Leinster cut loose late on to dispatch Connacht

United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster began the new year in familiar fashion with a 41-12 bonus-point win over Connacht at the RDS. Tries from David Hawkshaw and Tom Farrell had Connacht just 19-12 behind at half-time, with Liam Turner, Brian Deeny and Jordan Larmour crossing for Leinster. Larmour, Rob Russell, Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier made it a seven-try victory for Leo Cullen's men, whose only real worry was losing captain Jonathan Sexton to a facial injury.

Connacht were missing three of their Ireland internationals, with illness ruling out Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen while Bundee Aki was rested due to Ireland player management. Turner took a lovely line in the second minute as Charlie Ngatai and Sexton combined to put him over to the right of the posts. Sexton missed the conversion.

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The Murray brothers, Darragh and Niall, both pinched lineouts and Connacht's improving play was rewarded when Hawkshaw broke through tackles from Sexton and Russell for a fine 16th-minute score, converted by Jack Carty. Leinster turned to their powerful pack, young lock Deeny springing over from close range for Sexton to make it 12-7. On the half-hour mark, a sidestepping Larmour linked with Jimmy O'Brien, whose kick through evaded the unfortunate Carty, and Larmour gleefully followed up for a seven-pointer.

Leinster 41-12 Connacht: As it happened Connacht pulled back five of those before the break, Carty slickly sent Farrell over but the skipper miscued the