Rónan Kelleher: Leinster must stop Ulster maul in its tracks

Rónan Kelleher said Leinster must find a way to negative Ulster's mauling game if they are to maintain their 100% start to the season.

The two leading sides in the BKT United Rugby Championship collide at the RDS on Saturday and driving mauls have played a key part in their impressive starts to the season.

Dan Sheehan profited from lineout drives during Kelleher’s injury-enforced absence, with one of his six tries coming in the 20-13 victory in Belfast at the end of September.

John Andrew responded in similar fashion for Ulster in what was their only defeat to date, and Dan McFarland’s side have made more maul metres [212] than any other team in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

"You look at their personnel - Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson - they’re really good in that area," said Leinster hooker Kelleher.

"We’re going to have to look to stop them there, but we’re well aware of that threat. We’ll be working this week to make sure we negate that.

"What else are we expecting from Ulster? Much of the same really. Their defence was really strong [in September], it was very difficult to break them down.