Super-sub Porter sets up second-half stampede

LEINSTER have never lost two games in a row at the RDS and Leo Cullen’s men turned on the style to preserve that record with a seven-try rout of Connacht to send them into their Champions Cup clash with Bath full of confidence.

And Cullen reckons they have plenty of room for improvement despite the impressive manner in which they came from behind to strike either side of the break and take control of an entertaining encounter.

“We looked a bit scrappy, a few unforced errors,” said Cullen after looking for a response from his side after their surprise loss at home to Ulster. “Guys are trying hard at the start, but we lack a bit of cohesion. We’re not quite where we would like to be.”

Connacht’s find of the season, Irish-qualified Aussie Mack Hansen, got in for his sixth try in seven games and Brivebound centre Sammy Arnold struck after Rhys Ruddock had opened Leinster’s account to deservedly lead 12-7 after half an hour.

But Leinster took over from there. Garry Ringrose finished off another good move and hooker Dan Sheehan showed great pace out wide in the final play of the opening half to lead 19-12 at the break.

The introduction of prop Andrew Porter gave Leinster forward dominance and they used it magnificently, with Jordan Larmour finishing an excellent move. They turned the screw from there and Caelan Doris and Ryan Baird got the touchdowns as their pace and strength killed off the Connacht challenge.

Conor Oliver pulled back a try for Connacht but Leinster had the final say when Max Deegan finished a move which started inside his own 22 as the champions warmed up for their European clashes with Bath and Montpellier in impressive fashion.

Connacht will need to rebound for their meeting with Stade Francais and Leicester the weekend after but coach Andy Friend had no quibble with the outcome.

“There were some really good things in there,” he said. “The tries before and after halftime were the two that really hurt us.

“We knew they were going to bounce back, they are a very good side and the scoreline probably shows the difference between us.”