MOUR THE MERRIER!
Leinster young gun destroys poor Ulster to put his stamp all over Pro 14 mauling at the RDS
Glasgow are next up at the RDS after this PRO14 mis-match and the Warriors will worry as they travel to Dublin for the clash in seven days time.
Ulster’s defensive problems reared up again, a major worry for Les Kiss, as they head into their own European challenge against La Rochelle.
Just as worryingly, the Kingspan outfit failed to score until the seven minutes from time.
A week earlier, it took them 57 minutes to open their account against Munster before securing a comeback win.
Leinster had the bonus point wrapped up by the 52nd minute when Fergus Mcfadden scored the second of his two tries.
Larmour, their young full-back, had announced himself on the big stage with a brilliant try against Ulster in October - and an even better one against Connacht last week.
Here the 20-year-old opened Leinster’s try account, was unlucky not to score another couple as the hosts ran Ulster ragged before scoring again in the 67th minute.
It remains to be seen whether Joe Schmidt will include Larmour in his 6 Nations plans.
But with the championship less than a month away, November series sensation Jacob Stockdale had a bad night as he failed to make three try-saving tackles for the ragged visitors.
Stocksdale’s 73rd minute try was scant consolation as it was Ulster’s only score of the night. Larmour’s dazzling footwork in the sixth minute beat Stockdale for the opening try after Mcfadden had launched himself into a yawning gap in the visitors’ defensive line.
A big Jack Conan hit on Christian Laeliifano soon after underlined the intensity of Leinster’s defence.
Any time Ulster got possession they were beaten at the breakdown or hurt themselves with careless knock-ons. And a soft second try arrived on 17 minutes when in-form Barry Daly handed-off Charles Piatau to score.
With next weekend in mind, and beyond that the 6 Nations, there was some concern over Tadhg Furlong when he injured his left arm in the tackle.
However the Wexford man continued until half-time, when he withdrew following a HIA.
Ulster blew a big chance to reduce the deficit to five points on the half hour mark but Stockdale, their top try scorer, dropped an intercept pass in his own 22.
A wild pass into touch by Sean Reidy with Stockdale in space saw another opportunity butchered for the visitors and at half-time Leinster led 12-0.
They thought they extended that advantage in the 44th minute when Larmour raced clear but the replay showed the provider Jamison Gibson-park was offside and the try was disallowed.
However Lamour collected his own kickthrough four minutes later and a brilliant combination between Sean Cronin and Robbie Henshaw and a classy Scott Fardy lay-off put Mcfadden in.
The winger struck again in the 52nd minute. Henshaw’s brilliant steal in his own 22 was bettered by replacement prop Andrew Porter’s superb carry and Gibson-park sent Mcfadden away. It got worse for Ulster, with Henshaw’s lightning assist put Larmour in but finally they turned the tide with replacement Tommy Bowe’s break resulting in Stockdale crossing the whitewash.
Fittingly, Leinster had the last say as Max Deegan released Sexton to score under the posts in the final moments. JORDAN LARMOUR ran riot last night as Leinster destroyed interpro rivals Ulster with a performance that confirms they’re in great shape for European battle next week.