JACK IN BOX SEAT AFTER RDS SHOCK
Carty inspires Connacht to famous win in Dublin and No.10 in 6 Nations frame as Sexton is forced off again
Leinster 24
Connacht 35
CONNACHT pulled off a massive PRO14 shock by downing champions Leinster - and the westerners were full value for their first victory in Dublin in 19 years.
In only his second Leinster appearance this season, Johnny Sexton only lasted 24 minutes before failing a HIA.
But his opposite number Jack Carty put himself in the Six Nations picture with a two-try haul in a man of the match display at the RDS.
Behind by 20 at the break for the first time in almost six years, Leinster chased hard with their bench making a big impact.
However Tom Daly’s outstanding 73rd minute intercept try put the outcome beyond doubt.
“We dug ourselves into a hole we couldn’t get off, it was too little, too late,” said Blues boss Leo Cullen. “I’m pretty disappointed. Unfortunately we looked sluggish in the first half, they looked the more motivated team.”
It was a remarkable Connacht effort overall - especially considering Andy Friend’s pre-match admission that he changed his team-sheet three times this week due to positive Covid cases. It’s only their third away win since March and leinster’s first PRO14 loss since April 2014.
Leinster managed a late fourth try through Ed Byrne for a solitary bonus point. The result gives Ulster an 10point advantage over the Blues in Conference A, though Leinster have two games in hand. The sides meet at the RDS next Friday.
With debutants Max O’reilly and Andrew Smith in Leinster’s back three, Carty’s kicking game in behind was effective.
His intercept of Ross Molony’s pass to Devin Toner allowed him to open the scoring in the 12th minute and he converted his own try - after missing a penalty soon after, the Dubliner added a second try on 22 minutes.
He was stopped short after combining brilliantly with half- back partner Caolan Blade, but then muscled his way past two men to score.
Leinster hit back almost immediately after a turnover and skipper for the night Luke Mcgrath found flanker Scott Penny to ease over.
With Sexton injured in the build-up, Mcgrath himself knocked over the conversion and Liam Turner replaced the veteran Ireland star.
Connacht reacted by forcing further Leinster errors and Carty fired over two penalties, the second after John Porch’s superb kick-chase.
It got even better for the visitors when Alex Wooton scored in the corner and Carty added the extras for 25-5 right on half-time.
Leinster got the second half start they wanted when Luke Mcgrath sold Quinn
Roux a dummy to score, with Jimmy O’brien converting.
A Carty penalty, however, kept Connacht ticking only for sub Sean Cronin to feed the excellent Ryan Baird to score a t h i rd
Lein- ster try for an 11-point deficit.
David Hawkshaw had a try disallowed so Leinster still needed two tries but it was Daly who stormed in to finish it in spectacular fashion off a steal on Hawkshaw’s attempted pass.