Leinster continued their 100% start to their United Rugby Championship campaign with a comfortable 43-7 thrashing of Zebre at RDS Main Arena.

First half tries from Scott Penny, Jordan Larmour and Adam Byrne put the hosts in a commanding position.

Second half scores from Ed Byrne, Adam Byrne, Sean Cronin and Ronan Kelleher added to the impressive kicking display from the returning Johnny Sexton, and sealed an emphatic win.

Zebre scored a late consolation try through Pierre Bruno but remain winless in the competition.

The hosts made the dream start as they opened the scoring after just three minutes as Penny went over from close-range off a pick and go.

Ireland international Larmour scored 10 minutes later after Leinster got themselves into a great position off a driving maul and the winger touched down using great power.

After that, the game became flat with silly mistakes made by both sides and the crowd resorted to a subdued atmosphere.

Fly half Harry Byrne was forced to be withdrawn through injury in the first half and was replaced by Sexton.

Leinster finished the half strongly with a great try scored by Adam Byrne in the corner, after quick hands and a neat Sexton wrap around.

The home side started the second period brilliantly and scored another try through Ed Byrne, who went over from close range.

Cronin then went over in the corner off a great Leinster restart, as the floodgates began to open before Zebre went down to 14, after Antonio Rizzi’s yellow card for an above the horizontal tackle on Sexton.

Sexton capped an impressive display with the boot as he executed a pinpoint cross-field kick to pick out Adam Byrne, for his second try of the afternoon.

Kelleher put the icing on the cake for Leo Cullen’s men, as he finished off an excellent driving maul in the corner.

Zebre eventually got on the scoresheet through Bruno, who finished a great backline move to race over but the match was short of a contest throughout.