European Cup Pool Two/Leinster 49 Edinburgh 10:It was a thumping victory, a triumph to savour for the Leinster supporters and one devoid of angst. The home side usually become embroiled in white knuckle, grey hair-inducing affairs but this was a bloodless coup.

Those who prefer to dwell on the single cloud rather than the blue sky will point to Edinburgh's meagre challenge and while it evaporated long before the final whistle, it was largely attributable to the home side's excellence, particularly in the second half.

Leinster's gameplan was easily discernible and implemented with precision. They elected to keep the ball alive in the tackle and thereby negate the Scottish rucking game where possible. There were one or two teething problems in the first half and at the start of the second when players plumped for questionable passes to non-existent colleagues.

There was much to admire in the manner in which the home side punched holes and for once it is the pack that deserve the fair share of the kudos. Leinster coach Michael Cheika had identified that Edinburgh would be preoccupied with shutting down the space for his backline so he encouraged his forwards to probe closer to their theatre of engagement.

It was a hugely successful gambit and embraced with gusto by all eight forwards but especially Trevor Hogan, enjoying his best performance for Leinster in an outstanding display, the Duracell-powered hooker Bernard Jackman and Stanley Wright. It wasn't about cameos with these three as they showed up for work all over the Donnybrook sward; in attack and defence.

Malcolm O'Kelly was another to stretch his long limbs, while Keith Gleeson offered another master-class in linking the play between backs and forwards.

Leinster's desire to take ball up around the fringes guaranteed a long night defensively for the visitors and is primarily why there were so many gaps in the final 20 minutes.

Edinburgh were also unfortunate to loose their first choice midfield partnership as both Marcus di Rollo and Matt Dey were helped to the sidelines by the 42nd minute but even had they remained, it probably wouldn't have altered the outcome.

No one seems to be able to cope with Gordon D'Arcy these days and at Donnybrook four more players tried and failed. His line-breaking was once again sensational as was his selfless appreciation of the lines run by supporting players. He was once again creator-in-chief before limping to the sideline with a sore groin.

Cheika was adamant in the aftermath that the damage wasn't serious having consulted with his medical team but D'Arcy's face as he hobbled to the touchline suggested otherwise. It's reasonable to assume that, if there is any lingering doubt about his fitness, D'Arcy will sit out the game in Kingsholm against Gloucester next Friday night. He created pandemonium in the visiting defence and as the numbers of pursuers multiplied it ensured extra room for his team-mates and none profited more than right wing Shane Horgan. He once again offered a compelling vindication of his strength and sharpness, throwing in a slam-dunk celebration for good measure.

Three tries was a deserved reward for his support play. Chris Whitaker and Felipe Contepomi ran the game shrewdly from halfback with the Argentinian notching 24 points that included landing eight from nine placekicks.

The Leinster pack opened up on the night with a 30-metre maul from a lineout that eventually culminated in a reprise of fullback Rob Kearney's dancing feet that he exhibited in scoring his first try against the Ospreys last week.

Contepomi improved upon the try as he would do when he crossed the Edinburgh line on 20 minutes following D'Arcy's break and Horgan's inside pass. The Scots responded with a try from fullback Hugo Southwell after di Rollo ran a slashing cutback line but a couple of Contepomi penalties eased Leinster to the interval 20-5 ahead.

The first-half penalty count was once again a little worrying in that Leinster conceded eight and only registered the first in their favour, of three in that period, after 27 minutes. Jamie Heaslip, who had a fine game carrying ball alongside the equally effective Stephen Keogh, was sent to the sin bin just before the interval.

While he was still cooling his heels, Leinster contrived a Keystone Kops sketch inside their own 22 to allow Edinburgh's Ben Cairns the softest of tries. The whiff of a Scottish resurgence was blown away within four minutes when Horgan crossed for the first of his hat-trick after half a dozen team-mates had carried ball to great effect.

Edinburgh loosehead Allan Jacobsen was dispatched to the bin for a technical offence and during that time Leinster ended any lingering thoughts of a contest. The pick of the remaining tries was Keogh's, Denis Hickie made a fine break and cleverly popped the ball behind the defender. Jackman did well to hang on and release Contepomi with the latter sending Keogh over close to the corner.

Horgan's brace of tries to finish merely embellished a fine second-half display. Kingsholm awaits and the possibility of securing a 'home' quarter-final. For now though there is a fleeting chance to enjoy having qualified for the playoffs.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4 mins: Kearney try, Contepomi conversion, 7-0; 20: Contepomi try, Contepomi conversion, 14-0; 24: Southwell try, 14-5; 31: Contepomi penalty, 17-5; 35: Contepomi penalty, 20-5. Half-time. 20-5. 42: Cairns try, 20-10; 46: Horgan try, Contepomi conversion, 27-10; 56: Contepomi penalty, 30-10; 64: Keogh try, 35-10; 67: Horgan try, Contepomi conversion, 42-10; 72: Horgan try, Contepomi conversion, 49-10.

LEINSTER: R Kearney; S Horgan, K Lewis, G D'Arcy, D Hickie; F Contepomi (capt), C Whitaker; S Wright, B Jackman, W Green; T Hogan, M O'Kelly; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: G Easterby for Whitaker (67 mins); L Fitzgerald for Hickie (68 mins); R Corrigan for Green (70 mins); O Finegan for O'Kelly (70 mins); C Jowitt for Gleeson (70 mins); C Warner for D'Arcy (73 mins); H Vermaas for Jackman (73 mins).

EDINBURGH: H Southwell; C Paterson, M di Rollo, M Dey, B Cairns; P Godman, J Senio; A Jacobsen, S Lawrie, A Dickinson; F Pringle, S Murray (capt); A Strokosch, A MacDonald, S Taylor. Replacements: A Easson for di Rollo (32 mins); P Jorgensen for Dey (42 mins); D Hewitt for Dickinson (52 mins); A Kelly for Lawrie (53 mins); Dickinson for Taylor (57 mins); S Turnbull for Pringle (62 mins); Taylor for Dickinson (67 mins).

Sin bin: Jamie Heaslip (Leinster) 39-47mins; Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 55-65 mins.

Referee: D Pearson (England).