Welcome along to The 42′s live coverage of Ulster versus Leinster in the United Rugby Championship.
The third-placed side in the league host the fourth-placed side at Affidea Stadium, Belfast, in what’s an important fixture for both provinces as they seek to book home advantage for the URC quarter-finals and perhaps beyond.
Of course, they first have to seal play-off places of any kind, and the winner tonight will take a big step closer towards knockout rugby.
We’ve got a possible cracker on our hands from 7:45pm.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you live updates if you can’t make it to the stadium or if you don’t have access to Premier Sports.
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
17 Apr
7:20PM
A reminder of your teams...
Ulster have made just one change, with Seán Refell coming into the back row, while Leinster have shuffled their deck almost completely.
Sam Prendergast starts as one of 13 changes to Leo Cullen’s side who booked a Champions Cup semi-final with a victory over Sale Sharks at the Aviva last weekend.
Ulster Rugby: Jacob Stockdale, Werner Kok, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Sean Reffell, Juarno Augustus
Replacements: James McCormick, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite
Leinster Rugby: Hugo Keenan, Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jerry Cahir, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, James Ryan (CAPT), Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, James Culhane
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Ed Byrne, Rabah Slimani, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley
1′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Sam Prendergast gets us underway in Belfast. Significant night for him as he tries to force his way back into Leinster’s first 23.
The oldest fixture in Irish rugby is on once again!
17 Apr
7:50PM
4′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Ulster stole an early lineout but Leinster have just bundled Werner Kok into touch about halfway into Ulster territory. A solid launch opportunity.
Wind firmly with Leinster in this first half but the conditions are nowhere near as bad as they were for Ulster’s two recent European games at Affidea.
17 Apr
7:51PM
4′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Leinster penalty in Ulster’s half after Kok plays the ball from an advanced position following an Ulster knock-on.
Leinster attacking deep in Ulster’s 22′ from the lineout, but Ulster put the brakes on the maul for the moment.
17 Apr
7:52PM
5′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Prendergast goes it alone on the right — probably not the best option — and Jack Murphy makes a great tackle. Prendergast spills forward. Big defensive stop by Ulster early.
Scrum on their own 5′.
17 Apr
7:58PM
8′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Angus Bell, looking concerned by an injury to his lower left leg, is replaced by Sam Crean. Huge blow for Ulster, with all due respect to Crean.
Bells’ leg got caught under his weight during a carry near Ulster’s own line. Let’s hope it’s not a bad one for the Wallaby, who’s a class act.
17 Apr
8:00PM
8′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Ah, Jesus.
James Hume is down now, appearing in agony, with an injury to his left arm.
Moments after Angus Bell left on a cart looking forlorn, Hume has become an immediate concern.
Play stopped.
17 Apr
8:02PM
9′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Hume’s going to continue!
Maybe just a stinger. Fingers crossed for the Ulster outside centre.
17 Apr
8:04PM
10′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Ulster yet to launch a meaningful attack or possess the ball in Leinster’s half. The wind is definitely a factor as they’re struggling to exit with any length.
Ah, balls. Hume is going off with that left-arm injury. On comes Jude Postlethwaite.
17 Apr
8:07PM
13′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: No-arms tackle by Sean Refell on his own 22′ and Prendergast nudges Leinster close.
Ulster then bring down the Leinster maul, and it’s another pen.
Leinster will tap and go from five metres! Big chance again.
17 Apr
8:09PM
16′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Jimmy O’Brien is tackled into touch in the left-hand corner but Leinster had a penalty advantage.
Ulster are under the pump, and Iain Henderson can barely get his words out to Andrew Brace as he receives a team warning.
24′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Prendergast, using a new tee — a kind of telescopically shaped, taller little number — splits the posts. Excellent kick in challenging conditions.
A two-score lead for Leinster! They’ve been dominant so far, albeit with a strong wind at their backs.
17 Apr
8:20PM
26′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Postlethwaite wins a jackal turnover on Leinster’s 10 — and Ulster have literally their first opportunity of the game, and a first visit to Leinster territory.
Lineout inside the away 22′.
17 Apr
8:22PM
27′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Ulster, with a new penalty advantage deep in the Leinster 22′, swing right and Werner Kok tries to steamroll Jimmy O’Brien but gets hammered in the tackle and spills the ball.
Back we go for an Ulster pen, and they’ll have a five-metre lineout on the right-hand side.
17 Apr
8:23PM
29′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Ulster’s lineout is not straight! Oh, that’s a big error, albeit in swirling conditions.
Leinster free-kick on their own 5′ and they’ll exit to safety.
17 Apr
8:24PM
29′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: A Leinster scrum, excuse me. But they do exit to relative safety. Ulster lineout outside the Leinster 22′.
