Leaders Leinster keep their profitable run with hard-fought victory over Connacht

United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster have made it 10 wins from 10 in all competitions however needed to work laborious for a 20-12 win over Connacht on the Aviva Stadium.

Tries from Andrew Osborne and Charlie Tector gave Leinster a 14-0 half-time lead, though they need to have given Connacht heart Shane Jennings extra yellow playing cards.

After seeing Ross Byrne give away a penalty, Connacht capitalized on Lee Barron’s sin to make it a five-point sport, with Oisin Dowling and Jennings each crossing.

Mack Hansen was gaining affect for the Westerners, however the closing 20 minutes ended with Leinster flyhalf Byrne profitable the outcome with a 79th-minute penalty.

With 13 adjustments from final week, Leo Cullen’s males put the stress on from the beginning. Connacht engaged defensively with Bundee Aki and Jennings making essential performs.

Nineteen minutes later, Byrne used a fast transfer on what was a principally unreliable Leinster lineout to ship Osborne working. Byrne transformed.

Jennings then noticed yellow for a late sort out on Luke McGrath and the Connacht midfielder was minimize open once more. Barrett slipped Tector completely to attain, with Byrne changing.

Connacht briefly gained momentum because of the working of Paul Boyle and Josh Ioane, till the latter suffered an damage.

Darragh Murray’s capability to steal the Leinster lineout ball was a giant constructive for the guests, in addition to Shamus Hurley-Langton’s turnover wins.

Taking part in into the wind on the restart, Byrne pushed the result in 17 factors however Connacht responded nicely.

Repeated Leinster penalties despatched substitute Barron into the dustbin within the 51st minute, and the ensuing penalty led to Dowling burying himself.

Hurley-Langton and Hansen offered an additional spark, and with Leinster more and more slender in protection, Jennings was despatched behind the posts. Forde’s conversion diminished the result in 17-12.

Connacht captain Cian Prendergast brilliantly held off Barron, denying him a sure strive within the seventieth minute.

Jimmy O’Brien was then taken out for selecting off Hansen within the air to provide the guests hope, however it was Byrne who had the final snicker for the tabletoppers.