Leinster 20; Connacht 12
To Leinster the spoils but to Connacht the glory for making this such a Christmas spectacle - especially in the second half when they used the wind and the extra man from a sin-binning to roar back into the game after being 14-0 behind at the break.
The 33,000 plus crowd at the Aviva Stadium came in search of a cakewalk against the traditional Cinderella province but ended up having to endure a nail-biting finish as the men from the West came looking for a try with the scores at 17-12 which would have guaranteed parity and possible victory.
It was then that Leinster had their brand names to thank especially MVP Jordie Barrett, who not only made some brilliant last-gasp tackles to keep his opponents out but also made the decisive break with a minute to go which resulted in the losers giving away a penalty which Ross Byrne converted to deny Connacht a losing bonus point at the death.
This BKT URC derby game began with Leinster swarming all over the men in green and when they got through for two first-half tries from Andrew Osborne and Charlie Tector, both of which Byrne converted, we waited for the sluice gates to open.
To Leinster the spoils but to Connacht the glory for making this such a Christmas spectacle - especially in the second half when they used the wind and the extra man from a sin-binning to roar back into the game after being 14-0 behind at the break.
The 33,000 plus crowd at the Aviva Stadium came in search of a cakewalk against the traditional Cinderella province but ended up having to endure a nail-biting finish as the men from the West came looking for a try with the scores at 17-12 which would have guaranteed parity and possible victory.
It was then that Leinster had their brand names to thank especially MVP Jordie Barrett, who not only made some brilliant last-gasp tackles to keep his opponents out but also made the decisive break with a minute to go which resulted in the losers giving away a penalty which Ross Byrne converted to deny Connacht a losing bonus point at the death.
This BKT URC derby game began with Leinster swarming all over the men in green and when they got through for two first-half tries from Andrew Osborne and Charlie Tector, both of which Byrne converted, we waited for the sluice gates to open.
Maybe a Connacht side of old would have rolled over but this group instead rolled up their sleeves and went at their opponents with deadly intent on the changeover. Despite the winners going 17-0 up early in the second half with another Byrne successful kick, Connacht used the wind to get down field and then turned the screw with two tries from Oisin Dowling and Shane Jennings.
After giving away five penalties in a row, referee Chris Busby flashed yellow at the newly arrived Lee Barron. Once that happened, it was Connacht who had the upper hand and a first away win since ‘21 against the hosts looked a distinct possibility.
Credit to Leinster, when the big questions were asked, RJ Snyman, sub Jamison Gibson-Park and Byrne showed their maturity to get their side home in what became a real Christmas cracker for both sets of supporters in attendance along Lansdowne Road.
Tempers flare between Connacht’s Josh Murphy and RG Snyman of Leinster. [Inpho/James Crombie]
Maybe a Connacht side of old would have rolled over but this group instead rolled up their sleeves and went at their opponents with deadly intent on the changeover. Despite the winners going 17-0 up early in the second half with another Byrne successful kick, Connacht used the wind to get down field and then turned the screw with two tries from Oisin Dowling and Shane Jennings.
After giving away five penalties in a row, referee Chris Busby flashed yellow at the newly arrived Lee Barron. Once that happened, it was Connacht who had the upper hand and a first away win since ‘21 against the hosts looked a distinct possibility.
Credit to Leinster, when the big questions were asked, RJ Snyman, sub Jamison Gibson-Park and Byrne showed their maturity to get their side home in what became a real Christmas cracker for both sets of supporters in attendance along Lansdowne Road.
Next up for Leinster is a trip to play Munster at Thomond Park while Connacht entertain Ulster.
Leinster: J O'Brien; A Arenzana-King, C Tector, J Barrett, A Osborne; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, G McCarthy, R Slimani; D Mangan, RG Snyman; A Soroka, S Penny, J Conan (capt) Replacements: L Barron, M Milne, C Healy, B Deeny, R Baird, J Gibson-Park, H Byrne, M Deegan.
