would be a steady pair of hands behind Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey going forward.

Caolin Blade, 30, who is currently in the squad due to Casey’s injury, is the other front-runner for a spot but on this form McGrath, 32, could well force his way in there.

Tackle for the ages

All of Leinster’s backline gave a good account of themselves at the Aviva Stadium and it was noticeable the work-rate of Tommy O’Brien both with and without the ball.

The 26-year-old has had his fair share of injury problems in the past and could have won more caps for Ireland had he enjoyed a longer runs fully fit but he was very much at it today, running lovely lines and working tirelessly in defence which was typified by this unbelievable last-ditch tackle on Millard that saved a certain try.

O’Brien will hope to stay injury free for the remainder of the season and if he performs like this, then surely Ireland recognition will come in the summer and beyond.

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/leinster-v-cardiff-five-takeaways-as-show-goes-on-for-hosts-while-handful-stars-in-jordie-barretts-absence