Good evening and welcome along to our live coverage of this Guinness Pro14 inter-pro between Leinster and Connacht from a sold-out RDS.
Leo Cullen’s side have lost just twice all season and although the defending champions have rung the changes for this round 11 derby, Leinster can cement their position at the top of Conference B with another win tonight.
But the hosts are wary of the threat an in-form Connacht outfit will pose, with Andy Friend’s side arriving in the capital off the back of five straight wins as they seek a first win in Dublin since 2002.
There’s plenty of festive cheer around Ballsbridge for this inter-pro, and we’ll bring you all the action as it happens. Kick off is at 7.45pm.
It’s a dry, crisp December evening in the capital and conditions are absolutely perfect at the RDS.
TEAM NEWS: As mentioned, Cullen has made wholesale changes to his side for the visit of Connacht with the Leinster starting XV showing 12 alterations from last weekend’s win over Bath.
Dan Leavy, Rory O’Loughlin and Adam Byrne are the three players retained, as Cullen hands a number of younger players — Hugo Keenan, Conor O’Brien and Caelan Doris – a big starting opportunity after impressing in November.
There is plenty of experience in the Leinster side, too, with Rhys Ruddock named as captain, Scott Fardy returning to the fold and the likes of Sean Cronin and Andrew Porter among the replacements.
Leinster:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Adam Byrne
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Conor O’Brien
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Peter Dooley
2. Bryan Byrne
3. Michael Bent
4. Mick Kearney
5. Scott Fardy
6. Rhys Ruddock (captain)
7. Dan Leavy
8. Caelan Doris.
Replacements:
16. Seán Cronin
17. Ed Byrne
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ross Molony
20. Max Deegan
21. Hugh O’Sullivan
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Noel Reid.
TEAM NEWS: As for Connacht, their intent is clear. Andy Friend has named his strongest side as Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillane return to the starting XV, while Bundee Aki is on the bench after his recent wedding in New Zealand.
Cian Kelleher, Tom Farrell, Gavin Thornbury and Paul Boyle won’t be short of motivation tonight as they return to their native province, but Tom Daly — having joined Connacht on loan from Leinster this week — isn’t involved.
The western province have been forced into a late change on the bench, with David Horwitz dropping out and academy out-half Conor Fitzgerald coming into the 23.
Connacht:
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Cian Kelleher
13. Kyle Godwin
12. Tom Farrell
11. Darragh Leader
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade
1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Gavin Thornbury
6. Jarrad Butler (captain)
7. Colby Fainga’a
8. Paul Boyle.
Replacements:
16. Shane Delahunt
17. Peter McCabe
18. Dominic Robertson McCoy
19. James Cannon
20. Eoghan Masterson
21. James Mitchell
22. Conor Fitzgerald
23. Bundee Aki.
There’s plenty of festive cheer around the RDS ahead of kick-off this evening, with Leinster’s supporters sand pit behind the Anglesea Stand hosting a choir performing Christmas carols. A fair few blue and green Santa hats around, too.
It’s a big night for the four players who came through the Leinster system and are back at the RDS in Connacht green tonight, including Cian Kelleher.
Speaking at yesterday’s pre-match press conference, Cullen admitted his side are wary of the threats the visitors will pose.
“It’s a game that has a lot of threat for us always,” the Leinster head coach said.
“We’ve had some very close games and some games where we have been well beaten, particularly down in Galway over the last 10 years or so. I know a lot of those guys are good, they have gone away and proved themselves in a different environment.
“When they come back to play Leinster they have a point to prove, always. There is always a bit of a danger in these games, like any week really but there is always something extra special in some of these particular fixtures.”
Connacht have not beaten Leinster in Dublin for 16 years, but can the westerners make history tonight? Or will Cullen’s side extend their Pro14 winning run to nine games?
Poll Results:
Here’s some pre-match reading to whet your appetite:
- Leinster wary of Connacht’s returning threats in RDS Christmas cracker
- Cullen wants his Leinster players to seize their festive window of opportunity
- Training ground form fuelling confidence for Bryan Byrne ahead of inter-pros
- Back to school with JVDF: Injury comeback, beating the All Blacks and exams
Over 18,000 tickets have been pre-sold for tonight, and there’s a crackling atmosphere inside the ground already. Plenty of supporters have made the journey from the west, too.
