A late try from Caelan Doris helped Leinster map out a home route to the Investec Champions Cup final after they won 27-10 at Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
It was a streetwise performance from the visitors to Welford Road as they secured a bonus-point triumph that makes it four wins out of four in the pool stages.
Further scores from fellow internationals Joe McCarthy, Jordan Larmour and Dan Sheehan helped Leo Cullen’s charges pick up five points on the road.
‘s only try of the game came through Hanro Liebenberg as they face a nervous wait to see if they qualify for the Round of 16.
Leicester shaded the early sparring as both sides jostled for territory, and they deservedly went ahead through a 10th-minute try.
Number eight Jasper Wiese made initial headway, and with regrouping in defence, Tigers centre Dan Kelly surged into space and sent a scoring pass to Liebenberg.
Handre Pollard converted from the touchline, and he increased Leicester’s lead midway through the half by kicking a 50-metre penalty after Sheehan infringed.
Leinster, though, underlined their enviable European pedigree by drawing level through a 10-point burst in six minutes.
Byrne opened their account with a penalty, and as Tigers came under mounting pressure, McCarthy crashed over from close range and Harry Byrne’s conversion tied things.
Leicester then lost Wales flanker Tommy Reffell for a head injury assessment, and Leinster went ahead for the first time following a blistering break by scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.
The Ireland international was hauled down short of the line by Leicester full-back Freddie Steward, but Leinster quickly recycled possession and Larmour finished strongly as Tigers found themselves 15-10 adrift.
Reffell failed his HIA and was replaced by Kyle Hatherell, before Tigers’ England forward Ollie Chessum also went off for a HIA and scrum-half Tom Whiteley was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.
It went from bad to worse for Leicester as Leinster stung them with a third try before Whiteley had barely left the pitch as Sheehan crossed and Byrne’s conversion opened up a 12-point gap.
Like Reffell, Chessum did not rejoin the action, but Leicester began the final quarter strongly, with their cause being helped by a yellow card for Leinster replacement Jack Conan.
But they could find no way through Leinster’s defence, and Tigers’ Champions Cup fate now rests on events elsewhere.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Harry Simmons, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Archie Vanes, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Kyle Hatherell, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Solomone Kata
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Garry Ringrose (cc), 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan (cc), 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Tommy O’Brien
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
Assistant Referees: Filippo Russo (Ita), Clara Munarini (Ita)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
