Welcome, all, to The 42′s live coverage this evening’s URC Round 9 meeting between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and if you’re not near a TV (TG4/Premier Sports 1) or Landsdowne Road this evening, I’ll bring you blow-by-blow coverage — or near enough to it — as east meets west in the capital.
Stuart Lancaster is back in Dublin to coach against his former side. His current team, Connacht, are struggling, with just two wins from their opening seven league games.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Hosts Leinster are in sixth but have won their last six games in all competitions. Leo Cullen’s men will likely overtake fourth-placed Munster with a bonus-point win this evening (although Glasgow, currently fifth, have a home game against Zebre which should keep them ahead of Leinster). Ulster, meanwhile, currently sit pretty in second following their thumping victory over the southern province last night.
Stick the kettle on, get comfortable, and let’s enjoy another interpro!
Barring any last-minute changes, this is how your two sides will line out at the Aviva.
Will Connors returns from injury for Leinster in first appearance since October. Ciarán Frawley continues at fullback as he faces his future teammates — he’ll join Connacht in the summer.
Connacht have make five personnel changes to the side that fell to Ulster at Dexcom Stadium. Matthew Devine starts at scrum-half, while academy props Billy Bohan and Fiachna Barrett are named among the replacements.
Andrew Brace, meanwhile, will referee his 112th URC game this evening.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley, Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector, Joshua Kenny, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (CAPT), Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan, Will Connors, Jack Conan
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne
Connacht Rugby: Sam Gilbert, Chay Mullins, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy, Josh Ioane, Matthew Devine, Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (CAPT), Sean Jansen
Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear, Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, Paul Boyle, Ben Murphy, Harry West, Cathal Forde
Connacht won only once away from home in the URC in 2025: 22-12 against Zebre in Parma in May.
Leinster have won their last nine URC meetings between the sides since the Westerners’ 35-24 victory at the RDS in January 2021.
Connacht have won twice in their last four visits to the Aviva in the URC — but both of those victories came against Ulster, in August 2020 and October 2021.
Today’s visitors have not beaten Leinster at Lansdowne Road since November 1985, albeit there haven’t been too many encounters between the sides at the national stadium in the intervening 41 years!
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Cian Prendergast showing his dexterity with the rarely-seen double mark of respect for Dan Sheehan and Andy Brace.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
He’ll play against his brother Sam today, of course — the second pair of siblings to face off against each other this season after Murphys Ben and Jack for Ulster and Connacht respectively last weekend.
Yep, I’m killing time, absolutely. Kick-off in 20 minutes!
3 Jan
5:27PM
Almost go-time!
3 Jan
5:28PM
A shuffle to the Leinster team
Word from Leinster: Harry Byrne and Rabah Slimani have had to withdraw from today’s squad, so Andrew Osborne and Jerry Cahir come into the matchday 23, with Jack Boyle set to start and Andrew Porter swapping to the replacements.
3 Jan
5:32PM
1′ – LEIN 0-0 CON: We’re underway! Leinster attacking off a lineout in Connacht’s half but Sam Prendergast gets isolated and concedes the pen.
4′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! DAN SHEEHAN! A sweeping move after a Connacht turnover and Tommy O’Brien sweeps a beautiful skip pass out to Sheehan in the right-hand corner. The Ireland hooker waltzes in for his 48th Leinster try.
8′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER AGAIN! CHARLIE TECTOR — for the second straight year in this fixture.
Prendergast’s speculative chip over the top causes ructions in the Connacht backfield and Tector pounces on the loose ball to crash over beneath the posts.
Prendergast dinks over the extras.
Uh oh, Connacht…
3 Jan
5:49PM
13′ – LEIN 14-0 CON: It’s been a bitty period since Leinster’s second try. Sam Prendergast has just missed touch with a penalty.
Connacht have been awful so far. Matthew Devine is off with a HIA, Ben Murphy on at scrum-half.
