Byrne flourishes in Sexton absence

No Johnny Sexton, no problem for Leinster. The Pro14 and European champions came out on top in the league’s headline fixture at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with a brace from James Lowe plus a penalty try and 15 points from the boot of Ross Byrne, Sexton’s stand-in, sealing a 30-22 win over Munster.

Leinster now head into the start of their Heineken Champions Cup defence against Wasps having won their past four matches in the Pro14, and with Sexton having had an extra week’s rest.

Munster now sit 10 points off the lead in Conference A.

In the weekend’s other Irish derby, Connacht defeated

Ulster in Belfast for the first time since 1960.

A Bundee Aki intercept try sealed a 22-15 victory after Ulster had Matthew Rea sent off after 41 minutes.

Ulster began the season with an unbeaten run of four matches, but have now lost their past two.

There were victories for both Scottish sides. Glasgow Warriors made light work of the Italian club

Zebre in a convincing 36-8 win to extend their lead at the top of Conference A.

Viliame Mata, the 26-year-old Fijian forward, was outstanding in

Edinburgh’s bonus-point 37-21 win over Cheetahs, their third victory of the season.

Scarlets and Cardiff Blues came out on top in the two Welsh regional derbies, with the 2017 Pro14 champions edging out

Ospreys 20-17 and Wales and British and Irish Lions international George North among the scorers for the visitors.

Cardiff Blues, meanwhile, recovered from going 12-0 down against Dragons in Newport, scoring three tries on their way to a 23-15 result for the Challenge Cup holders, who have now won their past three fixtures after struggling at the start of the season.

In the weekend’s final contest,

Benetton Treviso recorded a bonus-point 28-5 victory over South Africa’s Southern Kings, who lost prop forward Justin Forwood after 50 minutes to a red card.