Welcome along to our liveblog of Leinster’s difficult test in Northampton. With the quality of Sean O’Brien, Tom Wood, Courtney Lawes, Brian O’Driscoll and George North involved, this should be one of the highest-quality games of the weekend.

Before proceedings get underway at Franklin’s Gardens, get yourself prepared by reading our big match preview.

Here are the starting teams and replacements for both sides this evening:

Northampton: James Wilson; Ken Pisi, Dom Waldouck, Luther Burrell, George North; Steve Myler, Lee Dickson; Alex Waller, Dylan Hartley (Capt), Salesi Ma’afu; Samu Manoa, Courtney Lawes; Tom Wood, Phil Dowson, Sam Dickinson.

Replacements: Mikey Haywood, Ethan Waller, Tom Mercey, Christian Day, Calum Clark, Ryan Glynn, Glenn Dickson, Jamie Elliott.

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Dave Kearney, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy; Rhys Ruddock, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip (Capt).

Replacements: Aaron Dundon, Jack McGrath, Martin Moore, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Jimmy Gopperth, Zane Kirchner.

Which team do you think is stronger on paper? Also, now is as good a time as any to get your predictions down on paper [or the comments section below]. How do you see the game going?

Jamie Heaslip looked as relaxed as ever for the pre-match toin coss. We’re delighted that Nigel Owens is in charge of this one, as it should make for an open, exciting game between two excellent sides. The best ref in the world at the moment for us.

©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Where do you think this battle is going to be won and lost? We picked out three of the key head-to-heads yesterday; at scrum-half, on the wing and in the second row. Have a read here to whet your appetite even further. This is going to be big.

Some late team news from Franklin’s Gardens. Cian Healy has been ruled out, meaning Jack McGrath starts at loosehead prop and there’s also a change on the bench, with John Cooney replacing Isaac Boss. Does that greatly weaken Leinster?

TheScore.ie reader Jerry MacCárthaigh points out the extent of the homegrown talent in this Leinster selection this evening. Excellent to see so much Irish talent on the pitch. Even without Healy, there are still 15 Irish international starting. Only three on the bench now but Cooney is, of course, another native player.

The starting 15 all Irish internationally capped players, another 4 Irish internationals on the bench! 20 out 23 players in the squad internationally capped. Amazing stuff!

There’s also been a late change for the home team. James Wilson has been ruled out, meaning a start for Jamie Elliot. That sees Ken Pisi switch into fullback from the wing. We can’t recall seeing him in the 15 shirt ever before. Will Madigan launch a few early kicks on top of him?

There’s just been a minute’s applause in memory of Nelson Mandela. Both teams looking fired up for this vital Pool 1 clash. Last chance for predictions before we get underway at Franklin’s Gardens in an excellent atmosphere. How do you see it going?

2 minutes – Decent start from Leinster. Some good carrying by Rob Kearney and a few others. As expected, Madigan launches a high kick on Pisi. The fullback fields it and calls mark, but he knocks on as he looks to quick tap. Owens awards Leinster the scrum inside the Saints’ 22. Good early chance…

TRY FOR LEINSTER!!!

4 minutes – Leinster have targeted that man Pisi once again for the opening try of the game. After a solid scrum, the ball is shifted wide to O’Driscoll who grubbers in behind Pisi. The fullback fumbles the ball as he turns and Luke Fitzgerald has the easy task of gathering to score. Madigan adds the conversion from out on the left.

Northampton 0-7 Leinster

6 minutes – Leinster are all over Northampton here. Pisi gets turned over in the middle of the pitch and O’Driscoll puts another intelligent low kick in behind the home team. Dickson scrambles the ball clear with a desperate kick, but Leinster are back on the attack inside Saints’ 22…

THAT IS MAGIC!!! TRY FOR LEINSTER!

