Ulster v Leinster Ulster Rugby Live

For 142 years, Ulster and Leinster

have been going head-to-head. Its

Irish rugby's oldest rivalry, and

one of the most eagerly anticipated

games of the season. And it's an

absolute sell-out in Belfast tonight

for this derby game, which through

the years has rarely disappointed.

Gibson outside of him. Great burst

by Gibson. Classic try.

Nice

sidestep from Topping. Stunning

piece of finishing.

Taken on by

O'Driscoll. All the way to the line

surely for Brian O'Driscoll. He has

come inside to get the touchdown.

Sean O'Brien skates in and has

devastated Ulster.

Muller looking

for his first Ulster try.

Pienaar

with a crossfield kick. Well

gathered. Trimble! Magnificent from

Ulster.

Good ball from Ulster. Taken

by Henderson, straight through. What

a try by Henderson.

A try in his

last game! Would you believe it.

Roger Wilson!

Some of the big names and the big

games between these two sides.

Welcome to the Kingspan Stadium for

a Halloween instalment of Ulster

Rugby live. Andy Ward and Ryan

Constable with us for what we are

expecting to be a pretty full on and

physical interprovincial. The

overall context of the season, how

important do you think the game is

tonight?

These games are massive.

Look at how the conferences are set

up, don't finish third. You have to

go away three times to win a title

that way. These are the games in

your conference where you finish in

that pecking order. When you are at

home you need to get the result. --

that decide where you finish.

Between these two sides, 16 players

have been named in the Ireland for

the autumn internationals. With that

in mind, how does that change the

bearing of the game?

It doesn't

change the bearings so much, but it

shows the quality on show between

these sides. These guys have been

vying for those playing jerseys with

the Irish team. It's all are nothing

now. It will not happen in training

sessions. On big Derby nights like

tonight they have the per got their

Stockdale, it's a big night for him

tonight.

Plenty Pro 14 action this

weekend already. Any other Irish

Derby last night, a big for

weekend already. Any other Irish

Derby last night, a big for,

Connacht. Simon Zebo getting the

opening try. Tries by O'Halloran

Andy Farrell secured the victory for

the home side. Munster down to 14

men when Connacht scored the winning

try.

Glasgow are now top in conference A.

And in conference B Scarlets

currently top. Ulster making six

changes to their starting line-up

tonight. How much will the battle at

half-back dictate with no Jonathan

Sexton for Leinster, and Ulster down

to their fourth choice scrum-half

with Aaron Cairns.

The half-backs

determine how you implement your

game plan. Aaron Cairns has been

very impressive for the ravens and

gets his opportunity tonight. A very

impressive player who will snipe

around the edges. He has played

Irish sevens and he is physically up

for it. With Leinster, Ross Byrne is

a young man but has a lot of

experience in games like this.

That's the key area for me.

Both

teams had differing performances in

Europe. Leinster are impressive but

Ulster beaten by La Rochelle last

week. Were Ulster as ordinary as the

French made them appear and do you

expect them to bounce back tonight

dressed in blue I think there has to

be a bounce back, certainly.

The

first 30 minutes last week, Ulster

were impressive but La Rochelle are

impressive. These Ulster players are

stepping up when the heat is on.

Vito had a fantastic match. Ulster

looked out on their feet. We can't

take too much away from that. We

have to knuckle down. That was last

week, and this is all about this

week. A massive challenge for

Ulster.

Rory Best will make his

first start for Ulster this season.

It's a special night because it is

his 200th appearance.

It is very

special. It's hard to know until you

have dusted it all off, but it's

probably something that when you sit

back and see how many people get

there, it's very special. To get the

first cap and then see how the

numbers go up, when I got past 150,

it's something I would really like

to do. To be here now, it's hard to

believe. Achieving any milestones in

an Ulster jersey is very special. I

have to be very proud of it.

Rory

David Best, what a player.

He's in

the middle for Ulster. Testa to the

line with the try.

-- Best to the

line. You don't get a lot of time to

reflect on it. I will try to take a

bit of time to reflect where I come

out in front of the Kingspan fans. I

suppose try to take a little bit of

it in. I will have played 200 times

for the province that means so much

to me, that's very special. I'm very

proud of it and I know my family and

friends are very proud as well.

He

is the club captain, but not the

captain tonight. Were you surprised?

A player of that experience and what

he offers, I am surprised. All these

milestones he achieved, but his

passion for playing for Ulster has

never diminished, and neither has

his ambition. He wants to win

things. On days like this, players

like that stand-up.

We can speak to

the Ulster director of rugby.

A

special night for Rory Best, but

Iain Henderson retains the

captaincy. What's your thinking?

When Henderson came back a couple of

weeks ago, we left Chris captain for

an extra game. We let the returning

player get his feet on the ground

and feel his way. We try to broaden

the leadership group that way and it

works.

Big night for Aaron Cairns

starting at scrum-half. Our

well-equipped is he to cope?

He's a

handy little player. He's physical

will stop if you give him a bit of

space he will take it. It's exciting

for him. It's nice to have that many

of your number nine is out, -- not

nice. But I'm sure he will cope

well.

The Leinster pack is fully

loaded this evening.

Very much so

for stop British and Irish Lions

splattered through it. Devin Toner

is a fantastic target. But Sean

O'Brien will be the catalyst for the

team. He is a brute. Good to see him

getting back to crackling form for

the Lions. The front row for

Leinster tonight are very powerful.

Ulster have their work cut out. It's

always won and lost upfront for me.

Spoken like a true forward! But more

so tonight than any other night.

It's going to be physical. You have

to fight fire with fire on these big

occasions and hopefully Ulster can

stand up and put out the fires.

Began here from the Leinster coach

Leo Cullen.

The guys are in good

form. The last couple of weeks have

been huge. Tonight is huge as well.

It's looking back to Pro 14 action

now and it's very different. Coming

away to Ulster, it's a tough place

to play. Different environment for

the players and it will be a great

experience for them.

Absolutely full

house tonight. Yes, Leinster coming

in in better form, but home support

counts for a lot. Sometimes the form

book can go out of the window in

games like this. We saw at La

Rochelle last week, the home crowd.

This will be vociferous tonight.

They will want their team to win.

Can they handle the physicality in

the set piece and dominate

collisions in the breakdown. It's a

serious Leinster back row and that

determines whether they get a

purchase in this game.

Do Ulster

have what it takes upfront to

control this game, Andy? It's an

area that has let them down at times

this season 's.

They need a bit of

continuity. It's a perfect night for

Rory Best to get back into the

groove. His leadership and captaincy

will help to settle things down.

Make no mistake they will be under a

lot of pressure tonight. But we are

in a top competition, European

rugby. This is an old-fashioned

interprovincial, and these go back

for a long time. A lot of past

players will be sitting at home

loving this.

The last eight meetings

between these sides have been won by

the home side. Leinster know those

kind of records are there to be

toppled.

In the last three games

they have beaten Munster, Montpelier

and Glasgow so they come here

expecting to win. Don't

underestimate an Ulster team at home

in the evening with the crowd behind

them. They know what is at stake. It

be exciting to see they deliver.

Blue it's going to be a massive

night.

Looking through the changing

room, it seems very calm and

composed. Big Rodney Ah You has a

big night ahead of him. He has to

put a bit and against world-class

opposition in Callum Black. Man for

man, they all have their individual

goals tonight. I know for a fact

they want to wake up tomorrow

morning, as individuals, saying they

gave their 110%.

For us as fans and

supporters, that's all we want. We

can see Rory giving some chat to the

changing room. He might not be the

captain, but he is the captain in

that room.