Connacht: P O’Conor; M Hansen, C Forde, B Aki, S Jennings; J Ioane, B Murphy; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; J Murphy, D Murray; C Prendergast (capt), S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle Replacements: D Tierney-Martin, J Duggan, J Aungier, O Dowling, S Jansen, C Blade, S Cordero, C Oliver.
Ref: C Busby (IRFU).
SCORERS
Leinster: Tries - Osborne, Tector Cons: Byrne (2) Pens: Byrne
Connacht: Tries - Dowling, Jennings Cons: Forde
Munster 22; Ulster 19
Both these teams badly needed a win and perhaps Munster’s need was greater as they edged home in Belfast helped in no small way by the sending off of Ulster prop Tom O’Toole after the 30-minute mark for a dangerous clearout on Alex Nankivell at Ravenhill on Friday night.
Stand in Coach Ian Costello said he’d take a win of any sort but really he had to thank his centre Tom Farrell who crashed over for a hat-trick of tries on the night to snatch a late, late win against a host team experiencing their fifth successive defeat.
This was a slow-burner of a game which really only came to life in the last 20 minutes and had a sensational denouement when Farrell got over with the final play of the game.
Farrell scored a hat-trick as he continued his brilliant season at his new province, the last of those scores coming with the final play of the game to seal a 22-19 win.
O’Toole’s night began in a blaze of glory when he dotted down to put his side 7-0 ahead with John Cooney adding the conversion. Farrell’s first touchdown left it 7-5, Farrell’s second put Munster ahead but then Harry Sheridan crossed with 15 to go and a home win looked a distinct possibility.
The bustling Munster centre provided the assist for Shane Daly but Ireland’s fading outhalf Jack Crowley missed three conversions leaving Munster 15-12 ahead going into the last 10 minutes.
Ulster shrugged off their numerical disadvantage to mount a charge and when James McNabney got over for an unconverted try, that looked like it might be enough.
Farrell still had a trick up his sleeve and despite Ulster protests that there was a high challenge in the build up, the score stood and Munster’s journey home was a happy one.
Afterwards Coach Costello commented: “It was a very difficult place to come and win, never mind coming out of here with five points. Loads to concern ourselves with around the performance to improve on, but loads to love about the character, the belief in the squad to score some cracking tries. Particularly that one at the end.
Shane Daly going in to score Munster's third try. [Inpho/Morgan Treacy]
“It was about outcome, us versus them. They had injuries, we had injuries, it was always going to be attritional. We’re very disappointed with the amount of pressure we put ourselves under. An awful lot was down to our execution, or lack of execution around how we came out of our own 22.
“There was some outstanding attacking rugby once we settled into our rhythm, and we'll focus on that and enjoy that for 48 hours and then prepare for a pretty big one next week as well,” he highlighted.
Munster: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, S Daly; J Crowley, P Patterson; J Ryan, N Scannell, S Archer; T Ahern, F Wycherley; J O'Donoghue (capt), J Hodnett, G Coombes Replacements: E Clarke, D Kilcoyne (for Ryan, 49-69), O Jager (for Archer, 49), E O'Connell (for O’Donoghue, 49), A Kendellen (for Hodnett, 56), E Coughlan (for Patterson, 45-55 and 66), R Scannell (for Nankivell, 34), B Gleeson (for Wycherley, 62).
Ulster: M Lowry; W Kok, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, Z Ward; A Morgan, J Cooney; A Warwick, R Herring, T O'Toole; A O'Connor (capt), K Treadwell; J McNabney, M Rea, D McCann Replacements: J Andrew, E O'Sullivan (for Warwick, 63), S Wilson (for Telfer, 34), H Sheridan (for Treadwell, 61), M Rea (for Marcus Rea, 65), D Shanahan, J Murphy (for McCloskey, 38), R Telfer (for Ward, 24)
Ref: B Whitehouse (WRU)
SCORERS
Munster scorers: Tries: T Farrell (3), S Daly Cons: J Crowley (1)
Ulster scorers: Tries: T O’Toole, H Sheridan, J McNabney Cons: J Cooney (2).
