Leinster get revenge at the Sportsground as international stars ease past ConnachtAfter the shadow side were pummelled here last April, the champions paid Connacht the ultimate compliment by putting out one of the strongest sides that have ever crossed the Shannon. Connacht huffed and puffed all day, tackled with gritty honesty, but were incapable of piercing an often impenetrable blue wall, within which Josh van der Flier, enjoying another industrious 80 minute shift, stood tall. Leinster still tried to play, but to no avail; Luke McGrath knocking on after a decent break by the lively Jack Conan, before Dave Heffernan smashed the menacing van der Flier. Leinster remained hesitant; Sexton distrusted his boot from long-range but the gambit of playing from touch didn't bring profit either. His stamping offence was insipid enough; that he chose to unleash his errant boot on the glaringly bright red helmet of Josh van der Flier an exercise in rank inanity.

Source: Irish Independent September 29, 2018 18:11 UTC