It's obvious to see his

influence before this game tonight,

trying to galvanise this Ulster

team.

You can't just have one leader

and look up to them and expect them

to deliver everything. You have to

have them across the park, leaders

in your forward pack, the backline

and defensive leaders. Everybody

needs to be a leader in the big

games. It's up to the individual to

deliver individually first.

The

build-up is over. Time for the

action. There is a real buzz in

Belfast tonight. We can join the

commentary team, Tony McWhirter and

first Jim Neilly. COMMENTATOR:

Whether he plays six, seven or

eight, he's a presence. He comes

back in, as does fellow Lion Jack

McGrath R. Behind the scrum, the

Byrne boys are back, no relation.

It's a formidable looking Leinster

side. They have made no fewer than

12 changes and two positional

switches. They are out nice and

early because they know what this

means to be Ulster crowd. The one

Ulster man in particular, and some

of these Leinster players know him

well from internationals and the

Lions tours. The first packed house

of the season at the Kingspan

Stadium with more than 18,000 souls

squeezed in for the latest chapter

in a saga that goes all the way back

141 years, 1876. Who would have

thought that when he made his Ulster

debut as a replacement off the bench

against Munster in 2004, that Rory

Best, accompanied by his children

this evening, would go on to win 104

caps for Ireland, make to Lions

tours, play in three World Cups, be

a member of a Grand Slam winning

squad and be here tonight winning

his 200th cap for the province that

he has served so magnificently in

the interim. It's a special night

for a very special player. Out come

the rest of the Ulster side.

Determined to put behind them a

rather disappointing performance a

week ago in La Rochelle while

opposition Leinster have come up

with two back-to-back bonus point

wins in Europe. Rory Best is back in

the middle of the front row with

Rodney Ah You starting. Henderson

moving to the second row and the

captaincy. A big night for young

Aaron Cairns, starting for Ulster

for the very first time. Jacob

Stockdale on one wing, Tommy Bowe on

the other, and the magical footed

man himself, Charles Piutau playing

yet again. A former Munster wing

three quarters a few years ago,

recorded as being the fastest

referee in the world, John Lacey.

Here we go. Scarlets in action later

this evening. Second-place Ulster,

third-place Leinster, and only one

single point separating them.

Charles Piutau with his first caps.

Lealiifano, struggling with his

first kick. Good to see Rob Kearney

back again. Charles Piutau takes the

past. Stockdale is given no room

whatsoever. Callum Black, he was

good in the scrum against La

Rochelle last week.

Stuart McCluskey, one of half a

dozen Ulster men named in the Irish

squad fully automated

internationals. -- Stuart McCloskey.

Stockdale puts his foot on the gas.

Very nearly gets away. He has good

support. Looked like Jean Deysel was

the man in the frame. Lively start.

Back inside to Luke Marshall. Nicely

done. A big chip for Tommy Bowe. He

has the gas but not the grass. Still

there for Ulster. -- but not the

grasp.

Henderson upright, across 22 metre

line. Well tackled by Murphy. Lively

stuff from Ulster. Piutau, he is

ferociously strong. Cairns, good

pass in front of the man who is

going to take it. Leinster's

defending is holding firm so far.

Stuart McCloskey. John Lacey has a

good luck and the penalty goes

against Ulster. What a good start

from the men in white, Tony.

Good

evening, everyone. It's kicking off

here. Nothing less than you would

expect. A battle between these

teams. John Lacey trying to get on

top of affairs. Impressive from

Ulster. A good start, especially off

the back of last week and that

second-half performance in La

Rochelle, which wasn't very pretty.

They started like this in the west

of France last week. Rory Best and

Sean O'Brien having a contretemps.

There is a Leinster man down

injured. I don't think there was any

real this behaviour.

There is

nothing there. Three of you got

involved and none of you were

involved in the ruck. Just stay

away. Off you go.

Two Lions

team-mates being told off like

naughty schoolboys. Doesn't do any

harm to let off some steam, no

malice there.

No harm whatsoever.

McCluskey carrying. Rory Best comes

in to try to clear but is unable to

do so. John Lacey gives the penalty.

-- McCloskey carrying.

Sean O'Brien,

somewhat averse to having his jersey

pulled. Imagine, a game like rugby

and you don't like having your

jersey pulled! Stockdale with his

foot on the gas, got away from his

opposite number, Adam Byrne,

initially.

Good start from Adam

Cairns initially. Beautiful angled

cup from Luke Marshall. Also using

the full width of the pitch. Last

week, they will want to keep the

ball in the field of play. Keep the

tempo high. Attack, that's the main

weapon Ulster have.

Could strike by

Ross Byrne. James Tracy, capped four

times for Ireland. In the all

international Leinster forward pack.

Well taken by Murphy, nicely lifted.

Devin Toner adding height and bulk.

Good work by the Leinster forwards.

James Tracy has the ball under his

arm. He has put that high up into

the night sky. What they take by

Tommy Bowe!

Clever kick from Stockdale. The

Leinster defence will have to turn.

Rob Kearney, a nasty little bounce.

Ulster have made a decent number of

metres.

Good from Stockdale, the

defence up in his face. Quite a

strong wind at the Ulster backs. If

they are kicking, they have to make

sure they don't kick dead. Excellent

from Tommy Bowe, the ball in the

air, ball in both hands and good

presentation to Aaron Cairns.

Stockdale named in the Irish squad

for the autumn internationals. Good

take from Rory Best. It was a bit

loopy. Cairns has done well. He is

very quick. Watched him a couple of

weeks ago scoring a fantastic try

down in Banbridge for the Ulster A

side against Scarlets. Tommy Bowe

got up in the air. It's a penalty.

It was knocked forward by a Leinster

hand. The Leinster support player

came in and touch the ball. Looking

down, it seems Leinster have got a

replacement on the field. It looks

like Jordan Lorna has come from

somewhere.

He's in an offside

position. Realistically he has to

let the ball bounce. Much easier

said than done whenever it is

sitting in front of you.

Noel Reid

is the man who has gone off for

Leinster, the scorer of the bonus

point try in Scotstoun last week.

And not many people do that.

Leinster have had some great games

in Europe.

They were superb last

week in Glasgow. Johnny Sexton not

playing this evening. One of 12

changes. But he was brilliant for

the 65 minutes that he played.

Glasgow are very difficult to beat

at home but Leinster controlled it

from start to finish.

I did speak to

one or two of them from the other

team, I'm not picking you out.

His

second year in the Leinster Academy,

just his fourth league game,.

Lealiifano, his eighth start of the

season for Leinster. What a very

good kick from Lealiifano. Ulster

leading 3-0. In terms of possession

and territory, they deserve to be.

Credit to Leinster as well. Their

defensive line is yet to be

breached. They look very

well-organised, as you would expect

from a team packed full of

internationals. Ulster will have to

work harder to open them up this

evening.

Knocked forward by Leinster

and the referee plays advantage.

Charles Piutau into contact.

Lealiifano at scrum-half. Sean

Reidy. Support from Callum Black.

Well taken by McCloskey. Piutau

across the ten metre line. The

attacking by the men in blue is

pretty useful again. And that has

gone awry.

I thought Aaron Cairns

would come under more of an

examination. Leinster happy to

tackle and then back off. I thought

there would be more counter rucking.

Guys coming through the middle and

messing up at the base. Trying to

make him go against the flow. Simple

ball to work with. He has been happy

to service Lealiifano. Not going to

the kicking zones yet. I'm surprised

Leinster have and try to put him

under more pressure.