3 Jan
5:51PM
16′ – LEIN 14-0 CON: Finlay Bealham old-man’s Jack Boyle in the scrum and wins a penalty.
Connacht with a chance to launch just inside the Leinster 10′.
They lose the ball on first phase — but win another penalty inside Leinster’s half for a Leinster infringement in the attacking ruck.
3 Jan
5:53PM
17′ – LEIN 14-0 CON: Josh Ioane moves Connacht to within about 10 metres of the Leinster try-line and Cian Prendergast wins the lineout at the front.
Penalty advantage for Connacht as Will Connors infringes at the ruck for the second time. They’ll go again from the 5′.
19′ – TRY FOR CONNACHT! DYLAN TIERNEY-MARTIN! Connacht have arrived!
Hooker Tierney-Martin scores directly off the tap-and-go — he spins out of a huge joint hit by Will Connors and Dan Sheehan and reaches for the line at an angle. Excellent finish.
Yellow card: Joe McCarthy (Leinster); Leinster 14-10 Connacht
26′ – LEIN `14-7 CON: A few minutes after Leinster had an attack ended for crossing near the Connacht line, the Westerners are back down the other end after an excellent attack of their own!
Sean Jansen among those with big carries and Connacht will take three points from a penalty as Joe McCarthy “cynically” plays the ball on the ground as Leinster defend their line. McCarthy is binned.
Gilbert slots over the easy place kick.
Great effort by Connacht in these last 10 minutes or so.
3 Jan
6:06PM
30′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Connacht win a free-kick at scrum-time in their own half as Leinster pull back, with Finlay Bealham calling the Blues’ front row “f***ing cowards” as he retreats.
Connacht exit and then catch Leinster in a choke tackle in the home half. Excellent stuff by Lancaster’s men.
3 Jan
6:09PM
31′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Bealham and Connacht annihilate the seven-man Leinster scrum and win a pen advantage on the 10′.
Connacht, now, deep inside Leinster’s 22′ where they’re eventually stopped — but Bracey will bring it back for the pen.
Advantage probably should have been over there, to be honest, and the Aviva is letting the referee know about it.
3 Jan
6:10PM
33′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Connacht with the lineout maul halway inside the Leinster 22′ — but they lose ground as a pass eventually goes to ground wide right. Still Connacht ball.
3 Jan
6:12PM
35′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Connacht on the Leinster 5′ after Hawkshaw was put into space out left!
Pen advantage to the visitors, too! And Brace blows the play dead.
3 Jan
6:14PM
36′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Andrew Porter on for Jack Boyle, who’s hurt.
Well, after a scrappy enough opening and a poor start by Connacht in which they kind of gifted Leinster a 14-0 lead, that turned into a cracking half of ball!
Five tries between them, three of them to Leinster who lead by two points at the break.
Connacht have grown into the contest and put together some of their best rugby under Stuart Lancaster to date. But Leinster showed on the cusp of half-time that they still have gears to go through, and they’re back in charge as we all take a breather.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
3 Jan
6:32PM
Second half
41′ – LEIN 19-17 CON:A change at half-time: Keane Davison replaces Andrew Brace as the man in the middle!
The Leinster fans roar in approval as the switch is announced over the tannoy. Sam Prendergast in stitches as he gets ready to kick us off again.
Poor Bracey. He was having an excellent game to be honest.
3 Jan
6:35PM
43′ – LEIN 19-17 CON: The first half begins with a sustained Leinster attack but Connacht keep them at bay inside the 22′ and Prendergast’s chip eventually dribbles into touch.
Leinster, though, win a coach killer of a pen as Connacht try to exit. A loose offload intercepted by Leinster and then an infringement at the ruck.
44′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! BRIAN DEENY! Powerful finish by the lock with a great leg-drive!
Disaster for Connacht that they couldn’t exit a play earlier. They’ve handed Leinster seven points there, with Prendergast converting well from centre-right.
3 Jan
6:40PM
48′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: Great kick-chase by JJ Kenny and Leinster win a breakdown penalty in Connacht’s half.
