Leinster returned to winning ways in the BKT United Rugby Championship with a 50-26 victory over Zebre at Aviva Stadium.
Having lost three of their opening four matches, including last weekend's 31-14 defeat to Munster, Leo Cullen’s side badly needed some points on the board.
Their squad included six uncapped players and the crowd of 14,128 at the Dublin 4 venue were treated to a highly entertaining 12-try clash ahead of the international break.
Full-back Hugo McLaughlin and prop Jerry Cahir made their debuts from the start, while Bobby Sheehan, brother of Ireland hooker Dan, Alex Usanov, Caspar Gabriel and late addition Ciarán Mangan came on as replacements in a tie that saw two players red-carded.
Despite the absence of 22 players on international duty, Leinster burst out of the blocks with Josh Kenny (below), on his first start, scoring after just 70 seconds after following up McLaughlin’s kick through.
Flanker Alex Soroka, a late replacement for Max Deegan in the starting line-up, touched down for the hosts’ second after controlling a pass inside with his foot.
But the Italians were well up for the fight and Mirko Belloni caught a perfect cross-kick to dot down in the corner.
Soroka restored Leinster’s advantage with his second moments later but scrum-half Dominguez, son of former Italy international Diego, tapped a quick penalty close to the line and caught the defence sleeping.
Kenny cut inside when Leinster were playing a penalty advantage to secure the try bonus but the defending champions were reduced to 14 for 20 minutes when Osborne made contact with Lorenzo Pani in the air, the card upgraded following an off-field review.
Giovanni Quattrini scored the visitors’ third soon after but then Dominguez was sin-binned, later upgraded to a 20-minute red, for a dangerous tackle that saw James Culhane depart with a knee injury, and Leinster took a 26-21 lead in at the break.
Cahir grabbed the first try after the resumption, the prop powering over after a spell of pressure close to the line.
Out-half Harry Byrne, who also kicked five conversions and was named player of the match, raced through a gap in the corner to extend Leinster’s lead.
With the Italians tiring in the closing stages, Leinster kept their foot on the gas and RG Snyman went over in the corner.
However, they persevered to claim a richly deserved try-bonus through Marco Zanon with Will Connors wrapping things up with three minutes left.