17 Apr
8:26PM
31′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Leinster steal the Ulster lineout — but Jimmy O’Brien then pulls Kok down in the air and the hosts have a pen on the Leinster 10′.
Liveblog poetry by me, as per usual.
17 Apr
8:27PM
33′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Tom Clarkson steals one on the ground as Ulster infiltrate the Leinster 22′!
17 Apr
8:32PM
36′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Lovely move to width by Leinster on halfway and Luke McGrath drills a kick in behind, and into touch, in Ulster’s 22′.
Time off as Rónan Kelleher receives some treatment — as does Tom Stewart. Both hookers down, although neither situation looks serious.
17 Apr
8:33PM
37′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Ulster do well to win the lineout but Alex Soroka blows up the maul! Unreal work by the back row and Leinster have a scrum inside Ulster’s 22′.
39′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! Jimmy O’Brien! Ulster 0-15 Leinster
Leinster, off first phase, with a penalty advantage, attack left and catch Ulster narrow. Lovely passes in there by McGrath and Prendergast. Werner Kok gets tight and Hugo Keenan feeds O’Brien on the drift, with the left wing diving over on the corner!
Prendergast’s kick from the touchline is off the mark, but Leinster have a three-score lead in Belfast!
55′ – Try for Ulster! Bryn Ward! Ulster 7-29 Leinster
Ulster, still a man down, finally get on the board with replacement Bryn Ward rolling over near the left-hand corner. Killer pass in there by Nathan Doak, who duly converts.
Ulster’s first real quality attack of the evening.
Harry Sheridan is also now back from the bin.
17 Apr
9:06PM
57′ – ULS 7-29 LEIN: Big, big carries by Juarno Augustus and Jude Postlethwaite and Leinster concede a penalty deep inside their own half.
Leinster then close the gap in the lineout — penalty Ulster — but Scott Wilson knocks forward after the tap and go and the air is sucked out of Ravenhill.
Yellow card for Max Deegan, off-field review (Leinster)
60′ – ULS 7-29 LEIN: Werner Kok takes a nasty landing after an aerial clash with Max Deegan. Deegan had his eye on the ball but never got off the ground, so he’s blamed for the clash and his yellow card will go to an off-field review.
Dave McCann with the burst out of his own half as Ulster attack left, and he creates enough space to feed Ward for the run-in!
Doak converts, and we have a game on again here!
To make matters worse for Leinster, Max Deegan’s yellow has been upgraded to a 20-minute red card.
17 Apr
9:20PM
68′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Big stand by Ulster just outside their own 5′ as Postlethwaite earns his second jackal penalty of the day!
That keeps Ulster alive.
17 Apr
9:22PM
70′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Leinster chewing up plenty of clock inside Ulster’s half — but replacement tighthead Rabah Slimani is caught for a forward pass. Scrum to Ulster on their own 22′, or near enough.
17 Apr
9:25PM
72′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Ulster make inroads into the Leinster half as Stockdale goes through Prendergast, but Slimani makes up for his previous forward pass with the jackal penalty!
A huge moment for the visitors.
17 Apr
9:29PM
76′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Beautiful kick by Prendergast dribbles into touch in Ulster’s 22′.
That might be that. Ulster need two scores and they’ll start their next attack from way downtown.
Leinster have managed the game well since that third-quarter Ulster burst.
17 Apr
9:30PM
76′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Of course, another try for Ulster would be worth two bonus points, so still plenty to play for in these dying minutes!
17 Apr
9:32PM
78′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Ulster were forced to exit and it’s Leinster ball in their own half.
That’ll do it. A huge win for a heavily rotated Leinster on the road in Belfast.
They raced into a 29-0 lead and held off an Ulster surge to leave with maximum points. Crucially for them, Ulster get nothing out of the game, and Leinster move three points clear of the men from the north into third place in the URC table.
That’s my lot. Ciarán Kennedy will have a match report and reaction from Ravenhill.
Thanks for joining us, and catch you for the next one!
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Ulster 21-29 Leinster, URC
Welcome along to The 42′s live coverage of Ulster versus Leinster in the United Rugby Championship.
The third-placed side in the league host the fourth-placed side at Affidea Stadium, Belfast, in what’s an important fixture for both provinces as they seek to book home advantage for the URC quarter-finals and perhaps beyond.
Of course, they first have to seal play-off places of any kind, and the winner tonight will take a big step closer towards knockout rugby.
We’ve got a possible cracker on our hands from 7:45pm.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you live updates if you can’t make it to the stadium or if you don’t have access to Premier Sports.
Ulster have made just one change, with Seán Refell coming into the back row, while Leinster have shuffled their deck almost completely.
Sam Prendergast starts as one of 13 changes to Leo Cullen’s side who booked a Champions Cup semi-final with a victory over Sale Sharks at the Aviva last weekend.
Your man in the middle will be Andrew Brace.
