Connacht 12
Leinster 33
Connacht succumbed to a Leinster onslaught to rack up their third interprovincial loss this season at Dexcom Stadium.
Unbeaten URC league leaders, Leinster produced an efficient display in Galway, delivering five tries and a clinical defence to maintain their winning momentum.
Although Peter Wilkins’ side had earned valuable bonus points in their opening day URC defeat at the hands of Munster by 35-33, and a subsequent 32-27 against Ulster in Belfast, Leinster were not so accommodating in Galway. Their superior set piece and pace produced a ruthless five-try victory; Connacht, however, were not at their best with a defensive effort that let them down.
Connacht, playing into the wind in the first half, found themselves behind within five-minutes, and although the home side had plenty of possession, it was all in the wrong half of the pitch, not helped by attacking into a strong wind.
In comparison the visitors were clinical in possession. Leading the URC table, Leinster grabbed their first opportunity within five minutes, capitalising on a penalty to touch, and from the line-out claimed by James Ryan, Jamie Osborne bagged the opening try from the subsequent passage of play. Converted by outhalf Ciaran Frawley, the visitors led 0-7 lead after seven minutes.
The visitors continued to dominated both possession and field position as Connacht struggled, not only with their opponents’ physicality, but also the wind. And there was no let up when Leinster grabbed their second try. RJ Snyman was influential in protecting the ball on the ground before it was spread wide for Liam Turner to touch down. Replacement outhalf Ross Byrne, just on the field for the injured Ciaran Frawley, knocked over the conversion to put Leinster into a 0-14 lead after 16 minutes.
It looked like it was going to be a long night for the home side but Bundee Aki, Piers O’Connor and David Hawkshaw combined to stymie another Leinster attack inside the Connacht 22 - a penalty providing some relief. And Connacht were able to breathe a sigh of relief when Josh Ioane’s attempted clearance kick could well have provided another Leinster try, but for an accidental offside.
However, there were some positive signs when Connacht started to play front-foot football. A vital penalty in the 27th minute from a solid scrum provided a first real opportunity inside their opponents’ half, but the resulting line-out went askew and the opportunity was lost.
Connacht gradually established some control, a burst form Shayne Bolton providing some attacking prowess, but on a night of frustrations there are no initial reward. A penalty that missed touch did not help matters, but Connacht’s perseverance, helped by an Ioane line-break, provided a chink of light. A subsequent line-out just yards from the line provided a resulting attack. Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce, and Bundee Aki all pushed forward before Sean O’Brien claimed a much-needed try, helped by Denis Buckley’s timely pass.
Ioane’s attempted conversion against the wind hit off the upright to deny the much-needed two points as they closed the gap after 35 minutes to 5-14
However, a penalty scrum against Connacht did not help their cause - Leinster opting for a kick to touch 10m from the try line. From the resulting play man of the match RJ Snyman bagged a try, despite the hint of an earlier knock-on. It left Connacht struggling at half-time by 5-21, and although with the wind in the second half, it was always going to be a massive task to overcome the deficit.
It was not made any easier when Leinster’s relentless pace delivered the fourth try, scored by Max Deegan - Byrne’s conversion wide of the posts. Within minutes Bundee Aki crucially stopped another Leinster try, while a superb Ioane kick gave some much-needed relief to Pete Wilkins’ side.
A series of replacements did provide some impetus to Connacht when, for the first time in the fixture, they kept the ball in hand and made metres. Paul Boyle came close as Connacht maintained some momentum going forward, but Leinster’s strength in depth ensured they continued to keep Connacht at bay. However, Cathal Forde provided a timely score. Just on the field, he took a ball from Ioane before cutting through to score, with the outhalf adding the extras.
It should have been a huge boost for the home side, but Leinster immediately replied from the kick-off - Andrew Osbourne grabbing possession. With an easy run to the line, he delivered the nail in the coffin for Connacht, who had provided brief glimpses in the second half of a possible comeback.
As much as Connacht tried, they lacked the composure when needed. Darragh Murray looked certain to score, but for a tackle from Porter. And with five minutes remaining, it was always going to be an unlikely scenario. It ensured Connacht have lost to all three home provinces this season.
Connacht: Piers O’Conor, Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast (CAPT ), Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley for Buckley, Jack Aungier for Bealham and Niall Murray for Joyce (all 52m ), Sean Jansen for O’Brien, Caolin Blade for Murphy, and Dylan Tierney-Martin for Heffernan (all 55m ), Hugh Gavin for Cordero (60m ) and Cathal Forde for Hawkshaw (61m ).
Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne, Andrew Osborne, Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani , RG Snyman, James Ryan (CAPT ), Max Deegan, Will Connors, James Culhane
Replacements: Ross Byrne for Frawley (16m ), Andrew Porter for Boyle and Thomas Clarkson for Slimani (44m ), Scott Penny for Connors (58m ), Brian Deemy for Snyman (65m ), Fintan Gunne for Gibson-Park (69 ), Hugh Cooney for Turner (72 ), Stephen Smyth for McCarthy (73 ).
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU ).