The teams are going through their warm-ups — Connacht are wearing special beanies ahead of kick-off, which are available from Elverys Sports with all proceeds going to the ISPCC.
LATE CHANGE: Connacht have had to make a slight last-minute reshuffle after Tiernan O’Halloran pulled up in the warm-up. Bundee Aki is promoted from the bench. Not a bad replacement to bring in!
Jarrad Butler leads Connacht out, and here come Leinster! We’re ready to go at the RDS.
KICK OFF! Referee George Clancy gives Jack Carty the nod to get us underway.
1 mins – First scrum of the evening on the far side and Leinster are penalised, with Clancy awarded a free-kick to Connacht. A scrappy opening passage to this contest.
3 mins – Brilliant start from Connacht as Carty looks cross-field for Kelleher, who shows his athletic ability to leap and offload it back inside for Farrell, the centre bringing the visitors inside the Leinster 22. Very encouraging from Friend’s side.
5 mins — TRY! Leinster 0-5 Connacht (Kelleher)
What a start! Aki stands in at first receiver, Carty wraps around the back and then Leader comes into the line to set the one-on-one up for Kelleher, who shows his pace to finish in the corner. That’s the former Leinster winger’s fourth try of the season. Carty is unable to adds the extras.
7 mins – Connacht have dominated the opening exchanges, and showed their clinical edge there. A solid lineout provided the platform for their blistering backs to cause serious damage, and it’s first blood to the visitors. A nice moment, too, for Kelleher on his return to the RDS.
8 mins – Leinster looking for an instant reply, as Keenan picks a gap and offloads for Doris, who brings the hosts within striking distance — but a loose pass from Ross Byrne sees the move break down.
11 mins — TRY! Leinster 7-5 Connacht (O’Brien)
Connacht are penned inside their own 22 and the pressure eventually tells as Gibson-Park snipes from the base of the ruck, before releasing Conor O’Brien for a simple score under the posts. Byrne makes no mistake with the conversion, and Leinster lead all of a sudden.
13 mins – That was much better from Leinster as they punched holes in the Connacht defence with a series of big carries, and then Gibson-Park spotted the space to exploit and send O’Brien away for his third try of the season.
14 mins – More disruption for Connacht as Blade goes off for a HIA, and is replaced by James Mitchell.
18 mins – Leinster probing for a second score now as they show patience through the phases inside the Connacht 22. The visitors are holding firm for now, but for how long can they hold out?
19 mins – After an extended period of possession and territory, Leinster are unable to convert it into points, as Connacht win a turnover penalty under their own posts. Blade, meanwhile, has passed his HIA and is back on.
22 mins — TRY! Leinster 7-12 Connacht (Leader)
Absolutely brilliant from the visitors. Another lineout, Farrell frees his hands to get the offload away to Leader in midfield, and the fullback sycthes through with pace and power to finish for Connacht’s second try. Carty nails the conversion.
26 mins – An absorbing derby so far at the RDS, with Connacht causing real problems for Leinster as Godwin looks to burst down the left flank after another excellent set-piece.
Connacht are up for this one.
31 mins – Connacht are playing brilliant, heads-up rugby as Farrell again charges through a gaping hole and Bundee Aki is there to maintain the forward momentum, with Leinster forced to scramble back and scamper defensively.
The blue shirts do just enough to shut the door before winning the ball back and getting it clear through the boot of Keenan, but the visitors are coming back at them. They mean serious business, and Farrell is making things happen.
33 mins – The western province are completely dominating, and the RDS is stunned.
34 mins — TRY! Leinster 7-19 Connacht (Carty)
Wow. Doris is stripped of possession, Butler sits Ruddock down and then Carty executes the perfect chip and chase to gather his own kick and scamper under the posts for a seven-pointer. Connacht are on fire.
36 mins – Andy Friend’s side have been a joy to watch in this first half and they hold a 12-point lead as we head towards the break. Leinster looking for an instant riposte but Carty gets back to claim ahead of Doris after a charge down.
37 mins — Frantic and frenetic stuff at the RDS and it’s Leinster’s turn to attack, but there’s more frustration for the hosts as Kearney knocks on in contact. Bealham is down receiving treatment and we have a brief stoppage in play.
38 mins – Hugo Keenan’s evening looks to be over as the Leinster fullback is escorted off by a physio. Ciaran Frawley is his replacement.