They go quickly and Gibson-Park spots Tommy O’Brien in acres on the right! His crossfield kick is maybe a fraction overcooked but O’Brien makes it — and then spills the ball forward with the line at his mercy!
That would have been game. A massive escape for Connacht, and a gift back from Leinster!
3 Jan
6:41PM
49′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: Connacht then win another scrum penalty inside their own 22′!
3 Jan
6:41PM
50′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: And then get done for a crooked throw from the ensuing lineout.
Scrum Leinster just outside the Connacht 22′.
3 Jan
6:42PM
51′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: Scrum pen for Leinster this time! Prendergast kicks to the corner.
Leinster had a party in that second half. Connacht were no match for them whatsoever, despite a serious effort in the first 40.
That’ll do it from me here. Thanks for joining us. Ciarán Kennedy will have everything you need from the Aviva over the coming hours and days, so keep an eye on The 42 for that.
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As it happened: Leinster 52-17 Connacht, URC
Welcome, all, to The 42′s live coverage this evening’s URC Round 9 meeting between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and if you’re not near a TV (TG4/Premier Sports 1) or Landsdowne Road this evening, I’ll bring you blow-by-blow coverage — or near enough to it — as east meets west in the capital.
Stuart Lancaster is back in Dublin to coach against his former side. His current team, Connacht, are struggling, with just two wins from their opening seven league games.
Hosts Leinster are in sixth but have won their last six games in all competitions. Leo Cullen’s men will likely overtake fourth-placed Munster with a bonus-point win this evening (although Glasgow, currently fifth, have a home game against Zebre which should keep them ahead of Leinster). Ulster, meanwhile, currently sit pretty in second following their thumping victory over the southern province last night.
Stick the kettle on, get comfortable, and let’s enjoy another interpro!
Barring any last-minute changes, this is how your two sides will line out at the Aviva.
Will Connors returns from injury for Leinster in first appearance since October. Ciarán Frawley continues at fullback as he faces his future teammates — he’ll join Connacht in the summer.
Connacht have make five personnel changes to the side that fell to Ulster at Dexcom Stadium. Matthew Devine starts at scrum-half, while academy props Billy Bohan and Fiachna Barrett are named among the replacements.
Andrew Brace, meanwhile, will referee his 112th URC game this evening.
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley, Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector, Joshua Kenny, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (CAPT), Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan, Will Connors, Jack Conan
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne
Connacht Rugby: Sam Gilbert, Chay Mullins, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy, Josh Ioane, Matthew Devine, Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (CAPT), Sean Jansen
Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear, Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, Paul Boyle, Ben Murphy, Harry West, Cathal Forde
Referee: Andrew Brace
Connacht won only once away from home in the URC in 2025: 22-12 against Zebre in Parma in May.
Leinster have won their last nine URC meetings between the sides since the Westerners’ 35-24 victory at the RDS in January 2021.
Connacht have won twice in their last four visits to the Aviva in the URC — but both of those victories came against Ulster, in August 2020 and October 2021.
Today’s visitors have not beaten Leinster at Lansdowne Road since November 1985, albeit there haven’t been too many encounters between the sides at the national stadium in the intervening 41 years!
Cian Prendergast showing his dexterity with the rarely-seen double mark of respect for Dan Sheehan and Andy Brace.
He’ll play against his brother Sam today, of course — the second pair of siblings to face off against each other this season after Murphys Ben and Jack for Ulster and Connacht respectively last weekend.
Yep, I’m killing time, absolutely. Kick-off in 20 minutes!
Almost go-time!
Word from Leinster: Harry Byrne and Rabah Slimani have had to withdraw from today’s squad, so Andrew Osborne and Jerry Cahir come into the matchday 23, with Jack Boyle set to start and Andrew Porter swapping to the replacements.
1′ – LEIN 0-0 CON: We’re underway! Leinster attacking off a lineout in Connacht’s half but Sam Prendergast gets isolated and concedes the pen.
