Leinster 36-12 Stormers: Dan Sheehan scores two tries on return from injury

Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan scored twice on his return from injury as Leinster defeated the Stormers 36-12 in Dublin.

Sheehan was making his first appearance of the season after sustaining a knee injury in Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa.

After taking a lead through Ross Byrne’s early penalty, Leinster’s first try came when Andrew Osborne raced over in the corner after being fed by Jordie Barrett.

The Stormers responded when Ben Loader scampered over out wide but the hosts had the final say in the half.

After a lengthy delay to treat the injured Luke McGrath, who gave the thumbs up after being stretchered off, Leinster struck with the clock in the red as Sheehan rounded off a flowing move in the corner.

After an error-strewn start to the second half, New Zealand centre Barrett spotted a gap to slide over the line in the 59th minute, and Byrne added the conversion.

Sheehan secured the bonus point four minutes later when he gathered James Lowe’s cross-field kick to score unchallenged.

Lowe, who was also making his return from injury, had a try disallowed but wing Osborne, brother of Ireland international Jamie, grabbed his second score of the game as he intercepted the ball on the Stormers line before diving over to touch down.

The Stormers grabbed a consolation through back row Evan Roos but could not stop Leinster’s winning run this season.

Leo Cullen’s side are unbeaten in 10 matches in the United Rugby Championship and topped Pool B in the Investec Champions Cup with four wins from four matches.

Sheehan and Lowe will now link up with Simon Easterby’s Ireland squad in Portugal before the start of the Six Nations.

Leinster: H McErlean; A Osborne, L Turner, J Barrett, J Lowe; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, D Sheehan (capt), R Slimani; R Snyman, B Deeny; A Soroka, S Penny, M Deegan.

Replacements: J McKee, P McCarthy, R McGuire, D Mangan, J Culhane, W Connors, C Foley, C Tector.

Stormers: W Gelant; B Loader; R Nel, J Roche; L Zas; M Libbok, P de Wet; A Vermaak, J Dweba, N Fouche; JD Schickerling, R van Heerden; D Fourie (capt), B-J Dixon, E Roos.

Replacements: A-H Venter, B Harris, F Malherbe, S Moerat, M Theunissen, P de Villiers, H Jantjies, W Simelane.