Leinster Eclipse Connacht’s Strong Start With Seven-Try Salvo

Normal service resumed at the RDS where Leinster overcame a fast-starting Connacht to post a 47-19 United Rugby Championship derby win.

Dan Sheehan’s superb sidestepping try on the stroke of half-time gave Leinster a 19-12 lead. The westerners led twice through scores from Mack Hansen and Sam Arnold.

Beaten by Ulster last week, Leo Cullen’s men opened their try account through Rhys Ruddock and Garry Ringrose, and Jordan Larmour added the fourth early on the restart.

Caelan Doris, Ryan Baird and replacement Max Deegan completed Leinster’s seven-try haul – the latter one cancelling out a Conor Oliver effort – with the result a timely boost for the Blues heading into Europe next week.

Speaking in the aftermath, Leinster head coach Cullen said: “I’m pleased to get a win. A good win for us, a bonus point and great crowd there as well, which makes some difference to the whole mood around the place.

“We looked a bit scrappy, a few unforced errors. Guys are trying hard at the start, but we probably lack a little bit of cohesion, it’s fair to say.

“We’re not quite where we would like to be at the moment, but we had a fair amount of changes over the last couple of weeks so maybe it’s to be expected with the short turnaround in terms of prep.

“We got a bit better control as the half went on, a really well-worked team try for Garry to get in. Then for Dan’s try he shows great footwork for a hooker really, great athleticism.

“Then we score right after half-time so those tries either side of half-time are important for us in terms of the context of the game, and we just got far enough away from Connacht at that point.”

The hosts, who brought 10 Ireland internationals back into their squad, looked to strike early, yet the sheer pace of Connacht’s attack soon saw them making inroads.

Armed with a penalty advantage, Jack Carty’s cross-field kick was brilliantly fielded by Hansen for an unconverted 13th-minute try.

Leinster’s forwards built some pressure off penalties before flanker Ruddock burrowed over. Harry Byrne converted to make it 7-5.

After two near misses for Connacht, including no clear grounding of a possible Oran McNulty try, a fluid 28th-minute attack ended with Carty’s slick pass putting Arnold over.

Nonetheless, Ringrose then reached out to score after nice hands from Josh van der Flier and Michael Ala’alatoa, with Byrne converting.

Sheehan squeezed in a stunning late try, his ability to sidestep around the in-form Hansen leaving the home crowd in awe.

Released by out-half Byrne near Connacht’s 10-metre line, he gobbled up the space in front of him, showing the feet and pace of a winger as he jinked around Hansen and accelerated away to the line.

It was the game’s turning point, a picture-perfect back-line move off a lineout sending Larmour over for a 41st-minute bonus point try, converted by Byrne.

Doris, the Autumn Nations Player of the Series, soon got in on the act, driving over from a close-in ruck. Byrne’s extras left Connacht trailing 33-12.

Baird used his long frame to score on the hour mark, before a smashing play off a lineout had Hansen haring through the middle to send Oliver over for seven points beside the posts.

Leinster signed off with a sweeping 74th-minute breakaway, led by Tommy O’Brien, as Deegan crashed over from Nick McCarthy’s nifty offload. Fellow replacement Ross Byrne converted.

A granite-like van der Flier was at his all-action best as the deserved URC player-of-the-match. He picked out soft shoulders with his clever runs and maintained high energy and efficiency in defence.

Carty, Ultan Dillane and Oliver did a lot of good work for Connacht, but Leinster hit another gear either side of the interval. Andrew Porter also impressed with his cameo off the home bench.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Connacht boss Andy Friend admitted: “Leinster stayed in the game for longer. That’s what we’ve got to learn. When we stayed in the game I thought we were really good and that’s the bit where we got to continue to believe as a group.

“We have to enjoy that struggle. The first try we got and then there was a struggle, they got a try and it was a good struggle, we got a try and it was good struggle, they got another one.

“It was a great game of rugby for the first 40 minutes. I thought the one after half-time hurt us.”