PA Sports activities Employees
United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster began the brand new yr in acquainted vogue with a 41-12 further factors victory over Connacht within the RDS.
Tries from David Hawkshaw and Tom Farrell had Connacht simply 19-12 behind at half time, with Liam Turner, Brian Deeny and Jordan Larmour crossing for Leinster.
Larmour, Rob Russell, Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier scored a seven-try victory for Leo Cullen’s males, whose solely actual concern was shedding captain Jonathan Sexton to a facial harm.
Connacht had been lacking three of their Irish internationals, with sickness ruling out Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen, whereas Bundee Aki was rested as a consequence of administration of the Irish gamers.
Turner took a stunning line within the second minute as Charlie Ngatai and Sexton mixed to place him simply to the precise of the posts. Sexton missed the conversion.
The Murray brothers, Darragh and Niall, each capped the lineouts and Connacht’s improved play paid off when Hawkshaw plowed by means of tackles from Sexton and Russell for a superb 16th-minute scorer, transformed by Jack Carty.
Leinster turned to their highly effective pack, the younger lock Deeny leaping from shut vary for Sexton to make it 12-7.
On the half-hour mark, a dodging Larmour linked up with Jimmy O’Brien, whose kick evaded the hapless Carty, and Larmour gleefully adopted for a seven-pointer.
Connacht withdrew 5 of them earlier than the break, Carty deftly fielding Farrell however the skipper missed the conversion.
Larmour picked up a bonus level within the 44th minute from an attractive cross from Jamison Gibson-Park, whereas Connacht misplaced Hawkshaw to harm within the course of. Carty was quickly despatched to the bin for being offside from a penalty.
Nonetheless, Connacht managed nicely with 14 males, Caolin Blade igniting their assault once more and Jarrad Butler foiling a Leinster mallet.
Sexton had to get replaced after head-to-head contact when he dropped Butler, which you may have seen on a card.
In his absence, Leinster completed with a flourish, Cormac Foley and Ngatai offering the assists to place Russell and Baird by means of respectively, earlier than Van der Flier confirmed his tempo to make the left nook after Larmour was once more concerned within the build-up.