Half-time! Leinster 7-19 Connacht
A relentless 40 minutes of inter-pro rugby and it’s Connacht who are firmly in the ascendancy at the RDS, with the visitors playing some exceptional stuff to score first-half tries through Cian Kelleher, Darragh Leader and Jack Carty.
The western province — bidding for their first win over Leinster in Dublin since 2002 — are full value for their lead and are halfway towards a famous derby victory in the capital. The defending champions need a big response!
Watch Jack Carty’s try and enjoy it over and over again.
"Connacht are on the fire tonight at the RDS!" Jack Carty goes over for Connacht's third try, and Andy Friend's side lead Leinster 19-7 after 35 minutes. #GuinnessPRO14 #LEIvCON pic.twitter.com/mn8Xcr7Bvh
— eir Sport (@eirSport) December 22, 2018
What did you make of that first half? Can Connacht complete the job and make it six wins on the bounce, or will Leinster come back out all guns firing? The second stanza is on the way.
KICK OFF! We’re back underway at the RDS. Connacht have had to make another permanent change, with Bealham forced off and Dominic Robertson-McCoy on in his place.
42 mins – Leo Cullen has also made a half-time change with Andrew Porter on for Michael Bent. The hosts have made a much brighter start to this second period, with Frawley evading a number of tackles after collecting a kick in the backfield.
44 mins – Leinster go through a big attacking set and after 17 phases, they’re edging their way towards the whitewash…
44 mins — TRY! Leinster 12-19 Connacht (Kearney)
And Leinster get the all-important first score of the half and it’s Mick Kearney who crashes over from close range after the forwards had hammered away around the fringes. Byrne snatches at the touchline conversion over but it’s a seven-point game again.
46 mins – Cullen will be pleased with his side’s start to this half and they’ve certainly showed far more intent and aggression since the break. That was Kearney’s first try in blue and the mood around the RDS has changed somewhat.
47 mins — TRY! Leinster 12-26 Connacht (Blade)
My word. Just as it looked like Leinster were regaining a stranglehold in the contest, Connacht produce another fluid move to cut through the hosts, as Carty makes the break and shows composure and awareness to wait for the support runner, and Blade arrives on cue to dot down under the posts. That’s the attacking bonus point wrapped up for the visitors, too.
48 mins – This is a big test of character for this diluted Leinster side, who have experienced some heavy defeats over the last 18 months or so, when you think back to Benetton’s win here last season and then the humbling in Galway in April.
49 mins – Cullen has seen enough. Sean Cronin, Ed Byrne and Ross Molony are thrown on, with Byrne, Dooley and Kearney making way.
52 mins – Another big moment goes Connacht’s way. Leinster use the wraparound move well off the scrum, as Kearney kicks through into the 22, before Clancy awards the visitors a relieving penalty. Huge frustration in the stands.
53 mins – Carty is having a superb game in the pivot position, as he pulls the strings for Connacht. Friend’s side are just looking to take the sting out of any potential Leinster response, and they’re doing an excellent job so far. They’re managing the ball expertly, and continue to make hit-after-hit.
55 mins – A change in the front row for the visitors as Buckley is replaced by Peter McCabe. Leinster win a penalty on the far side and Byrne launches a booming kick down the touchline. A crucial passage coming up here.
55 mins – Forward momentum off the lineout for Leinster, but Ed Byrne is hit by three green shirts and knocked backwards. Relentless defence from Connacht, before the referee stops play to ask the TMO to look at possible foul play.
57 mins – That just about sums up Leinster’s night. The hosts are in the ascendancy and have Connacht penned inside their own 22, but Rory O’Loughlin is penalised for an illegal clear out in a previous ruck. Carty is given the chance to clear his lines.
Shane Delahunt is on for McCartney, who had a superb game.
59 mins – Leinster in desperate need of a spark to get back into this game, but sloppy mistakes continue to undermine their efforts. O’Brien guilty of knocking the ball on in contact.
61 mins – Leinster retain possession for five or so minutes, going through a plethora of phases, moving from side to side in search of a hole in this obdurate Connacht defence, but are then pinged for holding on and backchat sees Clancy march it 10 metres further forward. Carty has called for the tee.