First scrum of

the evening. Ulster, for the first

time in a long time, are £1 per man

heavier than Leinster. -- are one lb

per man heavier.

That was all over the place. It

could go anywhere. It has come back

to the Ulster side. The referee says

play on. Good take from Stockdale. A

buzz goes around the ground every

time he takes the ball.

Better pass from Cairns. Stockdale

again. Jordi Murphy all over the

place. Again, Sean Reidy. Has played

in every position in the back rows

so far this year. Jean Deysel. Huge

kick coming down outside the 22.

Good to see Rob Kearney back. Wild

tackle by the Ulster skipper Iain

Henderson. Here come the men in

blue. This could be dangerous for

Ulster. Great covering tackle by

Lilia Farnell. -- by Lealiifano.

Crossfield kick, reminiscent of last

year. Stockdale wrestles and wins

the ball. Terrific play from Jacob

Stockdale. Saving a certain try, but

they are not Out of the Woods yet.

What a start to this game. Jean

Deysel runs into Devin Toner. Aaron

Cairns told to use it. Piutau,

hasn't found touch. Another Leinster

player going off injured. I think

it's James Ryan. Rob Kearney happy

to take the tackle. Gibson-Park

picks it up. 15 or 16 months Furlong

had for Ireland and the Lions.

Ulster meeting fire with fire in the

middle of the park. The Leinster

skipper, Sean O'Brien, to Rob

Kearney. Leinster still attacking.

Jean Deysel holds him down. Luke

Marshall in the middle of all of

that. O'Brien scored two tries

against Ulster half a dozen years

ago in this fixture. A gap there, a

rather wide pass. Jordan Larmour,

he's a lively feller. Setting it up

for Leinster, who are hanging onto

the ball pretty well so far. No way

through for Furlong. Good tackling

by Ulster in their own half.

Leinster mixing it up and giving

away the penalty.

Its breathless. Fantastic rugby from

both sides. Jean Deysel on this

occasion was taken off the ball

illegally. McGrath carried, Jean

Deysel over the top. Might have been

slightly lucky there. It was on one

knee and it could have easily gone

against Ulster on that occasion.

Don't get up if he hits you.

Fantastic counterattacking by

Leinster down this nearside. Played

the numbers beautifully. The cover

tackle by Rory Best almost on the

Ulster line. The crossfield wiper.

Surely if you put it through the

hands, the number of phases Leinster

have made, it would be better to

work a more simple opening.

Ross Molony has come on for the

injured James Ryan. John Smit

watching.

Great cake by Ulster. -- great take.

Doing well, making ten metres.

Stockdale coming in like a flying

forward. Great stuff from Ulster.

Ayew looking for his first Ulster

tried -- Ah You looking.

Piutau, having a go himself. A good

tackle by the Leinster skipper, Sean

O'Brien. Ulster giving away the

penalty. The Hurd work done -- hard

work. Not releasing in the tackle, I

think.

Brilliant by Tracy.

Impressive from Ulster, we talked

about Leinster not sending men in

and on this occasion it is McCloskey

with the line break and then the

pick and go, Ulster flooding the

area and trying to work the

openside. Brilliant defence by

Leinster. Tracy, brilliant.

14

minutes:, Ulster are 40 minutes up

Leinster have made a couple of

changes, Jordan Larmour has come on

and Molony has come on for the

injured James Ryan. Well taken by

Devin Toner. Rory Best directing

operations. A good forward drive by

Leinster.

Gibson-Park. Stockdale winning it,

but did he not it backwards to the

Ulster side? He did, but back on the

Leinster side. O'Loughlin, who

ambushed them in the middle of last

season, scoring two tries in the

RBS. Scrappy but Leinster have won

it. High tackled by Jean Deysel. The

referee playing advantage for

Leinster.

The referee still playing advantage.

Reavie getting over the halfway

line. -- Leavy.

Help from Toner, looking to create

the overlap. Wonderful stuff from

Leinster, look at this. My word,

what a try that will be for the

replacement. What a finish, just

like Dublin. Jordan Lamour has done

it in Belfast.

He is rated very

highly. In the Irish under 20 team

for the last couple of seasons.

Showing Henderson a clean power

feels. Deysel is in trouble as well,

maybe guilty of the high shoulder

early on, coming off second -- a

clean pair of heels. Turning

Henderson inside out and blurring

the Ulster cover -- blowing the

Ulster cover.

He popped up on the

right wing. There is the finish but

there was much more to it. Did he

get it down correctly? They are

having a look, is that what they are

looking at?

I don't think there is

much wrong. Eight slip from Jamieson

Park.

Nothing McCloskey could have

done.

Beisel getting himself

injured. -- Beisel. He's going to

have to leave the pitch. Difficult

when somebody slips like that as

well.

He has had his injury worries,

Jean Deysel. Having another look at

this. John Lacey having a word with

the Ulster skipper. The grounding is

fine. They are looking at the high

tackled. Gibson-Park slipped into

McCloskey, so he was and where he

thought -- so he isn't where he

thought he would be. Strictly

speaking it is an offence.

Number 12

right.

12? Heaslip, so I played the

penalty advantage and the try is

awarded, we'll leave it at that --

Heath slipped.

That's good

refereeing from John Lacey. --

he

slipped.

The game has flowed, plenty

of end to end action. That finish

from Jordan Lamour, one for the

highlights reel.

The points have

been added by the Leinster

outside-half, Ross Byrne. Wonderful

step and buy one at home for Ulster.

Aaron Cairns isn't slow. By the time

he turned, Jordan Larmour was away.

His first try in competitive rugby

for Jordan Larmour.

Two hands on the

ball when the tackle came in, making

sure that it wasn't knocked. Very

professional.

They sell is sitting

down, I wonder if it is temporary --

Deysel is sitting down.

Again that is hanging. Well taken by

Piutau. Thought he was manhandled

but you're not allowed to touch him

at the King 's brand stadium. -- the

Kingspan Stadium. The referee

playing advantage for Leinster.

Going to be a scrum. Let's talk to

Ryan Constable.

Outstanding game, a

lot of width and tempo, Ulster

controlling early possession and

looking comfortable. Huge workrate

from Stockdale and Aaron Cairns,

looking composed in his first start

but you saw the danger that Leinster

possess in the wide channels,

especially from the turnover.

Excellent from Jordan Larmour, real

quality and enjoying the spectacle

so far.

Thank you, Ryan. Eight night

for Willie hats and the clubs will

do something funny at -- it is a

night for Willie hats and the clocks

do something funny at 2am. -- woolly

hats.

Free kick against Ulster for early

engagement, trying to get a bit of

an advantage. Ah You the man. The

referee has said that Leinster may

want to take the scrummage again.

Inviting Ah You onto him. Trying to

change his feet to keep the weight.

Wouldn't be surprised if McGrath let

his way to go back on the heels and

causing that slipped from Ayew. John

Lacey was very quick.

The dark arts

of the front row. John Lacey has

given it a bit blast of the whistle.

Rodney Ah You is devoid of his

facial hair, I hardly recognise him,

looks about 30 years old.

Jack

McGrath in this tackle. Maybe not

bending his knees very much on the

last scrum. Both of them went down,

John Lacey had a quiet word with him

that time. I don't think there will

be any messing here, it will be a

penalty rather than a free kick

against the offending team.

If all

give away another offence, having

conceded a free kick from the next

will be a penalty. Coming up to the

end of the first quarter. The try

from Jordan Larmour for Leinster.

Gibson-Park. He has brought it in

field very cleverly, very good kick.

Offside against Leinster from the

kick. A couple of the midfielders

ahead of Gibson-Park read he kicked

it.

