Leinster hammer Racing 92 to secure bonus-point start

Leinster endured a torturous 14-hour journey to Le Havre but it didn't stop the four-time Heineken Champions Cup winners getting their European campaign off to a flying start with a stunning 42-10 success over rival heavyweights Racing 92.

The province’s flight from Dublin on Friday was delayed and later diverted to Paris because of thick fog shrouding the airport.

An attempt to secure a bus to take them on the 145-mile road journey to their hotel was scrapped after more waiting and they commandeered a fleet of taxis, eventually arriving at their hotel at 11pm to be greeted by bitterly cold conditions.

The Pool A fixture had been switched to Stade Oceane because of a music concert being staged this weekend at Racing’s usual Paris venue and it was the three-time beaten finalists who failed to deal with the alien environment during an error-strewn display.

They didn’t put concerted pressure on their opponents, who are unbeaten in this season’s United Rugby Championship, and fell apart in the second half to allow a delighted Leinster to depart with a precious bonus point after touching down six times.

Racing’s sole response came from speedster Christian Wade, the former England and Lions wing who was a Wasps favourite before trying his hand at American Football in the United States, in the dying minutes.

A ruthless Leinster had got off to a flying start with Ireland prop Andrew Porter driving over for a soft try with out-half Ross Byrne, deputising for injured star Johnny Sexton, converting.

Scotland's Finn Russell pulled back three points with a 42-metre penalty, which was awarded for a ruck offence, but soon afterwards Racing had hooker Camille Chat sin-binned for pulling down a maul.

Leinster made their extra man count by going