Leinster v Connacht | Highlights | Round 8 | URC 2024/25

Chris Cludsby from Ulster is our referee in charge, it is calm to get us underway. Josh Ioannou back fits, good to see him and Rob Murphy looking up once again. What an opening to the season if you go all the way back to the start of the URC campaign. Those two combined for some brilliant tries together. And a five over. Clean ball for Leinster. Magrath to Byrne, behind it goes Osborne, W as well, Osborne! What a try, Andrew Osborne, Leinster have been hammering and hammering away. This Leinster side, Jack Conan has been the go-to man at the front of the line-out. Good early decisions being made here. And just that pop-off, confusion in midfield between Ford and Pundiaky. It was a great line from Andrew Osborne but really that kind of midfield was opened up far too easily. To Barrett, and now O'Brien, and out to Scott Penny, and Osborne the try score. A vantage, number nine real clear. Penetration from Leinster. Spaced in the blind side, chip and chase, but can't be moved. Was he checked? And was he checked illegally? I think he was. That's good for me there, the players won that quarter-side, but we are going back. I think Jennings is in trouble here. Number nine real clear. That's correct, Chris. It's the out card. Yeah, and I think that's justified. All he had to do was stand there and he was okay. Jennings goes off for ten. Good work on the ground by Connacht. Yeah, really good. And he's attached. Back from McCarthy. Barrett gives it short. Trying to go through with Tector. And Tector makes a try, number two for Leinster. All too easy, Connacht. He's had no surprise to see Connacht kicking that ball dead. Trying to regroup at half-time. So there we go then, plenty of mistakes. Plenty of big tackles going in from both teams. We've had yellow cards, two tries as well. Bit of a loss for Connacht with Ioane going off. They don't have Jack Carty in the matchday 23. You gamble when you go with two backs and it all comes off against you. Yeah, that's it. What they have is Shane Jennings with a strong carry. Connacht told to leave him. Slimane. Offside. Five through the middle. Number? Number 16. It has to be yellow. Because they were only warned. He literally has just come on the pitch. He's going to go straight back off. And Leinster, can they concede? Here we go, yellow card Lee Barron. Number 16 offside. 16, they're absolutely right. I'll just give a yellow card, just let them get him off the pitch. There's a tap and go. It's happening. Trying to force his way towards that line. It's a good carry. Ainger, first touch for him. Those cold hands. I hope it's up to the pitch. He's almost at the line. Just short. Where's the ball? On the back. It's a try. Recharge. And he's only just on the pitch. Hushing down. It was his very first touch. They get a quick ball on the outside. They might have an overlap here. Connacht, if they can spread the ball wide. Hands might do it. Cordeiro on the outside to Pernikas. Jennings in the corner. Easy as you like for Connacht. It's trying to put you all the way underneath the post. And that is exactly what they would want you. Absolutely. I mean, they've just opened up. Take their chances. Been pilfered himself in the first half. But that was a huge steal from him. Hansen underneath the high ball. Big take and then a tackle in the air. And it's going to be another yellow card. And off goes Jimmy O'Brien. Leinster going to finish the game with 14 players down. Yeah. Away green. Gibson Park feeds it. Ryan Baird. A mess of the moment. Penalty. And that might well be the game, depending on what Leinster decides to do from here. He's drilled it straight between the posts. It's cruel for Connacht. And Gibson Park back into Jordie Barrett. And away we go for the win. Don't let in your man. Your player of the match, please, if you don't mind. Yeah, look, it's been an enthralling game. I think Kean Pernikas, Matt Hansen, superb for Connacht. Sirocco had a brilliant opening half. Ross Byrne was very good. But I think, for me, Jordie Barrett was outstanding. He is my URC player of the match. Thank you.