4′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! DAN SHEEHAN! A sweeping move after a Connacht turnover and Tommy O’Brien sweeps a beautiful skip pass out to Sheehan in the right-hand corner. The Ireland hooker waltzes in for his 48th Leinster try.
Prendergast nails the touchline conversion.
What a score by the hosts!
8′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER AGAIN! CHARLIE TECTOR — for the second straight year in this fixture.
Prendergast’s speculative chip over the top causes ructions in the Connacht backfield and Tector pounces on the loose ball to crash over beneath the posts.
Prendergast dinks over the extras.
Uh oh, Connacht…
13′ – LEIN 14-0 CON: It’s been a bitty period since Leinster’s second try. Sam Prendergast has just missed touch with a penalty.
Connacht have been awful so far. Matthew Devine is off with a HIA, Ben Murphy on at scrum-half.
16′ – LEIN 14-0 CON: Finlay Bealham old-man’s Jack Boyle in the scrum and wins a penalty.
Connacht with a chance to launch just inside the Leinster 10′.
They lose the ball on first phase — but win another penalty inside Leinster’s half for a Leinster infringement in the attacking ruck.
17′ – LEIN 14-0 CON: Josh Ioane moves Connacht to within about 10 metres of the Leinster try-line and Cian Prendergast wins the lineout at the front.
Penalty advantage for Connacht as Will Connors infringes at the ruck for the second time. They’ll go again from the 5′.
19′ – TRY FOR CONNACHT! DYLAN TIERNEY-MARTIN! Connacht have arrived!
Hooker Tierney-Martin scores directly off the tap-and-go — he spins out of a huge joint hit by Will Connors and Dan Sheehan and reaches for the line at an angle. Excellent finish.
And Sam Gilbert converts from centre-left.
Game on for now!
26′ – LEIN `14-7 CON: A few minutes after Leinster had an attack ended for crossing near the Connacht line, the Westerners are back down the other end after an excellent attack of their own!
Sean Jansen among those with big carries and Connacht will take three points from a penalty as Joe McCarthy “cynically” plays the ball on the ground as Leinster defend their line. McCarthy is binned.
Gilbert slots over the easy place kick.
Great effort by Connacht in these last 10 minutes or so.
30′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Connacht win a free-kick at scrum-time in their own half as Leinster pull back, with Finlay Bealham calling the Blues’ front row “f***ing cowards” as he retreats.
Connacht exit and then catch Leinster in a choke tackle in the home half. Excellent stuff by Lancaster’s men.
31′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Bealham and Connacht annihilate the seven-man Leinster scrum and win a pen advantage on the 10′.
Connacht, now, deep inside Leinster’s 22′ where they’re eventually stopped — but Bracey will bring it back for the pen.
Advantage probably should have been over there, to be honest, and the Aviva is letting the referee know about it.
33′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Connacht with the lineout maul halway inside the Leinster 22′ — but they lose ground as a pass eventually goes to ground wide right. Still Connacht ball.
35′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Connacht on the Leinster 5′ after Hawkshaw was put into space out left!
Pen advantage to the visitors, too! And Brace blows the play dead.
36′ – LEIN 14-10 CON: Andrew Porter on for Jack Boyle, who’s hurt.
Connacht to tap and go from five shortly.
36′ – TRY FOR CONNACHT! FINLAY BEALHAM! WHAT A TURNAROUND!
A really intelligent goal-line attack by Connacht and Bealham eventually burrows over into the created space.
Gilbert sneaks the conversion inside the post from near the left-hand touchline and the away support go nuts.
Wow!
38′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! SAM PRENDERGAST!
Leinster hit back after a smooth strike play! They work the way to the Connacht five-metre line and overload the visitors on the attacking right.
Gibson-Park feeds Prendergast for the walk-in and the hosts retake the lead! Great team score. A bit of a statement response by Leinster, there.
The out-half’s conversion sneaks wide.