John Lacey was looking to his

linesman as to where the offence

took place. Good work from the three

of them.

Lealiffano has given our

stay decent kick into Leinster

territory. 3-7. The last seven games

between them have gone with the home

team.

They are usually quite close.

You mentioned Jean Deysel earlier,

he's been replaced and perhaps that

looks permanent.

Scrappy line-out

for Ulster. The referee has spotted

a nudge forward. Going to be a lens

that scrum. Ulster don't need to be

doing that. -- Leinster scrum.

You

don't need that when Devin Toner is

in the opposition, 639, a lighthouse

of a man -- six feet nine. A

difficult man to get over.

Leo

Cullen isn't giving much away.

Winning the Heineken Cup three

times.

Ulster have dug in. Knocked forward.

That's a rare error between the

Leinster half-backs. A week ago it

was Luke McGrath and Jonny Sexton

who put in a masterclass against

Glasgow away from home.

Look at the

conditions, that's a good from

Leinster. The execution on this

occasion, the ball being knocked on.

You can see what they are trying to

do, a double missed pass. Looking

for the quick recycle. Didn't manage

to hold onto it. Quite a stiff wind,

it is a difficult option to kick,

for the midfield target. Trying to

soften up this Ulster defence.

Ulster butting into the scrum. Can

they defend it and allow Aron Canet

is to make the right decision in

terms of distribution? -- Aaron

Cairns. A good scrum by Ulster.

Reavie has gone to number eight.

That's gone backward -- Reidy has

gone to number eight. A lapse in

concentration. A bit of silliness

breaks out.

The second or third

little contretemps. More of the

shirt pulling. Nice to see a bit of

edge about it, it is a derby match.

Joe Schmidt is watching as well. No

questions and asked from both teams.

No lack of competitiveness in Galway

last night. Lealiffano, the pass was

a bit high. Slight miscue by Aaron

cans.

It is the timing issue between

nine and ten -- Cairns. He lasted

45, 50 minutes against La Rochelle

and by all accounts hasn't done much

training this week. A number nine

you probably haven't trained with

before, it is that small fraction of

a second that makes the difference.

Peter Nelson E, -- Peter Nelson, the

replacement. Gibson-Park, born in

Auckland. A New Zealand Maori as

well. Here they come again.

McCloskey did well to hang onto that

elusive Jordan Larmour.

Gibson-Park again. Sean O'Brien was

tackled by it Sean Reidy. Ross

Byrne. James Tracy, on the Irish

squad for the autumn internationals.

As is Ulster's replacement hooker,

on the bench tonight, Rob Herring.

Gibson-Park had a glance. Penalty

against Leinster. Hanging onto this

game at the moment.

They are,

Leinster looked composed. I like

that from Jamieson Park, he knows

that there are spaces, squaring up

against the opposite number, looking

to see anyone breaks off. That's

good play from Reidy as well.

A good

tackle by Callum Black. Lealiffano

has given that a huge kick and it

has gone into touch despite the

efforts

Byrne. Ulster getting the line-out.

Leinster will be really happy. 20

minutes into the first half, playing

into the wind, four ahead. Ulster

bossing the opening minutes but

Leinster have had all of the ball

and possession over the last ten.

That's not a good sign, Tadhg

Furlong having a rib tickle. Caught

on the high side, not illegally, I

have to say. Furlong isn't someone

that Ireland wants to lose. Robbie

Dayak, who got the 200 cap mark for

Ulster in week ago. -- Diack.

He

looks suitably concerned.

He was the

Leinster coach but when you move to

Ireland, your concern is Ireland, so

any of your top players having an

injury is concerning.

Everyone in

that squad is looking to play in the

Pro14 games next week. He could be

fit again before the Six Nations so

there is a small window opportunity

for the Irish coach.

McDonald has

had a good season for Ulster in

terms of his line-out winning.

Giving it everything, blew it out.

Lovely piece of sleight of hand from

Tommy Bowe. Lealiffano having a go

himself. Good defence from Leinster.

Still there for Ulster. This is

close. John Lacey is in the perfect

position. Has it been grounded? If

not it will be a five metre scrum. A

good piece of close quarter

attacking from Ulster as they've

done all season.

Ulster working it

from left to right. That's no look

pass. You could sense that Leinster

knew that it was coming. Five blue

shirts on top of them. Ulster

recycling well. Lealiffano cutting

inside. The second one, Cairns has a

go himself. That's good from the

youngster.

Good ambition but good

defending from the Leinster

outside-half, Ross Byrne.

Great from

Murphy early on, the phase of play

before that. Lealiffano taking the

ball and Murphy didn't take the

dummy and stayed in his channel and

made the tackle. All important.

The

crowd trying to get behind the men

in white. Daniel Leavy. Leinster

giving ground, around they come a

little bit. Sean Reidy, going for

the line, and Reidy has scored the

try for Ulster, his seventh.

A big

scrum from Ulster. Rory Best makes

such a difference. It is him and

Callum Black. The left-hand side of

the scrum, it is easy for Sean

Reidy. Leinster tacklers struggling

to get there. Obi he goes, five

points but that comes from Ulster

getting the angle around, shutting

out the Leinster back road -- over

he goes. Reidy taking on the

half-backs and over he goes.

He was

low to the ground and squeezed over.

It all came from a dominant run.

Ulster are back in the lead. Two

more points from Lealiffano. Ulster

are into double figures. Very close

in recent years between these two

teams and it will be like that this

evening. Nearly half an hour gone,

10-7, Ulster.

You see the advantage

of having two good scrum back and

rose. Henderson coming back gives a

bit more grand -- back rows.

Good

work by Iain Henderson and his Irish

colleague, Devin Toner. Leinster

losing the ball. Trying to put a bit

of zip into this and they've created

space out wide. What a tackle by

Rodney Ah You. Taken on by Dan

Leavy. Gibson-Park. He has ducked

under the title again and you can't

blame people for getting him on the

high side if he keeps doing that.

Leinster responding. Leinster get

the choice to level the game if they

take the penalty shot which they buy

will be well.

Callum Black on this

occasion -- which they probably

will. Up goes the arm. Heck of a

shot from Rodney Ah You. Rob Kenny

got up with a smile on his face. --

Rob Kearney. Difficult for him to

get away. This shot from Ah You.

I

felt that from up here, that was a

rib tickle.

Rob Kearney took it on

the chin, having a laugh to himself

as he went back to the sideline.

If

he'd taken it on the chin he might

not be getting up! Rodney Ah You,

who has three Irish caps. Hasn't

really featured in recent seasons.

This is a chance knell for Ross

Byrne, who already has a conversion

-- a chance now. He converted from

the great tries scored by Jordan

Larmour.

He's pushed it wide. Oh, he hasn't!

It came in and the last minute.

Well, well. I was certain it had

gone wide and suddenly he judged the

breeze perfectly. Look at that, it

just came in. Still going wide and

it just popped over. What a good

kick. 10-10.

You can see the

strength of the wind that Leinster

are playing into. Ulster have to use

it to their advantage in this half.

Well taken in by Adam Byrne. Another

huge hit by Rodney Ah You.

Gibson-Park inside the 22. That's

going into the arms of Piutau. He

hasn't quite got away. McCloskey, a

bulldozing run from the centre.

Marshall is helping. Diack, the

third Ulster player to 200 caps.

Nice presentation. O'Connor held up

by the very strong Sean O'Brien. Ah

You, did he not it forward? He has,

the referee is playing advantage.

Ulster can't expect Leinster to sit

back. That should be advantage over.

