Conan Try Steers Clinical Leinster To Four-In-A-Row

Jack Conan’s early second half try catapulted Leinster to a fourth straight Guinness PRO14 title, as they overcame arch rivals Munster 16-6 in a tense battle at the RDS.

The four-in-a-row is another historic achievement for Leo Cullen’s men, who had big performances from Ross Byrne, Rhys Ruddock, Robbie Henshaw and Conan, the Guinness player-of-the-match.

Two penalties each from Byrne and Joey Carbery had the sides level at half-time, as Munster’s robust defence frustrated a fast-starting Leinster.

However, the visitors struggled to create opportunities in their first PRO14 final since 2017, and Conan’s close-range score, coupled with a 68th-minute penalty from Byrne, kept the trophy in Dublin.

The result crowned a memorable night for Devin Toner whose 262nd appearance saw him become Leinster’s most-capped player, while Munster were unable to give retiring duo CJ Stander and Billy Holland a winning send-off in the PRO14.

Creating pressure from an early lineout, Leinster used Henshaw and their big forwards to gain ground before Byrne punished a Peter O’Mahony infringement to make it 3-0.

Munster scrambled well following a Ronan Kelleher midfield break, with Rory O’Loughlin unable to connect with Jordan Larmour out wide.

As good as Leinster’s opening 10 minutes were, Carbery was able to cancel out Byrne’s second penalty with a central 13th-minute strike, giving Munster a much-needed boost.

They enjoyed more possession and territory towards the end of the first quarter, their Springbok star Damian de Allende forcing a penalty and also showing good hands in attack.

Hugo Keenan and Mike Haley both covered dangerous kicks, before some sharp play between Luke McGrath and Kelleher at a lineout had Leinster hunting down a try. Again though, Munster’s defence was resolute.

Gavin Coombes and Stander combined to hold up Scott Fardy, denying the Australian a certain try, and when Leinster exerted more pressure in the 22, O’Mahony drew a relieving penalty in defence.

Leinster sliced through from halfway soon after, as Josh van der Flier offloaded to send Keenan hurtling through. Henshaw was up in support, but Keith Earls rescued Munster with a vital interception.

Munster had three attempts at the posts approaching the interval, the first kick a wide 53-metre effort from Conor Murray. Carbery miscued the next one but was then back on target to punish a high tackle by Conan.

Into the second period in the windy conditions, a scrum penalty and an incisive Henshaw run had Leinster hammering away at the try-line again.

Conan was held up, but following a five-metre scrum, the home side chipped away further before Conan drove low to finally break the try deadlock in the 46th minute.

Out-half Byrne neatly converted for a 13-6 scoreline, the setback for Munster heightened by the sight of captain O’Mahony hobbling off to be replaced.

Byrne knocked a penalty wide follow a scrum collapse by Munster, who drew inspiration from a turnover penalty won by flanker Coombes, who worked his socks off up front.

Ruddock was everywhere for Leinster, showing terrific feet to carry out wide and from deep. The latter surge came on the back of a brilliant rip in the tackle by replacement Ryan Baird on Stander.

Despite losing the newly-introduced Jonathan Sexton to a HIA, Leinster continued to threaten. McGrath’s pinpoint touchfinder past Earls gave them field position, and Conan gobbled up a Murray kick to almost charge over in the right corner.

A subsequent penalty was superbly turned into three points by Byrne, from a difficult position on the right. Uncharacteristic errors from Earls and replacement Craig Casey thwarted Munster in their attempts to respond.

The end-game was just as disappointing for Johann van Graan’s charges, as they were pinned back in their own 22. The home side maintained the physical edge thanks to the likes of Henshaw, Baird and Tadhg Furlong.