63 mins — Penalty! Leinster 12-29 Connacht (Carty)
A sweet, sweet strike from the Connacht out-half and their lead stretches out to 17 points.
64 mins – Noel Reid is on for Leinster, who are now staring down the barrel unless they find something quickly.
66 mins — Connacht are getting through trojan work in defence and there’s just no way through for Leinster. The hosts have an attacking scrum on the far side but the clock is ticking.
68 mins – Leinster win a scrum penalty and Byrne kicks for the corner. They have to score here…
69 mins — TRY! Leinster 19-29 Connacht (Cronin)
And they’re in! There was no stopping that maul once it got up and running as Cronin crashes over, before Byrne makes it a seven-pointer from the tee. Is the comeback on?
70 mins – A huge 10 minutes left at the RDS. Here come Leinster through Byrne and Gibson-Park but Leader does brilliantly to get back and cover the danger.
72 mins — TRY! Leinster 26-29 Connacht (Leavy)
It’s on! Superb team try from Leinster, as they break from deep through Byrne, who offloads inside for O’Loughlin. Fardy is in support and the big Australian keeps it alive with a brilliant pop pass inside for Leavy, who has the strength to fend the last tackle and get it down. Byrne nails the touchline conversion.
73 mins – Leinster have turned this game on its head and the RDS has come alive. There are still seven minutes to go and the contest is in the balance again.
74 mins – What a finish we have in store but Connacht appear to have stolen it back on the far side. It’s helter-skelter out there now.
75 mins – Whatever happens, this has been a cracking inter-pro derby under the Saturday night lights in Dublin. Connacht still lead, but only just.
76 mins – What a hit! Leinster look to strike from deep but Bundee Aki absolutely SMASHES Ciaran Frawley on this near touchline to force the 21-year-old into touch. The Ireland centre has made 14 big tackles tonight.
77 mins – Leinster have the ball back, however. They’re throwing it out wide in search of a winning score. Connacht defending for their lives.
78 mins – Molony’s big carry brings Leinster up towards the Connacht 22. The visitors have to maintain their discipline now. On a knife-edge at the RDS.
78 mins – Leinster into the 16th phase as the clock ticks down towards 80 minutes. Bundee comes firing out of the line but the hosts retain possession. This is it.
79 mins — Wave after wave of blue attack as Leinster throw everything at Connacht, who continue to stand firm. The clock has gone red, so this will be the last play!
80 mins – Kearney cuts through, and Leinster are nearly over. The hosts are through 28 phases…
80 mins — Leinster pick and jam around the fringes. 32 phases now…
80 mins – My word, what a finish to this gripping, compelling game.
80 mins — 40 PHASES!
80 mins — TRY! Leinster 33-29 Connacht (Porter)
It’s there, Leinster have snatched it! Andrew Porter emerges from the bottom of a pile of bodies with the ball and the hosts find a way to win! Incredible. Heartbreak for Connacht.
Full-time! Leinster 33-29 Connacht
A truly incredible game of rugby. Leinster, trailing by 17 points with 17 minutes remaining, have somehow pulled off a stunning comeback to maintain their Pro14 winning run and avoid a first defeat to Connacht at home since 2002.
Utter heartbreak for Connacht, who were superb for large periods of this contest and really should have seen a famous victory out but they have to settle for a losing bonus point.
That’s what champion sides do, they find a way to win when they had no right to and what a huge result that could be for Cullen’s side, who were staring down the barrel heading into the final quarter.
Cronin’s maul try set the wheels in motion before Leavy brought the eastern province within three points, and after over 40 phases of possession at the death, the forwards did the hard work as Porter got it down.
Here’s the winning score. You really have to feel for Andy Friend’s Connacht, who performed brilliantly and defended valiantly right until to the death. Jack Carty has been named man of the match.
"Leinster win it right at the death, and once again break Connacht's hearts in Dublin!" Andrew Porter drives over from a metre to clinch the win for the defending champions. It ends Leinster 33-29 Connacht at the RDS. #GuinnessPRO14 #LEIvCON pic.twitter.com/p41RX3Opky
— eir Sport (@eirSport) December 22, 2018
Right, we’re off to catch our breath! Full report and reaction on The42 to come from the RDS. Until next week’s round 12 inter-pros, have a great Christmas!
Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne preview another big weekend of rugby action and dissect the week’s main talking points.
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