Luke Marshall, trying to keep the

ball in play. He hasn't been dragged

into touch, the referee playing game

on. Sean Reidy has put himself

about. Well taken by Leah --

Lealiffano.

Good work by Sean O'Brien there and

Leinster are going to put into the

scrum. Frantic pace.

John Lacey

couldn't play much an advantage

there. McCloskey knocking a few dies

over. It is like bolster have taken

whatever La Rochelle had -- that

Ulster has taken. You can feel some

of these hits from here, fantastic

stuff.

Into the last crucial period

where you feel a score is important,

just before the interval. On single

scores, games can turn.

Cairns is

going to have to watch himself here.

Two men on the near side. Defenders

to keep his eye on.

A good Ulster

scrum. The crowd not happy with

that. Gibson-Park thought about the

kick. Tadhg Furlong seems to be

fine.

Byrne looking for some width. That

was a good piece of acceleration by

Rob Kearney. Tommy Bowe and Rory

Best, one of three survivors from

the Grand Slam winning team of

Ireland in 2009. Good wrap-up tackle

bite Sean Reidy. -- by Sean Reidy.

That's gone forward. The referee

said that Ulster knocked the ball

back so that is Leinster possession,

unfortunate for Ulster. Cairns'

attempted tackle. No room for Sean

O'Brien to move. The pressure coming

from Leinster. Clever chip to the

far corner. It's been gathered well

by Adam Byrne. There wasn't much in

that. Jacob Stockdale, the head

bandage. Both of them on the Irish

squad. Could they be playing

together for Ireland?

It wouldn't

surprise you, both of them will see

gametime, potentially together. What

Leinster do well when they have the

ball, going through the phases, it

is the flat ball, the special

awareness of how teams defend

against them. Rob Kearney on the

previous occasion going outside

McCloskey but it is the ability to

find the space and communicate that

to the passers.

The tackle by

Lealiffano. This is Rory Best.

That's not so good. On the way food

goes Dan Leavy. Leinster have the

chance to get something. They need

the quick ball. Referee playing

advantage. It has gone wide, it

could be a second Leinster try.

Ulster must get their first tackles

in. That was Dave Kearney. The

referee may be playing advantage.

Tracy, the Leinster hooker. They

have bounced back every time Ulster

have done something. Ah You again

with the tackle. O'Brien had men

outside him. They still have the

overlap. The referee still playing

advantage Leinster as Henderson

tackles. Gibson-Park.

Brochures pressure on the Ulster

line and the referee has had quite

enough -- ferocious pressure. He is

bringing it back. If Leinster get it

they will be three points ahead.

It

started from a poor set piece from

the Ulster line-out. Leinster

showing good composure. Advantage

from John Lacey. Coming back from

the onside. Leinster on this

occasion probing and asking the

questions. Jamieson Park looks very

sharp. Perhaps slightly overthrown

as well.

Diack Bobby could have

wasted it a bit higher -- probably

could have wished it -- hoisted it.

About two and a half minutes to the

interval and Leinster are back in

the lead. 10-14.

Lealiffano was

going for the quick one, trying to

catch Leinster unawares.

Gathered in

by Leinster. David Coleman will be

happier than he was, scoring two

tries under pressure. Piutau getting

it away to Cairns, who is quick. No

room for him down the touchline.

Spoken highly of in the sevens

context.

This tackle with Cairns.

That was against Molony. Taking on

somebody not quite his own size.

The

Irish sevens team, Cairns is thought

of highly in terms of what he

brings. Generally the first name on

the team sheet. The genetics, very

good-looking, fast and strong,

hitting like a train, his team say.

Playing on the wing rather than a

scrum-half. He has acquitted himself

well this evening.

His half-back partner, Lealiifano,

he has a conversion and penalty. Has

given Ulster a decent bit of

territory. They have to get this

line-out right. All seven men in.

Double century tonight for Rory

Best.

That's not a good sign. Away by

Leinster. Perfect position for

Ulster. Taken very quickly by

Stockdale. I think he has whacked

that straight back into touch.

Leinster line-out after all that.

Ulster being less accurate than they

should be.

Goodbye Leinster. The

initial dummy by Alan O'Connor.

Going back to steps into the Lion's

then. -- the Lion's den. Leinster,

Devin Toner and Ross Molony, working

hard on the ground.

That's been

knocked forward, and there is time.

Ulster will get the scrum. Could be

the last set piece of the first

half. Ulster probably too far from

the Leinster line to do serious

damage but who knows.

Both centre

halves have struggled a little bit.

Not quite reaching their target with

the pass on a number of occasions.

Perhaps there is a bit of dew on the

ground and the ball. Both struggling

slightly.

The wind is swelling as

well.

Good to see the back row

forward back in as well. Healy.

Greg

Jones has joined the Academy.

Cairns loses his footing. Pick-up by

Henderson.

Taken on by Callum Black. Can he put

some width on this? Better stuff.

Tommy Bowe. Alan O'Connor. He's done

a good bit of grafting, the Ulster

second row. Ulster needed to keep

that in the hands. Not the cleverest

thing to do by Aaron Cairns at the

end of the first half. Ulster have

lost the chance to go in a level

terms. This is the man who set the

Kingspan Stadium, not quite on fire,

but certainly buzzing with an early

try. The Leinster replacement Jordan

Larmour. It's been a topsy-turvy old

game. I don't think either coach

will be too unhappy, particularly

Leo Cullen.

Both teams well matched.

Leinster three points ahead. Playing

into quite a strong wind in that

half, so they will be the happier of

the two teams. We always say it's

easier to move the ball into the

wind. Perhaps if Ulster can maintain

the ball that the pack are

producing, they will find it easier

to move the ball in the second half.

Fantastic 45 minutes.

Sean Reidy

going off for Jordan Larmour. The

difference between the sides is a

Ross Byrne penalty.

Rory Best's 200th appearance. It's

been feisty and fiery at times. Some

tricks of the trade from Jordan

Larmour. They try from him. Sean

Reidy levelled things and Leinster

go in narrowly in front. A three

point advantage. It's been a

cracking Irish Derby. Ryan Constable

and Andy Ward, one that has lived up

to expectation.

Hugely physical, we

have seen some niggle and some big

shots going in. We wondered if

Ulster could handle the physicality

but they have stepped up in that

department. Leinster going away from

home, into the wind, ahead, probably

the happier of the two teams.

It

hasn't been perfect at times. Some

handling errors and loose passes.

But for the majority of the half it

has been entertainment.

A very

enjoyable 40 minutes from anybody.

If you are neutral watching it will

be tremendous. Big shots going in.

And some easy line-outs have slipped

through. Other than that it has been

very tight. That's what to expect in

a derby.

Ulster will be disappointed

with their defence for that Leinster

score but it was a scorcher.

Times

you have to put your hand up and say

it's an outstanding finish. Ulster

had dominated to that point. Getting

a bit of space and overcommitment on

the outside. Pure finishing ability

and pace and sidestep to go all the

way.

That's a very unfortunate

situation, the slip. Shown too much

on the inside, he got ahead of him.

Aaron Cairns did very well to turn

and catch. Not far off. Almost got

there, but they composed finish.

They deserve that because they were

playing good rugby at that point.

Young Aaron Cairns making his first

Ulster start. What have you made of

his performance?

To make your debut

on a game like this with this

intensity, he has started

tremendously well. We have seen his

physical attributes. His passing

hasn't been flawless but we expect

that. He has acquitted himself

particularly well.

It's a big step

up to come from where Cairns has

played his rugby every week. He has

played some club rugby, and the gulf

between the professional and amateur

game is a big one. But he took his

chance very well. He saw the gap

here, I thought he was almost in.

