Loose Leinster do just enough to beat Clermont

Two first-half tries and a second-half penalty were just about enough for Leinster to claim their second Investec Champions Cup win, against Clermont, but it was a performance that will give Leo Cullen plenty to ponder.

Garry Ringrose and Jordie Barrett scored the tries and Sam Prendergast kicked five points off the tee but the hosts never managed to pull comfortably clear of a sticky French outfit, who, with a little more quality, could have handed Leinster a first pool loss since 2018.

Discipline was much improved from last weekend's win at Bristol but the Leinster lineout malfunctioned badly and there were numerous handling errors across 80 minutes at a cold and wet Lansdowne Road.

But it's nine points from a possible ten in Pool 2 for Leinster, beaten in the last three finals, and the victory extends their perfect start to the season.

The visitors, third in the Top14, took the lead in the fifth minute after taking advantage of a lucky bounce. Out-half Irae Simone's grubber deflected off a Leinster boot and popped up kindly for Pierre Fouyssac on the 22.

The centre didn't make the line but wing Alivereti Raka spotted a gap at the ruck and dived over close to the posts, making Baptiste Jauneau's conversion easy.

The game was being played primarily in the Clermont half but Leinster's passing was inaccurate and three lineouts went astray, while after working their way to the five-metre line they failed to resource a ruck and the French side escaped.

TRY: Garry Ringrose
Leinster 7-7 Clermont
Ringrose dives over after a clever wraparound from Prendergast