United Rugby Championship

Leinster (14) 20

Tries: Osborne, Tector Pens: Byrne 2 Cons: Byrne 2

Connacht (0) 12

Tries: Dowling, Jennings Cons: Forde

Leinster made it 10 wins from 10 in all competitions this season with a hard-fought 20-12 victory over Connacht at the Aviva Stadium.

Leo Cullen’s side led 14-0 at the break after first-half tries from Andrew Osborne and Charlie Tector.

But they were shown a pair of yellow cards in the second half, with both Lee Barron and Jimmy O’Brien sent to the sin bin.

Scores from Oisin Dowling and Shane Jennings had brought Connacht back to within five points in the final quarter but, despite finishing a man down with O’Brien off the field, Leinster extended their advantage with a late Ross Byrne penalty denying the visitors even a losing bonus point.

As the festive interpros continue, Leinster will turn their attention to a visit to Munster on 27 December, while Connacht will look to bounce back against struggling Ulster a day later.

With this fixture falling between their Champions Cup double-header and that big trip to Thomond Park, Leo Cullen made 13 changes to the Leinster side who had beaten Clermont here seven days prior.

Despite their much changed line-up, the hosts started the game on the front foot and used an early scrum penalty to advance deep into Connacht territory.

A turnover from the returning Bundee Aki, however, stopped the game’s first attack in its tracks.

Ultimately, it took until the19th minute for Leinster to break the deadlock.

Attacking off another line-out, All Black Jordie Barrett ran a convincing dummy line, only for Ross Byrne to pull the ball back to the charging Osborne, who went under the posts untouched.

With Jennings in the bin for a late hit on Luke McGrath, Leinster doubled their lead against the 14 men.

After Connacht had done well to halt another Leinster maul, the hosts went out the back and Barrett put his centre partner Tector through the gap to score.

If not for their struggles in the line-out, Leinster could have further punished Connacht during Jennings’ absence but misfired out of touch on multiple occasions and it stayed 14-0 until half-time.

Ross Byrne nudged his side further ahead with an early penalty in the second half, but their cause was not helped by losing replacement hooker Barron to a yellow card shortly after coming on for Gus McCarthy.

Just as Leinster had when Jennings was in the bin, Connacht made the most of the opportunity against 14 men, with substitute lock Oisin Dowling barging through a gap from close range.

Two minutes before Barron’s return, Connacht crossed again. Aki made a huge break down the left touchline before the westerners moved the ball well to take advantage of their extra man and put Jennings over in the corner.

With Cathal Forde’s conversion, Connacht were back within five with 20 minutes to go.

When Leinster were returned to a full complement, Barron looked to make amends with a score to make the game safe but Cian Prendergast produced a brilliant try-saving tackle to hold the hooker up over the line.

But while Leinster would finish the game with 14 when O’Brien became the third player shown a yellow card after he tackled Hansen in the air with five minutes remaining, the league leaders held on for another victory.

Leinster: O’Brien; Arenzana-King, Tector, Barrett, Osborne; R Byrne, McGrath; Boyle, McCarthy, Slimani; Mangan, Snyman; Soroka, Penny, Conan (capt).

Replacements: Barron, Milne, Healy, Deeny, Baird, Gibson-Park, H Byrne, Deegan.

Yellow cards: Barron, O’Brien

Connacht: O’Conor; Hansen, Forde, Aki, Jennings; Ioane, Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham; Murphy, Murray; Prendergast (capt), Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Duggan, Aungier, Dowling, Jansen, Blade, Cordero, Oliver.

Yellow card: Jennings

Referee: Chris Busby [IRFU]