Leinster up to second in the URC after their depth proves too good for Edinburgh

It's nights like these that Leinster traditionally separate themselves from the pack.

The defending champions were decimated with international call-ups, but Edinburgh were hit even harder, 22 players either on Six Nations duty or injured.

It may be an international window, and both teams may have been at second or even third string, but the same five points are on offer, and that's where Leinster's depth counts.

Having experienced players like of Michael Ala'alatoa, Ross Molony, and Ross Byrne available is the kind of luxury nobody else can afford, their squad depth gritting what could be an otherwise slippery track.

These international windows are the opportunity to see what's coming along the conveyor belt, and flanker Martin Moloney was immense in his first senior start, having been drafted in before kick-off for the injured Rhys Ruddock.

They were nowhere near their best despite the 26-7 bonus point win, but they leapfrog their opponents up to second in the URC table, one point back from leaders Ulster.

Josh Murphy and Nick McCarthy scored first half tries to create a cushion, and after surviving a period of Edinburgh pressure early in the second half they eased their way home, Vakh Abdaladze and Max Deegan completing the bonus point win with tries in the final quarter.

The 6pm kickoff meant the crowd at the RDS was a slow-burn, and many of the 8,599 in attendance were still filtering into their seats through the first 10 minutes.

It was an entertaining opening, with Ciaran Frawley and Dave Kearney combining to break into the Edinburgh 22, but the visitors defended well to turn things over, and after Jamie Osborne was penalised for holding onto the ball on the ground, the Scottish side were given the platform for a