The defence just picked him up. He

is offering a threat around the

side. Everything that is being asked

of him at this stage, that's what

you want from your scrum-half. They

were all drifting off. They can't

drift off now because they know

Cairns will have a pop. He's a

tenacious young man. He's had a good

half.

From this opportunity that

they couldn't quite convert, Ulster

got the score from Sean Reidy. After

a sustained amount of Leinster

pressure, it came at the right time

for Ulster.

The scrum was always

going to be a difficult contest but

they got the upper hand and it

created the platform. Ulster show

when they have continuity and keep

possession, they have the right

options and they can build pressure.

It has an excellent pick and go and

drive across the line.

Our set piece

tonight has been fantastic,

especially the scrum. We talked

about the start, the international

front row from Leinster, but our

boys have stood up with a really

good platform. It's messy there, but

Sean Reidy has had a good game, at

the forefront of a lot of the niggle

and everything good about Ulster.

He's had some hard work to do,

pumping his legs, but fantastic

finish.

You mentioned the set piece,

some loose line-outs from Ulster. I

use a prize the scrummage has been

so strong against a solid Leinster

pack?

I would be delighted to have

that platform upfront. If I could

tweak the line-out and get those

issues sorted, it gives them a

platform to create things. It's

clear where the Ulster strengths are

on the outside channels. We have

seen glimpses of those breaks.

Stockdale and Piutau at his elusive

best. It's about that contest

upfront and Ulster need to do what

they have continued to do.

We can go

down pitch side to join Gavin

Andrews.

Darren Cave is with us.

Doing some fitness. What have you

made of a pretty tight game?

Probably as expected. Two very good

teams going at it. 13-10, you

expected to be close. Some big hits

going in. Very physical and what

both teams would have been

expecting.

Young players on both

sides putting up their hands on the

biggest stage.

From an Ulster points

of view it's great to see Cairns get

his first start on the competitive

stage. What a night to do it,

sold-out Kingspan against a very

strong side. Let's hope it

continues.

A big ask for a guy to

come in to make his first start in

this environment.

You have to start

somewhere. He has trained with the

group for a couple of years and has

played well in a few of the A games

and friendlies. It comes as no

surprise for our boys who have seen

him in training that he has done

well tonight.

What has gone well for

Ulster and what will the dressing

rooms be saying?

Both teams in a

similar position. Neither team has

played their hand. It feels like not

a lot has happened, a lot of errors,

but both teams in the game. From our

point of view we will be

disappointed we haven't been more

accurate, but we have only three

points behind. At the same time, if

we can be more accurate and put them

under pressure in the second half

what, we can come out of the right

side of the scoreline.

A huge

second-half, Kings next week, and

then the Ireland period.

The

interprovincial games are always

big. Leinster will be there at the

end of the year. I have been around

long enough to know that if you

start losing games at home in the

league then it makes a dent at the

end of the year. If you can go

through the season, winning your

home games and picking up what you

can on the road, that's the way to

approach it. Fingers crossed for a

big second-half.

You are one of the

Ulster most experienced players.

Does it get more physical all the

time?

The big shot on Aaron Cairns

came right in front of me on the

bench. For the years I have been in

Rugby, is getting more physical. Big

boys floating around. Some of those

big hits from Rodney Ah You, they

were massive. And big scrum from

Callum Black at one stage. It's a

big man's game.

You are still

looking young, you're fine!

We will

talk about physicality in a moment.

The one thing Darren Cave said the

coach will try to drive home is

accuracy in the second half. That's

for Ulster can win this game.

Its

accuracy in the line-out, in their

handling. Decision-making, all those

things. We have seen it from both

sides. Fairly brisk conditions, both

sides. Handling errors have stopped

the teams imposing themselves on

each other. Similar messages in the

changing rooms, keep the physicality

but more focus and accuracy.

But it

is a derby and we have seen some big

hits in the first half. It had you

salivating at times, and the!

Absolutely, this is what we have

come to see. Rugby is all about this

physicality and boys putting their

bodies on the line every week. Some

big shots coming in. I think the

referee has had a very good game in

terms of handling it all.

Very

feisty.

Not often you see this in

the modern game. Some of the shots

here, Rodney Ah You, boom, get you

some of that. It's a peach. He's a

big man. When he puts a shotgun, you

feel it. Another shot. I thought the

scrambling defence with Rory Best

working hard. That was the tackle at

that point, after covering serious

ground. It shows Rory Best at his

best.

Those are the commitment and

1% pieces of play that people don't

always notice. We see it flare up a

little bit there. Nobody throwing

punches, just some argy-bargy, but

it shows what's at stake. Irish

selection coming up and guys going

head-to-head. Adam Byrne, Jacob

Stockdale, all in the air. It has

been intriguing to watch. Really

competitive stuff, as you would

expect.

Mention in the Irish

selection, Jacob Stockdale has done

himself no harm. He's gone looking

for a lot of action.

Brilliant. He's

big and rangy. You don't realise how

big he is until you stand by him.

And he's only going to get bigger.

He puts his hand up the whole time

looking for it. The decision-making

has been exceptional in that first

40 minutes. Fantastic kick, and his

workrate of the ball, he's such a

big boy. I can't tell you the last

time I saw him go into contact and

lose the ball. He's maturing

fantastically well and I keep

forgetting he's just a young man.

The key is, young guys in these

environments, you don't want them

passive. You want them to stand up

and get their hands on the ball and

show that hunger. We are seeing that

from these young guys when they get

their opportunity.

Passing the test

when they were under pressure early.

It's one of the non-negotiable is in

a Joe Schmidt team. You have to have

the aerial skills. Perfect example

from that by Jacob.

Where will this

game be won and lost in the second

half?

Ryan touched on the accuracy,

not so much on the ball, but getting

into good starting positions. You

need to be accurate where you are at

all times as an individual. Have

your wits about you. If you can do

that as an individual, the team can

come forward.

Who will be the main

Ulster game changer?

Charles Piutau,

but that space has to be preserved

and created for him. That comes from

upfront. Maintain the physicality,

improve the focus and accuracy and

they will win.

Leinster have looked

dangerous on the counter attack as

well. Back to Tony and Jim for the

second half. COMMENTATOR: This game

poised on a knife edge as ever. The

difference between the two sides is

a penalty goal, courtesy of the man

getting the second half under way,

the Leinster outside-half Ross

Byrne. Ross Byrne added a conversion

and a couple of penalties to the try

from Jordan Larmour. This will be a

crucial game for both sides as far

as conference B of the Guinness Pro

14 is concerned. Taken by Tommy Bowe

straightaway. He hasn't looked bad

at all this evening.

Aaron Cairns has left a bit to go

before the Six Nations. Lealiifano

has got away. He needs some help.

Clever kick, but nobody chasing

apart from Piutau. A shove in the

back from Piutau. Chance for Ulster.

But the chance was created by

Lealiifano.

They were mismatched

defensively. Lealiifano shows and

goes. Ball taken in both hands.

Showing awareness. Happy to put his

boot on the ball.

Nobody close

enough to pass the ball too and he

put it down. Piutau was too far from

him.

Showed some pace as well for a man

with a suspected bad hamstring.

I

wouldn't know anything about

hamstrings! That's worked well. It's

stolen. Rory Best. We can hear the

cheers from the Ulster crowd who

have appreciated him for the last 13

years. Aaron Cairns. Just 198 caps

behind him. Nice shimmy from

McCloskey. Devin Toner retrieves it.

Ulster don't want this, they have

been outflanked. The extra man.

