Summary

  • Leinster v Connacht (17:30 GMT)

  • Andrew Osborne scores opening try of game for Leinster on 19 minutes

  • Charlie Tector doubles Leinster lead while Connacht's Shane Jennings is in the sin bin

  • Oisin Dowling and Shane Jennings respond for Connacht after Lee Barron shown yellow

  • Leinster hold on despite Jimmy O'Brien's late card

  1. Postpublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-12 Connacht

    We're into the final 15 minutes in Dublin. This game is anyone's at this point.

  2. CLOSE!published at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-12 Connacht

    The Leinster maul is creeping towards the line and try-scorer Jennings just does enough to stop Gibson-Park sniping in at the line!

    Leinster look to recycle but Andrew Osborne is penalised for a neck roll and Connacht can clear.

  3. Postpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-12 Connacht

    Leinster, now back to their full complement, have the penalty advantage for a high hit in the middle of the pitch.

    Play is brought back, and Byrne sticks it deep into the 22.

  4. try

    Try - Leinster 17-12 Connachtpublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Shane Jennings (con Forde)

    IT'S A CHRISTMAS CRACKER FROM CONNACHT! GAME ON!

    It all came from that break by Aki. Connacht flicked it wide quickly as Leinster rushed out in defence, and Shane Jennings has all the time and space of Dublin to scamper over.

    Cathal Forde converts too.

    Shane Jennings scoresImage source, Inpho
  5. CLOSE!published at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-5 Connacht

    Some great hands sends Bundee Aki flying down the left.

    The scramble defence manages to halt the danger, but it's all Connacht!

  6. Postpublished at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-5 Connacht

    Mack Hansen's kick through bobbles towards the corner and hits the flag.

    Jamison Gibson-Park takes it quickly and manages to clear for Leinster.

  7. Postpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-5 Connacht

    Seamus Hurley-Langton makes some big ground for Connacht, who now have the wind in their sails.

  8. try

    Try - Leinster 17-5 Connachtpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Oisin Dowling

    Oisin Downling spots a gap and dots down on the line!

    Dave Heffernan went close from the tap and go. Dowling was first on the scene, picked the ball up and dropped on the line.

    Cathal Forde sends the conversion wide.

  9. Sin-binpublished at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    It's another penalty advantage as the maul is brought down.

    New captain Gibson-Park had been warned and Lee Barron, who has been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, is sent to the bin.

  10. Postpublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    Connacht get the advantage after Snyman interfered at the line out.

    Play is eventually brought back and it's sent into the corner.

    Jamison Gibson-Park is on for Leinster in place of Luke McGrath.

    Cian Healy, Michael Mile and Lee Barron are also on in the front row.

    Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Rabah Slimani also make way.

  11. Postpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    Leinster win their own scrum and it's thumped clear by McGrath.

    That's a decent kick and Connacht will have the throw midway through the Leinster half.

  12. Postpublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    The maul is rolling towards the line but goes down just short.

    The ball isn't coming out, and Leinster will have the scrum on their own line.

  13. Postpublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    Connacht had the penalty advantage. It's into the corner and they win the throw!

  14. Postpublished at 18:42 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    They win the throw but play is stopped as RG Snyman and Josh Murphy start going at each other right in front of Chris Busby.

    I'm not entirely sure what sparked that, but they probably aren't on each other's Christmas card lists.

  15. Postpublished at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    Connacht will have the line out about 10 metres out. Can they capitalise?

  16. Postpublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    Worryingly for Connacht and Ireland, Mack Hansen looks in a bit of discomfort.

    He's going to try and run off whatever the issue is.

  17. Postpublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    It's another penalty as Gus McCarthy is pinged at the breakdown.

  18. Postpublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    It's a chance lost as Leinster snatch it.

    Connnacht will have another throw, but it's now on halfway rather than the Leinster line.

  19. Postpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Leinster 17-0 Connacht

    Connacht have the penalty after Scott Penny went off his feet at the ruck.

    Into the corner it goes.

  20. Penalty - Leinster 17-0 Connachtpublished at 18:36 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December

    Ross Byrne

    As expected, Byrne sticks it straight between the posts!