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AS IT HAPPENED

AS IT HAPPENED: Leinster -v- Ulster

Leinster just had too much for a tired Ulster side in the end. Entertaining fare for 60 minutes, though…

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Full-Time: Leinster 42-13 UIster

Not many people are giving Ulster – with three 18-year-olds in their matchday squad – even the slightest hope of upsetting this brilliant Leinster side. The Heineken Cup champions have their big guns out and we’re braced for some fine attacking rugby…

The teams at the RDS:

Leinster: L Fitzgerald; D Kearney, F McFadden, G D’Arcy, F Carr; I Madigan, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; D Browne, D Toner; K McLaughlin, S Jennings, L Auva’a.
Replacements: R Strauss, J McGrath, J Hagan, S Sykes, R Ruddock, I Boss, E O’Malley, A Conway.

Ulster: P Nelson; C Cochrane, M Allen, C Farrell, S Danielli; J McKinney, P Marshall; C Black, N Brady, A Macklin, T Barker, L Stevenson, N McComb, A Birch, R Diack.
Replacements: N Annett, J Cronin, T Court, J Simpson, C Joyce, I Porter, S Olding, C Gaston.

Who are the Ulster newbies? The centre-pairing of Chris Farrell and Michael Allen are both among the first-timers, with Peter Nelson popping his cherry at full back.

James McKinney makes his first start alongside Paul Marshall in the half-back line, while Phoenix Academy winger Chris Cochrane is on the wing.

Callum Black will debut at loosehead prop and Ali Birch plays at openside flanker.

And off we go…

Leinster 0-0 Ulster: The wind is very strong and favouring Leinster in this first half. A low-key start to the game…

Leinster 0-0 Ulster: On just his second Pro12 start, James McKinney drags his kick wide. Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney break but Marshall covers well for UIster. Good start by the minnows.

Leinster 0-0 Ulster: RTE are apologising for sound problems. It seems they don’t like the sound of Ryle Nugent’s voice either.

Leinster 0-0 Ulster: Great strength from Sean Cronin as Leinster drive for the Ulster line. 14 minutes gone and still no score, but Leinster are starting to turn the screw.

Leinster 0-0 Ulster: Peter Fitzgibbon adjudges that Ulster managed to prevent Cian Healy from grounding the ball. From the subsequent scrum Auva’a goes over but the TMO seems to show that Ulster held the ball up. Great play by Peter Nelson. No try.

Leinster 7-0 Ulster: “They knocked on the door so many times, eventually it had to open.” Fionn Carr gets the first try of the game, holding on to Ian Madigan’s pass expertly, before Fergus McFadden strikes the conversion beautifully.

Leinster 14-0 Ulster: It’s a second try for Leinster. Fergus McFadden shows great awareness to set Fitzgerald through. His rampaging run totally flummoxes the Ulster defence and the ball ends up with Cronin, and grounded. Another great conversion from McFadden.

Leinster 14-3 Ulster: James McKinney takes the scrum cap off and strikes the ball well. Ulster have their first points of the evening.

Leinster 14-3 Ulster: “Marshall feeds, literally, the Ulster second row.” No he, literally, didn’t.

Leinster 14-6 Ulster: Ulster are finding a soft centre in the Leinster defence. McKinney has another chance to shoot at goal after Leinster interfere with the release. He makes it an eight-point game.

Leinster 21-6 Ulster: Leo Auva’a takes advantage of some awful defending from Robbie Diack and the home side will g0 into the break with a 15-point lead at half-time. We’ll be back for the second half.

Leinster 21-6 Ulster: We’re back… Fionn Carr goes down and needs treatment, but Peter Fitzgibbon realises it early and the Leinster player is fine.

Leinster 21-6 Ulster: Shane Jennings and the referee discuss Mike Ross’ binding. The experienced Ross faces a yellow card if he keeps offending.

Leinster 21-13 Ulster: A massive boost for Ulster and great try from Chris Cochrane, who takes a magnificent hand-off from McKinney to barge his way through. A great line from the youngster. McKinney converts.

Leinster 21-13 Ulster: Signs that Ulster can grab something here, as Michael Allen shows some great hands before just missing out on handing over to Nelson. Nobody saw this coming from Ulster.

Leinster 21-13 Ulster: Leinster’s best play of the second half results in a penalty, and Shane Jennings – realising points are at a premium – beckons McFadden forward. We’re coming up to the hour mark. McFadden’s kick is… utterly abysmal! It had no height at all and hit the post. Very strange. The score stays the same.

Leinster 21-13 Ulster: Sean Cronin is replaced by Richardt Strauss – it seems the former Connacht man has a neck injury.

Leinster 28-13 Ulster: Surely that will be it – a penalty try is awarded to Leinster after Ulster collapse the scrum. Twelve minutes remain.

Leinster 35-13 Ulster: Conway drives for the UIster line and, seeing his path blocked, offloads to Madigan. Simple rugby. Fine control. Madigan’s try scoring spree continues.

Leinster 42-13 Ulster: Ulster’s inexperienced defence have completely collapsed, and it’s no surprise when replacement forward Jamie Hagan drives over.

Leinster 42-13 Ulster: Leo Auva’a is named as man of the match. Time is up at the RDS, after they were initially tested by a youthful Ulster, Leinster were just too strong. That’s it from us…