8 minutes – Genius from O’Driscoll, absolute genius! He’s done it again, with a magnificent pass between his legs! This time it sets up a try for Fitzgerald though. That is just sublime skill from the centre. Wow. Leinster are playing excellently here, blowing the Saints off the ball at the ruck area. Madigan missed the conversion, but this is a fantastic start.

Northampton 0-12 Leinster

11 minutes – The Saints are doing the best to get into this game and go on their first real attack, but Leinster produce an technically superb choke tackle to turn them over. Chants of “Leinster, Leinster” ring out around Franklin’s Gardens and at the moment this sounds like a home game for Matt O’Connor’s men.

15 minutes – Leinster get another chance to create something inside the Saints 22, but this time O’Driscoll’s lovely flick pass inside goes to ground. The Ireland centre is looking very, very sprightly. Penalty to Northampton for accidental offside and they kick down into the Leinster half. Waller makes a decent break, but then his pass is knocked on.

Here’s a shot of Luke Fitzgerald crossing for one of his early tries. Great to see the wing in good form.

©INPHO/Billy Stickland

19 minutes – Northampton are finally growing into this game. Clever play from Dickson there as he quick-taps a penalty and charges straight into Rob Kearney to win a few more metres. Myler has kicked it into the left-hand corner and Hartley throws to Lawes…

21 minutes – But there’s a superb, trademark turnover by O’Driscoll. Excellent technique and good power. That allows Kearney to boot the ball clear. We haven’t seen BOD looking this sharp for some time. He is so fresh and so clearly hungry. Exorcising the demons of that loss to the All Blacks, like many on the pitch you would have to imagine.

23 minutes – Phenomenal levels of aggression from Leinster so far, particularly at the breakdown. O’Connor’s men are simply winning every collision at the moment. Northampton are clearly second best at Franklin’s Gardens. A powerful surge from Sean Cronin leads to the Saints coming in from the side of a ruck and it’s a penalty to Leinster. Madigan is lining up a place kick to the right of the posts, about 30 metres out.

25 minutes – Oh, that’s a really poor connection from Madigan and he drags his kick well wide to the left. Didn’t strike that cleanly at all, and there was something of a soccer curl away to the left. Regardless, Leinster are back in possession after the 22 drop-out…

TRY FOR LEINSTER!! HEASLIP THIS TIME!

27 minutes – Brilliant rugby again. Toner’s offload to O’Brien gets them over the gainline and when the ball is shifted wide to the right, Rob Kearney beats George North and draws in Pisi. The fullback’s pass allows Heaslip to stroll over untouched. This is excellent, excellent rugby by Leinster. Madigan converts.

Northampton 0-19 Leinster

30 minutes – Half an hour in and Jim Mallinder’s men are on the attack. They badly need a score of any kind to get themselves a foothold in this game. It’s been all about Leinster doing the simple things with power and aggression so far. Powerful ball carrying, clinical rucking and intelligent draw and pass.

33 minutes – Sean O’Brien is heading off the pitch with what looks like a bloody, and quite probably broken, nose. Shane Jennings is on, but let’s hope the Tullow Tank gets back on the pitch. He’s been impressive so far in getting Leinster over the gain-line.

The Saints are awarded a kickable penalty, but Dylan Hartley opts to go for touch…

34 minutes – But Leinster’s current excellent is extending to their defence. They let the Saints play across the pitch and then back again, before shunting Luther Borrell into touch. The big centre looks unhappy with Eoin Reddan’s attempt to retrieve the ball and shoves the scrum-half, but it’s nothing major. Leinster clear out of their 22 with the next action.

36 minutes – Leinster win another turnover with the choke tackle, then are awarded a free kick at the scrum. Madigan launches a huge garryowen and Rob Kearney wins it back in the air over Pisi, who’s enduring a nightmarish first half. Reddan snipes through and TRY FOR LEINSTER!!

37 minutes - That’s the bonus point try for Leinster already! This is pure and utter dominance. The bomb from Madigan was excellent, Kearney was supreme in the air and then the phases leading up to Reddan’s break were lightning fast and accurate. Northampton’s defence is in absolute tatters now. Madigan converts against.