Well, after a scrappy enough opening and a poor start by Connacht in which they kind of gifted Leinster a 14-0 lead, that turned into a cracking half of ball!
Five tries between them, three of them to Leinster who lead by two points at the break.
Connacht have grown into the contest and put together some of their best rugby under Stuart Lancaster to date. But Leinster showed on the cusp of half-time that they still have gears to go through, and they’re back in charge as we all take a breather.
41′ – LEIN 19-17 CON:A change at half-time: Keane Davison replaces Andrew Brace as the man in the middle!
The Leinster fans roar in approval as the switch is announced over the tannoy. Sam Prendergast in stitches as he gets ready to kick us off again.
Poor Bracey. He was having an excellent game to be honest.
43′ – LEIN 19-17 CON: The first half begins with a sustained Leinster attack but Connacht keep them at bay inside the 22′ and Prendergast’s chip eventually dribbles into touch.
Leinster, though, win a coach killer of a pen as Connacht try to exit. A loose offload intercepted by Leinster and then an infringement at the ruck.
Lineout Leinster from close range!
44′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! BRIAN DEENY! Powerful finish by the lock with a great leg-drive!
Disaster for Connacht that they couldn’t exit a play earlier. They’ve handed Leinster seven points there, with Prendergast converting well from centre-right.
48′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: Great kick-chase by JJ Kenny and Leinster win a breakdown penalty in Connacht’s half.
They go quickly and Gibson-Park spots Tommy O’Brien in acres on the right! His crossfield kick is maybe a fraction overcooked but O’Brien makes it — and then spills the ball forward with the line at his mercy!
That would have been game. A massive escape for Connacht, and a gift back from Leinster!
49′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: Connacht then win another scrum penalty inside their own 22′!
50′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: And then get done for a crooked throw from the ensuing lineout.
Scrum Leinster just outside the Connacht 22′.
51′ – LEIN 26-17 CON: Scrum pen for Leinster this time! Prendergast kicks to the corner.
A chance for Leinster to kill this here!
52′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! TOMMY O’BRIEN OFF FIRST PHASE!
Leinster with a strike play, O’Brien with a strong carry through soft Connacht defence, and he’s in under the sticks!
Prendergast with the afters. You can stick a fork in this one, folks. It’s been all Leinster in the second half.
57′ – LEIN 33-17 CON: Lovely attack by Connacht after a break by Bundee Aki on transition ball.
Equally lovely jackal turnover by Joe McCarthy on his own 5′ to thwart them.
He lets out an out-of-breath ‘woo’ and wags his finger.
58′ – LEIN 33-17 CON: Sean Jansen then returns the favour as he wins a poach pen on halfway.
Connacht showing plenty of heart. In fairness, they’ve picked up all those bonus points this season for a reason.
They make a balls of the lineout, though, and it’s a scrum to Leinster inside their own half after pressure in the air by Max Deegan.
61′ – LEIN 33-17 CON: Sam Prendergast’s passing has been exquisite off each hand.
Leinster have gotten to the edge more today than they have in recent weeks, with JJ Kenny and Tommy O’Brien both looking dangerous.
63′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! Charlie Tector again!
Leinster just over-powering the visitors now as Tector walks one in from close range.
Prendergast adds the extras again.
66′ – Try for Leinster! Tommy O’Brien!
Tector with a great read and intercept on halfway.
He doesn’t have the gas to make it so feeds O’Brien with a tidy reverse pass, and the wing takes it to the house.
Prendergast good from under the sticks.
75′ – Try for Leinster! JJ Kenny gets in on the act, finally!
His sixth try of the season comes on the right wing after several near misses in the last few minutes down the left.
Prendergast is off target from centre-right.
Leinster had a party in that second half. Connacht were no match for them whatsoever, despite a serious effort in the first 40.
That’ll do it from me here. Thanks for joining us. Ciarán Kennedy will have everything you need from the Aviva over the coming hours and days, so keep an eye on The 42 for that.
Happy new year and catch you all soon!
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