Sam Prendergast pulls the strings as Leinster earn vital bonus point in Edinburgh

Leinster went down on the opening weekend last season in Scotland, when they were turned over by eventual champions Glasgow Warriors, but a more balanced side this time made all the difference to ensure a winning start, even if it was far from flawless display on a night when Cian Healy equalled Devin Toner's 280th appearance for the province when he came on.

A fifth try from deep in the final play of the night secured a second bonus point for Edinburgh but Leinster had stolen a march by then to wrap up a winning start.

The sides went in deadlocked at 12-12 at the break after Leinster failed to score after opting to tap a penalty in front of the posts in the final play of a lively opening half.

Edinburgh, as they had when Leinster applied pressure in the opening moments of the game, defended well and the chance was lost.

It was Edinburgh who hit the front after Pierre Schoeman won a penalty in the first scrum of the game and the experienced tighthead also supplied the finish several surges later after they tapped and went with a subsequent penalty. Ross Thompson added the extras on his Edinburgh debut after moving to home city after four years with Glasgow to lead 7-0 after 12 minutes.

The Leinster response was good and four minutes later quick hands from Jamison Gibson-Park, centres Charlie Tector and Garry Ringrose, out-half Sam Prendergast and a final pass from James Ryan was finished in the left corner by Tommy O'Brien after he had swapped wings.

But his horrible injury luck continued as he suffered a hamstring problem while scoring and he is now a major doubt for the Emerging Ireland squad who assemble on Wednesday for a Saturday departure to Bloemfontein.

Leinster hit the front after 27 minutes when Tector, superb throughout while making his first start, scored after collecting a poor clearance from scrum-half Ali Price and the promising Wexford native executed a a neat dummy pass to replacement Rob Russell to take out Price before sauntering home down the right for a try converted by Prendergast to lead 12-7.

The lead only lasted six minutes as good hands and feet from Thompson was key in a move finished in the left corner by Scotland's top try scorer, Duhan van der Merwe, which Thompson converted to tie the game.

Jordan Larmour, impressive in defence and attack, charged down a clearance from full-back Wes Goosen but the ball went dead and then Edinburgh kept Leinster at bay after the tapped penalty before the break.

Edinburgh, after a brilliant penalty to the left corner from Thompson, hit the front three minutes after the restart when hooker Dave Cherry scored after he was rewarded for going to the tail of the lineout and allowing them get the drive going. Thomspon added the difficult conversion to make it 19-12.

Leinster needed to respond and they did it in style with Jack Conan supplying the surge which opened up for Tector and Prendergast to display good hands to send Larmour through to score after looping around from the left wing.

Prendergast, who had kept the home defence guessing all night with some deft chips and excellent hands, landed the conversion to tie the game at 19-19 after 47 minutes.

Leinster hit the front again after 52 minutes with some sublime play off the base of a ruck by Gibson-Park, fending off Price and then Van der Merwe to score beside the posts to secure the bonus point.

Skipper Conan extended the lead to 33-19 after 57 minutes after more good work by Prendergast, who added his fourth conversion before making way for Ross Byrne.

A good penalty to the right corner by replacement Ben Healy and subsequent good hands from the Tipperary native was key to Edinburgh getting a bonus point with Van der Merwe's second try of the night ensuring a nervous finish for Cullen's men.

Leinster were reduced to 14 men four minutes from time when Ross Byrne was binned for a high tackle on Darcy Graham as they both contested a high kick. Edinburgh, hoping for a second bonus point having only picked up three throughout last season's campaign, opted for the posts with the penalty from the halfway line on the right but Healy never got hold of the effort.

However, they made the most of a late chance when Leinster were pinged for a delayed throw and they broke from deep with scrum-half Ben Vellacott making the ground before sending Matt Scott in under the posts.

Scorers: Edinburgh: Tries: D van der Merwe (2), P Schoeman, D Cherry, M Scott. Cons: R Thompson (2), B Healy. Leinster: Tries: T O'Brien, C Tector, J Larmour, J Gibson-Park, J Conan. Cons: S Prendergast (4)

Edinburgh - W Goosen; D Graham, M Tuipulotu, M Currie (M Scott 28), D van der Merwe; R Thompson (B Healy 57), A Price (B Vellacott 66); P Schoeman (B Venter 57), D Cherry (E Ashman 51), P Hill (D Rae 51); M Sykes, G Gilchrist (J Hodgson 68); J Ritchie (M Bradbury 59), H Watson, B Muncaster.

Leinster – J Osborne; T O'Brien (R Russell 17), G Ringrose, C Tector, J Larmour; S Prendergast (R Byrne 59), J Gibson-Park (L McGrath 63); M Milne (C Healy 48), G McCarthy (J McKee 51), T Clarkson (R Slimani 51); C O'Tighearnaigh (B Deeny 51), J Ryan, M Deegan, S Penny (J Culhane 72), J Conan.

Referee – A Piardi (Italy).