There have been a few flare ups between the players so far in what has been a tense opening at the RDS.

The home side draw level through Ciaran Frawley from the kicking tee.

Leinster win the penalty after a surge at the scrum.

They go for another tap and go, but are unable to get the ball down over the try line and Sale survive again and have a goal line drop out.

Leinster are working their way into this contest, but are just lacking the accuracy at the minute against a stubborn defence.

Josh van der Flier has a try chalked off for a knock on.

It came from Ryan Baird, who fumbled the ball in the build up before van der Flier bundled the ball over the line.

A costly mistake for the home side.

Leinster win two scrums in quick succession and get a penalty. They go for the corner and from there, they advance closer to the try line.

Rob du Preez makes no mistake from close range, kicking between the posts to give the away side an early lead.

A bright start from Sale almost results in an early try.

The ball is worked out to Arron Reed, who darts down the left hand side, but he is stopped about three metres before the line.

Sale keep the ball and work it through a number of phases with Connor Doherty offloading to Sam Bedlow, who is grabbed by Robbie Henshaw, preventing him from getting under the sticks.

Henshaw is sent to the sin bin for the deliberate knock on after a TMO review and Sale are awarded the penalty.

Not the start Leinster were hoping for at the RDS.

Referee Pierre Brousset blows his whistle and we're underway in this intriguing clash in Dublin.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, who this week signed a new deal to remain in his post until 2027 is in attendance at the RDS tonight as the teams make their way onto the pitch in front of an 18,000 strong crowd in Dublin.

Sale Sharks have made 12 changes for the game against Leinster.

Only Tom Roebuck, Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale remain from the starting line-up that defeated Stade Francais.

Fly-half George Ford drops out of the matchday squad and is replaced by Rob du Preez, who captains the side.

Scrum-half Raffi Quirke replaces Gus Warr and summer signing Telusa Veainu also comes into the side at full-back.

Flanker Jean-Luc du Preez, younger brother of Rob, could make his first appearance since October from the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury but his twin Dan is sidelined following a head injury last weekend.

Exciting young prop Asher Opoku-Fordjou is also on the bench after impressing as a replacement last weekend.

Ciaran Frawley, who kicked three penalties as a replacement for Harry Byrne in Leinster's win against La Rochelle last weekend, starts at fly-half for the hosts.

Prop Thomas Clarkson also comes into Leinster's starting XV after appearing off the bench against La Rochelle to make his first European start.

South African lock Jason Jenkins replaces Joe McCarthy in the starting line-up to partner co-captain James Ryan.

Leinster: Keenan; Larmour, Ringrose (co-capt), Henshaw, O'Brien; Frawley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, Jenkins, Ryan (co-capt), Baird, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, Ala'alatoa, McCarthy, Conan, Murphy, Prendergast, Ngatai.

Sale: Veainu; Roebuck, Doherty, Bedlow, Reed; R Du Preez (capt), Quirke; Harrison, Taylor, Harper, Bamber, Beaumont, Van Rhyn, Dugdale, Birch.

Replacements: Caine, Onasanya, Opoku-Fordjour, Hill, JL Du Preez, Thomas, Curtis, Carpenter.

Referee: Pierre Brousset

Good evening and welcome back to our live text commentary of the Champions Cup game between Leinster and Sale Sharks at the RDS Stadium in Dublin.

Leinster will be looking to build on their opening day 16-9 victory against defending champions La Rochelle last weekend.

Sale, like Leinster, top their domestic division and beat Stade Francais 28-5 at home in their opening European game.

With two in-form sides set to do battle it promises to be a great game in front of a sold-out crowd.

Thanks for joining us - enjoy!

Image source, Inpho

That is all from us from a live text perspective for now after a big win for Saracens against Connacht in the European Champions Cup.

We’ll be back for live text commentary of the European Champions Cup game between Leinster and Sale at 17:30 GMT.

In the meantime, enjoy live radio coverage of the Champions Cup game between Bordeaux Begles and Bristol Bears, which starts at 15:15 GMT.

See you soon!

Image source, Inpho

It's all over at the StoneX Stadium.

It has been the definition of a game of two halves. Connacht came out in the first half all guns blazing, but Saracens went up through the gears and ran away with the game.

Connacht battled until the end, but Saracen's maul proved to be too strong and Mark McCall's side were clinical in attack, scoring eight tries in a dominant performance.

Connacht going through the phases now, trying to find a way through.

They have coughed the ball up and Saracens pin them back with a kick.

Just over a minute to go now...

Connacht are determined to finish this game strongly despite the deficit now being insurmountable.

Saracens have made their lives difficult, having gone up a gear in the second half.

With just under five minutes to go will Saracens add to Connacht's misery?