Northampton 0-26 Leinster

39 minutes – Ooops, there’s what seems to be the first Leinster error as Reddan knocks on. The scrum-half did superbly to step Pisi for his score after sniping through where the Saints’ pillar should have been on the right of the ruck. What is Mallinder going to say to his team at the break? They have been comprehensively dismantled up to this point. They have a penalty here with the final play of the half…

HALF TIME – Northampton 0-26 Leinster

There’s nothing in that final attack for the home side and Owens has blown for the interval. Magnificent and dominant first 40 minutes by Matt O’Connor’s team. They have attacked, rucked, passed, tackled and set piece-ed better than the Saints so far, convincingly.

Here’s a shot of Heaslip intelligently attempting to give Madigan an easier conversion when he crossed to score in the 26th minute. What an incredible first half display by Leinster.

©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Our reader Paul Quigley thinks this performance by the Saints explains why they are boycotting the Heineken Cup next season. They are being totally outclassed so far on their home patch.

Now I realise why the English wanna drop out of the Heino … they just cant compete with the Irish ! ;)

How do you see the second half going? Can the Saints battle back into this one? Mallinder’s men have been poor so far. For all the Leinster brilliance, the home side’s defence has been standing off and they have been battered at the ruck area. Will the likes of Hartley, Lawes and Wood be able to inspire some sort of a comeback?

Our favourite moment of the half was easily that sublime Brian O’Driscoll pass between the legs in the build-up to Luke Fitzgerald’s second try. The 34-year-old has been brilliant for Leinster so far. Back in the Sky Sports studio, even Warren Gatland is lavishing praise on him. Fully deserved.

Good point from the lads at Whiff of Cordite. Reddan’s passing has been a key part in the sheer pace of the phase play Leinster are throwing at Northampton. Nice try as well; he is looking sharp. Just like every other Leinster player.

41 minutes – Play is back underway at Franklin’s Gardens and the Saints have brought on Christian Day in the second row. They need a boost somewhere, so Mallinder will hope it’s Day’s day.

44 minutes – Shane Jennings has been confirmed as a permanent replacement for O’Brien. That’s a shame, but Jennings certainly has plenty to offer as the Saints fight to get back into this game. There is more of a calmness to the home team’s approach in the early exchanges in the second half, but suddenly Cronin breaks from deep!!

46 minutes – Owens has gone to his TMO to check on Cronin’s pass inside to Luke Fitzgerald, who had crossed the line to touch down. That’s a short decision though and the pass is ruled forward. Magnificent break from the hooker though, as he steps his man and makes a scintillating outside break. Pity about the pass, should have been a try.

Brian O’Driscoll has received the Twitter seal of approval from none other than James O’Conner.

49 minutes – Ken Pisi has his first positive involvement in the game, tackling Rob Kearney and winning a penalty when the Leinster man fails to release. After a line-out in the corner, the Saints attempt to build a score, but after five or six phases, Burrell knocks on a shocking pass from Dowson. Scrum to Leinster and Fitzgerald bangs the ball clear down the left…

52 minutes – ‘Molly Malone’ is ringing out around Franklin’s Gardens now. Leinster still on top here, with their scrum starting to look even stronger. Credit to Gordon D’Arcy in the centre too, he is carrying strongly and providing an excellent platform for his side in midfield. The Saints play our of their own half though, with North breaking up the left…

54 minutes – More superb defence from Leinster though. The Saints had built through several phases of front foot ball and Hartley has burst through a couple of tackles. However, Rhys Ruddock was in like a flash over the ball to make a steal and run the ball clear. Samu Manoa has been penalised for a high tackle on Kearney and Leinster kick to touch.

Zane Kirchner is on for Dave Kearney on the right wing.