Ulster Rugby: Jacob Stockdale, Werner Kok, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Sean Reffell, Juarno Augustus
Replacements: James McCormick, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite
Leinster Rugby: Hugo Keenan, Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jerry Cahir, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, James Ryan (CAPT), Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, James Culhane
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Ed Byrne, Rabah Slimani, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 115th league game)
Who do you fancy?
Poll Results:
Almost showtime.
Cracking atmosphere at Ravenhill. Feels like a big one, this, even with all of those Leinster changes.
1′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Sam Prendergast gets us underway in Belfast. Significant night for him as he tries to force his way back into Leinster’s first 23.
The oldest fixture in Irish rugby is on once again!
4′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Ulster stole an early lineout but Leinster have just bundled Werner Kok into touch about halfway into Ulster territory. A solid launch opportunity.
Wind firmly with Leinster in this first half but the conditions are nowhere near as bad as they were for Ulster’s two recent European games at Affidea.
4′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Leinster penalty in Ulster’s half after Kok plays the ball from an advanced position following an Ulster knock-on.
Leinster attacking deep in Ulster’s 22′ from the lineout, but Ulster put the brakes on the maul for the moment.
5′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Prendergast goes it alone on the right — probably not the best option — and Jack Murphy makes a great tackle. Prendergast spills forward. Big defensive stop by Ulster early.
Scrum on their own 5′.
8′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Angus Bell, looking concerned by an injury to his lower left leg, is replaced by Sam Crean. Huge blow for Ulster, with all due respect to Crean.
Bells’ leg got caught under his weight during a carry near Ulster’s own line. Let’s hope it’s not a bad one for the Wallaby, who’s a class act.
8′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Ah, Jesus.
James Hume is down now, appearing in agony, with an injury to his left arm.
Moments after Angus Bell left on a cart looking forlorn, Hume has become an immediate concern.
Play stopped.
9′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Hume’s going to continue!
Maybe just a stinger. Fingers crossed for the Ulster outside centre.
10′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Ulster yet to launch a meaningful attack or possess the ball in Leinster’s half. The wind is definitely a factor as they’re struggling to exit with any length.
Ah, balls. Hume is going off with that left-arm injury. On comes Jude Postlethwaite.
13′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: No-arms tackle by Sean Refell on his own 22′ and Prendergast nudges Leinster close.
Ulster then bring down the Leinster maul, and it’s another pen.
Leinster will tap and go from five metres! Big chance again.
16′ – ULS 0-0 LEIN: Jimmy O’Brien is tackled into touch in the left-hand corner but Leinster had a penalty advantage.
Ulster are under the pump, and Iain Henderson can barely get his words out to Andrew Brace as he receives a team warning.
Leinster will surely score here.
16′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! James Culhane! Ulster 0-7 Leinster
Kelleher taps and goes and passes to Culhane, who burrows over.
Leinster’s pressure tells, and Prendergast dinks over the extras.
A great start for the visitors.
23′ – ULS 0-7 LEIN: Scrum penalty on Sam Crean on Ulster’s 22′. Big cheer from Leinster. Great work by Jerry Cahir!
From right of centre, Prendergast will have a pop at goal and try to make this a two-score game.
24′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Prendergast, using a new tee — a kind of telescopically shaped, taller little number — splits the posts. Excellent kick in challenging conditions.
A two-score lead for Leinster! They’ve been dominant so far, albeit with a strong wind at their backs.
26′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Postlethwaite wins a jackal turnover on Leinster’s 10 — and Ulster have literally their first opportunity of the game, and a first visit to Leinster territory.
Lineout inside the away 22′.
27′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Ulster, with a new penalty advantage deep in the Leinster 22′, swing right and Werner Kok tries to steamroll Jimmy O’Brien but gets hammered in the tackle and spills the ball.
Back we go for an Ulster pen, and they’ll have a five-metre lineout on the right-hand side.
29′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Ulster’s lineout is not straight! Oh, that’s a big error, albeit in swirling conditions.
Leinster free-kick on their own 5′ and they’ll exit to safety.
29′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: A Leinster scrum, excuse me. But they do exit to relative safety. Ulster lineout outside the Leinster 22′.
31′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Leinster steal the Ulster lineout — but Jimmy O’Brien then pulls Kok down in the air and the hosts have a pen on the Leinster 10′.
Liveblog poetry by me, as per usual.
33′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Tom Clarkson steals one on the ground as Ulster infiltrate the Leinster 22′!
36′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Lovely move to width by Leinster on halfway and Luke McGrath drills a kick in behind, and into touch, in Ulster’s 22′.
Time off as Rónan Kelleher receives some treatment — as does Tom Stewart. Both hookers down, although neither situation looks serious.
37′ – ULS 0-10 LEIN: Ulster do well to win the lineout but Alex Soroka blows up the maul! Unreal work by the back row and Leinster have a scrum inside Ulster’s 22′.
