Ireland star's injury mars Leinster's party spoiling win over Connacht

The last meeting between both teams saw Leinster earn a huge 52-17 win at the beginning of January, and they opened the scoring eight minutes into the contest when Fintan Gunne sneaked over following a period of pressure on the tryline, with Harry Byrne kicking the extras.

Dylan Tierney-Martin quickly replied for Connacht after powering over the line, with Sam Gilbert converting, and Gilbert and Byrne both kicked two penalties each within 10 minutes of each other to level the score 13-13 at half-time.

Connacht took the lead after the break when a team move switched play to the left flank and Finn Treacy made a sharp offload to Harry West, who cut in to ground before Gilbert added the conversion.

RG Snyman and Charlie Tector suddenly scored two tries in quick succession, with Byrne converting both, to put Leinster in front before Gilbert closed the gap with a penalty kick.

However, Ciaran Frawley touched down in the corner to score Leinster’s fourth try of the match and Byrne converted to secure a seventh URC win of the campaign so far.

There was concern for Leinster and Ireland when loosehead Jack Boyle was forced off in the 19th minute after appearing to suffer a serious injury in a collapsed scrum.

The 23-year-old required lengthy treatment before leaving the field, adding to the growing worries in the Irish loosehead department with Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy already sidelined. With the Six Nations fast approaching, Boyle’s exit could scarcely have come at a worse time for Andy Farrell as Ireland’s options at No.1 continue to thin.

additional reporting RugbyPass