Leinster v Connacht LIVE score updates from the URC clash

Connacht take on Leinster in a thrilling United Rugby Championship clash at the Aviva Stadium this evening.

Two Irish provinces, steeped in rivalry and history, collide under the Friday night lights in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.

The game begins at 5.30pm this evening in Dublin and can be watched on RTÉ Two.

Leinster, the perennial powerhouses of Irish rugby, come into this game as the team to beat, boasting a perfect start to their URC campaign.

With a roster stacked with international talent and a home crowd advantage, they’ll be looking to maintain their dominant form and reinforce their title credentials.

Connacht sit ninth in the league table winning just three of their seven games but have the potential to cause an upset and hand Leinster a first defeat of the year.

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17:08Fionn NolanAlmost time!

Derek Foley share his thoughts ahead of this evening's game: I haven't been more excited about an inter-pro for a long time and it's easy to feel the mood among the supporters here and here abouts.

Thought 'The 55' looked particularly inviting along the way. But I also got a text from my Terenure RFC spy who tells me Ballsbridge looks particularly green-bedecked. There is a considerable Western presence, as the guards might say, in the vicinity.

Connacht don't often come mob-handed to these surrounds - with the exception, I suppose, of Dano Heaslip and Eric Elwood's famous 2003 march and besieging of the capital to demand the IRFU stand down their plans to defund and disband the club.

But given the side Pete Wilkins has slated to start, he has all hands on the deck and in thinking Leo Cullen would rotate heavility, the shrewd Connacht coach was hoping the pragmatic Leinster would go a player or two too far.

Cullen was open enough when I suggested to him on Friday that Connacht were coming after them - 'They all are, and all the time' he replied dryly.

Certainly Wilkins firing Ireland stars Bundee Aki, Matt Hansen and Finlay Bealham in to start along with having imports Josh Ioane, Piers O'Connor and Shane Hurley-Langtonthere too is aligning their stars.

Of the 'locals', if centre Cathal Forde holds up his season's form it should be a Six Nations squad pointer; scrum-half Ben Murphy, posting himself as one to watch in recent weeks, gets his test; while Dave Heffernan should be still mulling over not being capped in November.

Then there is the unbelievably under-rated Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast and Paul Boyle and I've mentioned a dozen players without tripping...

Cullen's defence is light when looked at in one way, he dropped out 10 of his starters against Clermot - they are not even in the match day squad.

Leo's gambit, almost a follow-the-money one, is equally fascinating.

Jimmy O'Brien, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath, Jack Conan and Gus McCarthy are the only Ireland/ex-Ireland players in the team and while I'll not insult intuitive try-scorer Scott Penny by calling him a novice, that still leaves six lightly-raced Leinster players.

Cullen expects his foreign imports to lead, galvanise and be the tonic for troops and it is hard to argue that France's Rabah Slimani, Springbok RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett are reasons to watch the game, alone.

Connacht are 5/1 outsiders.

ShareComments16:51Fionn NolanConnacht team

Your Connacht 23 heading up the M6 tomorrow Internationals back Josh Ioane returns 6/2 splitRead more https://t.co/LKZYn1xnoM #OneConnacht pic.twitter.com/mQ0kdKHi3C

— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 20, 2024 ShareComments16:41Fionn NolanLeinster team

Looking for the perfect Saturday night plans? Join us at Aviva Stadium for our Interpro Christmas Cracker as we take on Connacht this evening. | Get your tickets here: https://t.co/bnr4wDUbcH #LEIvCON #NeverLessThanEverything pic.twitter.com/RaDWYDdK5d

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 21, 2024 ShareComments16:38Fionn NolanWelcome!

Hello and welcome to live updates of Leinster v Connacht at the Aviva Stadium. We'll have team news up next as well as score updates.

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