Nicely done. Rob Kearney kicking and

chasing. Ulster will have to shift.

It's bouncing. Catastrophic. It

hasn't gone to hand. Knock forward

by Leinster and somehow Ulster have

avoided conceding the try. Stockdale

is hauled to the ground. The initial

knock forward was by Leinster. Very

nearly a Leinster try.

It was.

Ulster will count themselves very

lucky. I don't know why he didn't

finish itself. If he had gone

forward you think momentum would

have carried him over the line. The

harder option was the pass inside.

Ulster playing another get out of

jail card.

You saw how they were able to create

the overlap. There didn't seem to be

one initially.

Because they run

straight they always hold the

outside line. Very good at

committing defenders and creating

space with the pass and running

angles.

Leinster trying to put a bit of

pressure on the first Ulster scrum

of the second half. Changes in

personnel from the 30 that left the

field at the interval. Leinster

making to changes in the first half

because of injury. Noel Reid had

gone off. James Ryan had gone off.

Set up by McCloskey. The first time

Cairns has kicked the ball out of

hand.

The big question for Aaron

Cairns in the second half. The game

management side of things. Into the

wind, whenever you get a snowball

against the defence that's pressing

hard. Box kicking has to be

absolutely on the money.

Communication skills have to be good

and communication skills to your

forwards in terms of passing

options. It will be a big 40 minutes

for him.

Leinster will get the

put-in at the scrum. They will be

mighty relieved at that. The first

misfiring Leinster scrum. Ulster

picking one off, thrown by Tracey,

down the Leinster side. Even though

Geordan Murphy rose above everybody.

-- Jordi Murphy.

Excellent strategy

for Ulster. There is a blindside if

Aaron Cairns can have a look at

that. Might have to play the past

two Lealiifano or possibly Sean

Reidy coming off the back of the

scrum. It's all about maintaining

possession of the scrum.

The sheer

strength of Rory Best, under

pressure to hook the ball.

Lealiifano. Stockdale outside him.

Ulster quicker to the ball. Good

pass from Cairns, flat ball to

Robbie Diack. Took the tackle well.

Luke Marshall got away with one. And

a bit more. Big shoulder charge from

Luke Marshall. Ulster will get the

penalty. High-risk game from Ulster.

Absolutely, they say the best form

of defence is to attack. Again,

Lealiifano conducting the orchestra

beautifully. Through the hole,

bouncing 31. Setting up the ball

nicely. Sean O'Brien again.

Pilfering.

Might be beyond the range

of Christian Lealiifano. He has

opted for position. He has given

Ulster a pretty decent position

coming up to 70 -- 17 minutes of the

second half. Don't put it up your

jumper! Well done. Crucial line-out

for Ulster. They must get in

position.

That's pretty bad. In fact, very

bad. What was going on there, I

don't know. The third line-out

Ulster have messed up. Leinster have

got the chance to clear. Outside

their 22. Gibson-Park can't kick

directly into touch, but he's a good

little box kicker. It has gone

infield. Tommy Bowe takes. Knock

forward from Jacob Stockdale, under

pressure from his opposite number.

You'll make good line chase from

Leinster. Again, the line-out

becoming a thorn in the side for

Ulster. Only Rory Best's second

game, and perhaps there is a lack of

cohesion and understanding between

him and his second rows. Perhaps

some new call outs at that have been

brought in from last year. People

would normally say thank goodness,

Jack McGrath are coming ashore, and

then you looked at the man coming on

board. Cian Healy. In my opinion, he

was the best loosehead prop in the

world.

He has been playing out of

his skin. Healy still has a lot to

prove. Very talented footballer. His

form this season so far has been

fantastic.

30 years of age, in prop

forward terms, he's just a teenager.

Going up against Rodney Ah You, had

a good first half against Jack

McGrath are. We will see how he gets

on against Master Healy.

Rodney's

biggest problem has been intensity.

How long can you keep him on the

pitch? He's fitter than he used to

be. Cian Healy will ask a stern

examination of him for potentially

30 minutes if he can go that long.

Replacement tight head prop on the

bench at the moment is Ross Kane.

Captain of the Ulster A side in the

Irish cup. Solid enough scrummaging

from Ulster. Maybe slightly

overcooked. Yes it is.

Interesting

option for the restart. There is

quite a strong wind but the picture

is very narrow. The scrum at the 15

metre line, the pass goes another

five or ten metres inside. It's a

kick into a 20, 25 metre channel.

Ross Byrne normally gets those spot

on, but he was well wide with that.

He was, and Charles Piutau was also

well positioned. Some options in

terms of midfield scrum restarts.

Better line-out. Not straight.

Is

the same, not straight.

Arise smile

from Rory Best. He was doing his

best with that in the wind, but it

drifted towards the skipper Iain

Henderson. -- a wry smile.

Tracy is

at the back of the line-out, looking

right down the middle. He has been

consistent. That's all you can ask

for.

Ten minutes gone, the score has

not advanced. I'm pretty sure it

will.

Callum Black must think it's his

birthday tonight against the

comparatively light 19 stone of

Furlong. He was up against 20 stones

last week in La Rochelle. Les Kiss

on his right, former British and

Irish Lions scrum-half Dwayne Peale.

And John O Gibbs is also there.

Impressive Trinity.

Leinster getting a genuine squeeze

on for the first time, winning the

penalty at the scrum for the first

time. How significant will that be?

In the meantime, the referee plays

advantage. Good tackle by Luke

Marshall, had a cracking game a

couple of weeks ago against Wasps in

the Champions Cup. Sean O'Brien,

still playing advantage. Gibson-Park

looking for somebody in support. He

decides Leinster have not gained the

advantage and will come back for the

penalty. Is this within the range of

Ross Byrne?

I would say it probably

is with the wind. Given the fact

there are only three points between

them. Looking at Tadhg Furlong, he

holds and holds, wrestling with

Callum Black, dropping the knee. As

soon as Anthony goes down, Furlong

puts on the heat, chasing up the

inside.

You see the influence of

Cian Healy straightaway at that

first scrimmage. He had Rodney Ah

You under pressure.

That pressure

works across the front row. Maybe

Rory Best having to change the angle

on which he scrummages on. Perhaps

giving Rodney Ah You more weight and

poise converted the first half. Cian

Healy is on fresh to expose Callum

Black a little bit more.

He has been

100% so far with his goal-kicking.

Ross Byrne looking to take Leinster

up to six points. He is underneath

that one. And he has miscued that.

We thought he miscued on towards the

end of the first half but it clipped

over the bar. That one hasn't, a let

off for Ulster, who will be

concerned about their set piece now.

Who threw it?

Captaining Ulster no fewer than four

times this season. Lealiifano.

That's hanging. Needs somebody

underneath it. Taken in by Rory

O'Loughlin. Gibson-Park to Devin

Toner.

Well read by Ulster. They seemed to

have plenty of men. Out of the back

of the hand. Good handoff by

O'Loughlin, immensely strong.

Leinster have upped the tempo ever

so slightly and it's starting to pay

off. Tommy Bowe did well to shadow

his man to the ground.

Switched by Gibson-Park, out of the

back of the hand from O'Brien to

Gibson-Park. Sean Reidy extricate is

from that. Furlong. Again,

Leinster's big men and big players,

their marquee players beginning to

crank it up.

Uttering RAM from -- uttering RAM

stuff from Leinster.

Slower from

Leinster.

Reidy wasn't held. Crowd screaming

for a penalty against Leinster but

the referee is having none of it.