39′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! Jimmy O’Brien! Ulster 0-15 Leinster
Leinster, off first phase, with a penalty advantage, attack left and catch Ulster narrow. Lovely passes in there by McGrath and Prendergast. Werner Kok gets tight and Hugo Keenan feeds O’Brien on the drift, with the left wing diving over on the corner!
Prendergast’s kick from the touchline is off the mark, but Leinster have a three-score lead in Belfast!
Jimmy O’Brien’s 31st Leinster try.
What a half with Leinster, who have used the wind on their backs to full advantage and virtually dominated Ulster here.
The hosts have had their moments but they’ve been fleeting, and Leinster have been fairly clinical. Well worth their 15-0 lead overall.
A massive second half ahead, with Ulster gaining the wind advantage.
Catch you in 15!
41′ – ULS 0-15 LEIN: Leinster pick up where they left off with a penalty advantage at scrum-time on halfway!
43′ – ULS 0-15 LEIN: Ulster on an official penalty warning now — but Prendergast misses touch.
45′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! Robbie Henshaw! Ulster 0-22 Leinster
Back come Leinster again, phase after phase, and Henshaw eventually picks a gap to go under the sticks!
Prendergast converts, and that honestly could be that!
45′ – ULS 0-22 LEIN: Harry Sheridan also goes to the bin — the fall guy after Brace’s official warning to Ulster.
Bad to worse for the hosts.
51′ – TRY FOR LEINSTER! Sam Prendergast! Bonus point for Leinster. Ulster 0-29 Leinster
Another penalty gives Leinster the chance deep in Ulster’s 22′.
They eventually cross through Prendergast on the right-hand side. This is becoming a massacre.
Leinster’s speed of ruck has been so impressive and Ulster have had no answers!
55′ – Try for Ulster! Bryn Ward! Ulster 7-29 Leinster
Ulster, still a man down, finally get on the board with replacement Bryn Ward rolling over near the left-hand corner. Killer pass in there by Nathan Doak, who duly converts.
Ulster’s first real quality attack of the evening.
Harry Sheridan is also now back from the bin.
57′ – ULS 7-29 LEIN: Big, big carries by Juarno Augustus and Jude Postlethwaite and Leinster concede a penalty deep inside their own half.
Leinster then close the gap in the lineout — penalty Ulster — but Scott Wilson knocks forward after the tap and go and the air is sucked out of Ravenhill.
60′ – ULS 7-29 LEIN: Werner Kok takes a nasty landing after an aerial clash with Max Deegan. Deegan had his eye on the ball but never got off the ground, so he’s blamed for the clash and his yellow card will go to an off-field review.
Ulster attacking in Leinster’s 22′.
61′ – Try for Ulster! Zac Ward! Ulster 14-29 Leinster
Ulster make their numerical advantage count instantaneously as Stockdale and Ward create a two-on-one, with the left wing touching down.
Doak converts from left of centre and there’s energy in the building again.
Ulster, though, are still three scores back with just under 20 minutes to go.
63′ – Try for Ulster! Zac Ward again! Ulster 21-29 Leinster
What a score by Ulster — coast to coast!
Dave McCann with the burst out of his own half as Ulster attack left, and he creates enough space to feed Ward for the run-in!
Doak converts, and we have a game on again here!
To make matters worse for Leinster, Max Deegan’s yellow has been upgraded to a 20-minute red card.
68′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Big stand by Ulster just outside their own 5′ as Postlethwaite earns his second jackal penalty of the day!
That keeps Ulster alive.
70′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Leinster chewing up plenty of clock inside Ulster’s half — but replacement tighthead Rabah Slimani is caught for a forward pass. Scrum to Ulster on their own 22′, or near enough.
72′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Ulster make inroads into the Leinster half as Stockdale goes through Prendergast, but Slimani makes up for his previous forward pass with the jackal penalty!
A huge moment for the visitors.
76′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Beautiful kick by Prendergast dribbles into touch in Ulster’s 22′.
That might be that. Ulster need two scores and they’ll start their next attack from way downtown.
Leinster have managed the game well since that third-quarter Ulster burst.
76′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Of course, another try for Ulster would be worth two bonus points, so still plenty to play for in these dying minutes!
78′ – ULS 21-29 LEIN: Ulster were forced to exit and it’s Leinster ball in their own half.
That’ll do it. A huge win for a heavily rotated Leinster on the road in Belfast.
They raced into a 29-0 lead and held off an Ulster surge to leave with maximum points. Crucially for them, Ulster get nothing out of the game, and Leinster move three points clear of the men from the north into third place in the URC table.
That’s my lot. Ciarán Kennedy will have a match report and reaction from Ravenhill.
Thanks for joining us, and catch you for the next one!
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