Leinster got their Heineken Cup off to a distinctly shaky start but will at least be thankful for emerging unscathed from their trip to Italy. Tries from Shane Byrne, Shane Horgan and a stunning late effort finished by Brian O'Driscoll secured the win over Treviso, but that merely disguised a distinctly poor opener for the Dubliners that hung in the balance for much of the time.
Historically, pools featuring an Italian club have provided the best-placed runners-up for the quarter-finals and indeed Treviso have never progressed beyond the pool stage. But they have nevertheless spearheaded a gradual improvement by Italian clubs, in particular at home at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, where last season they defeated Bourgoin and caused Munster plenty of problems.
Treviso used their sizeable pack, which featured six internationals, including outstanding Italy flanker Sergio Parisse, to pressure Leinster into early errors. Those mistakes handed South African Marius Goosen two early shots at goal, which he duly dispatched inside the opening eight minutes for a 6-0 lead.
Leinster's feathers were ruffled, but it was not long before their pack gained a foothold from which they edged up field and began to build a rhythm of their own. Recent Kiwi acquisition David Holwell had levelled the scores by the 24th minute with two penalties, before Leinster took the lead nine minutes later via the most direct route.
From a line-out eight yards from the Treviso line, Malcolm O'Kelly set up a driving maul that saw hooker Shane Byrne shoved over for an 11-6 lead after Welsh referee Nigel Owens had consulted the video official. However, it was a rare moment of fluidity from Leinster as the Italian champions continued to make life uncomfortable for them.
Goosen added a third penalty shortly after the break to trim the lead to two points, although Leinster will have been thankful even for that small cushion as their hosts turned up the heat.
O'Kelly paid the price for his team's indiscipline when he was shown a yellow card for hitting a ruck from the wrong side just yards off his own line as Treviso pressed for a try. The pause in proceedings allowed Leinster to regain their composure and, after surviving the onslaught, their backs finally awoke from their slumber.
Holwell kept things simple and, with sleight of hand and movement, the ball was shipped wide through O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy for Horgan to score in the corner for the classic counterpunch on the hour.
But it was not until the fourth minute of injury time that they delivered the killer blow. Denis Hickie scampered half the length of the field before slipping the scoring pass inside to O'Driscoll.
TREVISO : Williams; Dallan, Pozzebon, Goosen (Visentin 74), Legg (Carpente 76); Smith, Troncon (capt); Faliva, Ongaro, Constanzo (Mazino 60), Klerck, Wentzel, Pavanello (Gritti 74), Orlando (Dal Maso 60), Parisse (Palmer 30).
LEINSTER: Dempsey; Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Hickie; Holwell, O'Meara; Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, O'Kelly , Cullen, McCullen (Miller 70), Jennings, Costello.
Referee: N Owens (Wales)