Rob Kearney. A genuine full-back

named in Joe Schmidt's squad but no

place for Simon Zebo, in the week

announced he was retiring from

Ulster at the end of the season.

Healy again, strong enough to

present. Great tackle by Luke

Marshall, who's been outstanding.

That's the turnover. Ulster had a

decent chance but they couldn't get

the pass away. A bit of a slap

forward by Leinster, the referee is

going to check with his assistant.

Just show me that, please.

John

Lacey calling for his TMO, Lee

Hodges, to have a look in case it

was a deliberate knock-on by

Leinster, in which case there may be

a yellow card depending on who was

available.

It's in terms of numbers

and space. Great game management by

Leinster in terms of their ball

control.

Having a look now.

Pick and

go options, Sean O'Brien coming into

the game but good defence from

Ulster as well, no missed tackles.

Both teams evenly matched.

Here it

is again. Tommy Bowe putting it out

wide. Was that slap forward by Dave

Kearney? Here is the pass.

Yeah, he

did, he's given the yellow card.

Very touch and go. If Dave Kearney

had held back it may have gone into

touch.

We mentioned in terms of what

referees are looking for, if the

pass is completed, if it's an

advantage for the team with the ball

to win space. That was two against

one. Following the arm, he knew what

he was doing there.

Rory Best is

leaving the field, likewise Callum

Black and on comes Andrew Warwick,

the prop, and Rob Herring. A

generous round of applause for the

man who is winning his 200th Ulster

cap this evening, Rory Best. Long

may he reign, as they say.

Straightaway Ulster making a mess of

the line-out. Rob Herring not faring

any better than Rory Best, which

isn't good at all. If you're set

piece isn't functioning, I know it

is windy.

Too flat. John Burgess

jumping at the five metre line, get

hold of possession and restart. Men

going up and down the line. The wind

is having a massive influence out

here. Ulster giving away the

advantage, which they've worked hard

to get.

Jack Conan has come on wearing

number 20. Leavy has gone off.

Changing to a scrum-half for

Leinster. Luke Maguire has come on

for Gibson-Park. McGuire on the

side. Bouncing once and into touch

for the Ulster line-out. Leinster

think they can cope with that.

You

can see what McGrath was trying to

do, not executing well. Trying to

put it in behind Tommy Bowe.

Squirted off the outside of his left

foot. Trying to kick for touch. The

line-out has trouble, Herring,

Diack. Maybe the simple option with

Henderson coming forward and taking

the ball.

Another line-out shambles

by Ulster and if they are going to

lose the game, this will be a

contributory factor. A good shot by

Alan O'Connor, who has grafted away

again. Well taken by Piutau. Takes

the tap. Sean Reidy managing to get

away, he has a lot of gas and Bobby

could have gone all the way. Penalty

against Kieran Healy -- Kieran

Healy.

A bit of sarcasm, can't play

the scrum-half. Healy thought he was

on the back foot.

Ulster will be

relieved and they are hoping that

they can get one line-out right in

the second half because they haven't

yet.

Try and cut the opposition

numbers down. Seriously the problems

have come from overthrows. You can

space that is there, it just needs

Diack coming forward.

Straightforward. Lealiffano getting

himself in trouble. Stockdale coming

off the wing. Devin Toner played in

the recent World Cup. Not forward

back -- knocked forward by Ah You.

Lovely dummy by O'Brien. That could

be it. John Lacey gives the try, no

hesitation whatsoever. Not going

upstairs to see the grounding or

foot placement. Killer blow by

Leinster.

Alan Byrne making the

line, O'Brien with the show and go.

That's how you score. Five, six

metres out, he saw the defence

coming across, he got the ball on

the right hand, sliding in from two

or three metres out, giving the

opposition no chance to put him

away. Ah You with the turnover,

toner stretching down. Over he goes.

Cairns coming across, slightly

hampered but I don't think there was

anything to worry about. Luke

McGrath, hardly on the field for

more than a couple of minutes and he

scores what could be a crucial try.

Ross Byrne, a very strong wind. He

hit it about between the posts and

it was carried outside. Midway

through the second half, Leinster

now leading 18-10. Tadhg Furlong has

gone off the field and on has come

Andrew Porter, another youngster who

is so highly rated. I'd say

youngster, look at the size of him!

Beautiful from O'Brien, the nice

pass. McGrath doing what Jamison

Park didn't do, committing and going

early, let momentum and speed take

you to the line.

Going straight into

touch. We've seen else to do that

before. The heads mustn't be allowed

to go down.

This was the same

against La Rochelle, conceding that

score at the start of the second

half, giving away the penalty, La

Rochelle scoring again, I'll giving

away another penalty and it seems to

be a lack of concentration. Perhaps

the head going down slightly,

certainly a lack of individual

concentration around the opposition.

A man making his first Ulster start

leaving the field, his second cap.

Number 21 has come on, Jonny

Stewart. We'll have to see if his

opposite number is going to put the

ball in. Law student at Queens

University. Good squeeze by Ulster.

Maguire, the try scorer. Byrne,

that's a clever quick. It might go

dead and Buet how will be happy

about that. In fact it's going very

dead and Ulster get the scrum back.

Rare mistake.

You can see what

Ulster are trying to do, only 20

minutes left. They will be happy

just to play territory in the second

half. Squeeze Ulster into their own

22.

Treadwell has slipped down for

Ulster. Alan O'Connor is the man who

makes way. Treadwell and Henderson,

both included in the November squad

of Joe Schmidt for the Guinness

series. South Africa first, then

Fiji and Argentina.

We seek Murphy

there.

John Lacey not happy with the

scrummage.

The only surviving member of the

respective front rows, James Tracy.

Fichardt Strauss -- Richardt Strauss

is on the front bench.

Jonny Stewart who has played in two

games, starting one and coming off

the bench for the other.

Little chip by Tommy Bowe. He has

put the foot on the gas and that's

good chasing by him. Still a fair

bit of zip left in Tommy Bowe.

Ulster need to get back in the game.

At the moment they are in danger of

not getting a point. For a home

fixture that would be pretty

calamitous. Leinster have protected

the ball well. Luke McGrath.

Quality

scrum-half played by Luke McGrath.

Tommy Bowe taking the ball, getting

it almost in one motion. The graph,

the traditional scrum-half screen

defence -- McGrath. Five metres off

his own line. Textbook.

Andrew

Warwick is having a word with his

hooker and line-out thrower. Jonny

Stewart has gone to the front. Sean

Reidy is taking up scrum-half

position.

Off 17 first.

It came off

Healy, which was the unfortunate for

Leinster and fortunate for

unstuffed. They haven't won a single

put in in the second half -- for

Ulster.

You would think they would

have learned from the previous one.

A bit of a lob. It is verging on

shambolic to be honest.

Reidy controlling. McCloskey.

Crossing the 22. Ulster not it

forward. -- knock it. Almost a

comedy of errors, even a tragedy of

errors.

You can see what they are

trying to do: McCloskey, taking two

defenders, going to ground. It is

the presentation side of things,

individual errors starting to mount.

When you are chasing the game...

Dave Kearney is back on the field

again. When he was off, Leinster

scored a try in stead of Ulster.

That is the difference, Leinster's

game management has been tighter and

more professional.

21-year-old tight

head prop is tipped for great

things. Also named in the autumn

squad. Good work by Andrew Warwick.

Good scrum by Ulster. Rob Kearney on

his favoured left foot which has

served him so well down the years.

31 years old, 76 Irish caps, Rob

Kearney.

You mentioned Andrew

Porter, he's moved across from the

loosehead side of the scrum. For

anyone who hasn't had the pleasure,

that's a very difficult thing to do.