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Ireland playmaker limps off field as Leinster dismiss Connacht
By PA
Leinster made it back-to-back interprovincial wins as the United Rugby Championship leaders overcame Connacht 33-12 at Dexcom Stadium.
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Like last week at Croke Park, Leo Cullen’s men impressed early on to lead 21-5 at half-time thanks to tries from Jamie Osborne, Liam Turner and RG Snyman.
Ciaran Frawley hobbled off with a leg injury to raise concerns ahead of Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series, but his club team-mates coasted home with further scores from Max Deegan and Osborne’s younger brother Andrew.
Individual errors made it a night to forget for Connacht, who crossed the whitewash through Sean O’Brien and replacement Cathal Forde.
Ireland international Jamie Osborne was in the thick of the visitors’ early attacks, popping up to score from an inviting Jamison Gibson-Park pass. Frawley converted with six minutes on the clock.
Player-of-the-match Snyman’s offloading skills, and a final pass from Hugo Keenan, saw Turner cross from the right wing. Replacement Ross Byrne added the extras, taking over from the injured Frawley.
Leinster captain James Ryan had a try ruled out for accidental offside, before Connacht edged their way downfield despite some small kicking gains into a tricky wind.
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Connacht stalwart Denis Buckley put O’Brien over in the 33rd minute, yet Leinster added a third try before the interval as Snyman picked up a loose ball to score.
Deegan powered over five minutes after the restart, as the flanker turned Byrne’s low bouncing pass into a five-pointer. Andrew Osborne was denied a subsequent score by a thunderous tackle from Bundee Aki.
The emerging Ireland player recovered to close out the scoring in the 65th minute, plucking down a Byrne restart and spinning through to score.
Osborne’s effort came just after Forde had exploited some space through the middle to take his side into double figures.
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Snyman was man of the match and seems to be smiling all the time since he moved to Leinster. I believe the wife works in Dublin so a good family move and they are enjoying the change.
With International selection on Wednesday Aki got stuck into his rival Jamie Osborne although Osborne had a great game. Aki whacked Andrew Osborne too, and also Snyman early in the game.
Connaught's scrumhalf Murphy has burst onto the scene but playing into a Gale in the first half he simply didn't have the ammo. A couple of box kicks almost being blown about behind him. Caolan Blade would have been the better choice there as experience was needed.
Frawley a doubt for the Bulls match this Friday and failing that may also be a doubt for NZ in 3 weeks.