57 minutes – OH SO CLOSE TO A SUPERB TRY! Madigan’s gorgeous pass invites O’Driscoll to make a clean line-break and then the centre finds Fitzgerald inside. The wing carries on then offloads to Reddan, but the scrum-half just can’t hold it and knocks-on over the try-line. Missed chance but wonderful play against from Leinster.

58 minutes - Sean Cronin is off, as is Mike Ross. On come Aaron Dundon and Martin Moore.

Rhys Ruddock [below] is having what is probably his best performance for Leinster this evening. He is using his power to dominate the Northampton back row at the breakdown and with ball in hand. Exciting and promising stuff from a guy who has buckets of potential.

©INPHO/Billy Stickland

61 minutes – Leinster are still winning the vast majority of collisions here. It’s so simple, and yet so hard to do. Matt O’Connor’s men are running into contact with speed, shifting the defenders with a bit of footwork then blasting any Saints out of the breakdown area. A joy to watch, even if the tries have stopped coming.

Leo Cullen strolls on to keep the standards high, with Mike McCarthy off.

64 minutes – TRY FOR LEINSTER!

64 minutes – Northampton attempt to play out of their own half again, but they’re lacking in the accuracy Leinster have brought. In the end, it’s an intercept for Brian O’Driscoll and the centre canters away to score a deserved try. Madigan pops over the easy conversion.

65 minutes – A few signs that there is a bit of pride left in this for the Saints. Dickson makes a sniping break and then Manoa absolutely steamrolls over O’Driscoll. Ruddock concedes the penalty and the Saints have kicked to the right-hand corner…

TRY FOR NORTHAMPTON!

67 minutes – Michael Bent is yellow carded for a cynical foul close to the Leinster try-line, and then Dickson take a quick-tap to get his side going again. The scrum-half then finishes smartly a phase later as he dives in low from close-range to touch down. Myler converts from under the posts.

Northampton 7-33 Leinster

TRY FOR LEINSTER! Luke Fitzgerald gets his hattrick!

70 minutes – Reddan and Madigan dictating play sharply with their crisp passing game. D’Arcy makes a half-break down the left and pops up to the supporting Kirchner. When the South African is dragged down just short, Fitzgerald is on hand to take the offload and dive over under the sticks. Madigan converts once again.

Northampton 7-40 Leinster

Jamie Heaslip gives O’Driscoll a pat on the head after his intercept try in the 62nd minute. The centre has been absolutely majestic this evening. The 34-year-old has just been named man of the match. Reeled back the years wonderfully and he’s just been replaced by Jimmy Gopperth.

©INPHO/Billy Stickland

76 minutes – We’re into the closing minutes of this game. Leinster continue to bully the Saints in contact, with Leo Cullen enjoying getting stuck in with his usual lack of concern for anybody’s safety. The Saints continue to find consolation scores, with George North looking for the ball. Leinster just keep on tackling though…

78 minutes - There’s another fantastic steal by Jamie Heaslip at the breakdown. The No. 8 has picked up where he left off against the All Blacks. So many of these Leinster players are in excellent form. Michael Bent is back on the pitch for the last few minutes. Scrum Leinster here inside the Saints’ 22 and a final attacking platform…

80 minutes - The scrum is turned over and North attempts to burst clear up  the left-hand touch-line. However, Leinster cover back and win the lineout when the Welshman steps into touch. The game has really broken up and we’re into the last play according to Owens, with the Saints on the attack.

FULL TIME – Northampton 7-40 Leinster

Well that’s it. Leinster have absolutely wiped the floor with Jim Mallinder’s side. That’s as comprehensive a win as you will see in the Heineken Cup. Matt O’Connor’s men were simply sublime. It’s genuinely hard to pick out the best performers as almost everyone was superb.

That was as enjoyable a match as we’ve seen involving the Irish provinces in some time. We’ll have reaction and analysis from this game , as well as the rest of the Heineken Cup action today on the site in the coming hours. Leinster move to the top of Pool 1 on 13 points after this magnificent win in Northampton. Thanks for joining us.