Another Connacht penalty and they are now up inside the 22. They could do with making this opportunity count.

Leinster penalised at the scrum, so that is upgraded to a free-kick and then to a full penalty.

Leinster win a penalty inside Connact territory but Prendergast makes a mess of his kick to the corner, booting out the back of the goal area and Connacht have a scrum.

Sean Jansen back on for Connacht with Paul Boyle returning to the bench.

Image source, Getty Images

A knock-on and it's a Leinster put-in at the scrum.

Leinster probing just outside the 22 but concede the penalty. Connacht with an opportunity for some relief.

Connacht forced into a change as Ben Murphy comes in for scrum-half Matthew Devine who is off for now with a HIA.

The good news for the westerners is that Boyle is back up. Leinster scrum inside their own half to come.

Fair to say it's been a bit of a nightmare start for Connacht and now that temporary replacement Paul Boyle is down.

Paul Boyle a temporary replacement for Connacht with Sean Jansen requiring treatment for a gash.

That try just epitomises the threat Leinster carry. Once they get a sniff, they are clinical. A great start for the hosts.

An early penalty for Connacht brings them close to the Leinster 22.

We are under way at the Aviva Stadium.

Leinster have made nine changes to their starting team from Saturday's United Rugby Championship win over Munster for the interpro against Connacht at the Aviva Stadium.

Backs Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector and Joshua Kenny are drafted in, along with fly-half Sam Prendergast.

Among the forwards, Dan Sheehan is back in to captain the team, Brian Deeny partners Joe McCarthy in the second row and there is an entirely new back row in the form of Diarmuid Mangan, Will Connors and Jack Conan.

Connors returns to the team for the first time since October.

Among those making way are Ireland internationals Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan, with Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier among the replacements.

Connacht make five changes from the side which lost 29-24 to Ulster last Saturday.

Dave Heffernan and Jack Carty miss out through injury, so Dylan Tierney-Martin starts at hooker and Josh Ioane comes in at fly-half to form a new half-back partnership with Matthew Devine.

David Henshaw is drafted in at outside centre, while Chay Mullins plays on the right wing after returning to full fitness.

Leinster have won six matches in a row, four of those having come in the United Rugby Championship, while Connacht have lost five of their past six URC outings.

Leo Cullen's side sit sixth in the table going into the weekend's action, with Connacht four places worse off in 10th.

Leinster: Frawley; O'Brien, Cooney, Tector, Kenny; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Boyle, Sheehan (capt), Clarkson; McCarthy, Deeny; Mangan, Connors, Conan.

Replacements: McCarthy, Porter, Osbourne, O'Tighearnaigh, Deegan, van der Flier, McGrath, Cahir.

Connacht: Gilbert; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Aki, Treacy; Ioane, Devine; Buckley, Tierney-Martin, Bealham; Joyce, O'Connor; Murphy, Prendergast, Jansen.

Replacements: de Buitlear, Bohan, Barrett, Murray, Boyle, Murphy, West, Forde.

Image source, Inpho

A glimpse of Connacht's white jersey they will wear at the Aviva Stadium this evening.

Image source, Inpho

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says there is a "great buzz" around the northern province this season.

Friday night's 28-3 interpro triumph over Munster lifted the side into second place in the United Rugby Championship and they have won six of eight games played in the league this season.

Having finished 14th last season, above only Zebre and Dragons in the table, it has been a dramatic turnaround at the Affidea Stadium so far in 2025-26.

"There's a great buzz down in the changing room," said the head coach in his second full season in the job.

"There's confidence growing. There's a real belief. There's a real hunger. The atmosphere on a daily basis is great.

"The lads are turning up and they're hungry for work."

Image source, Inpho

Ireland utility back Ciaran Frawley will join Connacht from Leinster in a two-year deal next summer, the provinces have confirmed.

Frawley has made over 100 appearances for Leinster since making his debut in February 2018, helping the club win five Pro12/United Rugby Championship titles.

The 28-year-old, who can play at fly-half, centre or full-back, has won nine Ireland caps and memorably nailed two late drop-goals to help seal a dramatic Test victory over South Africa in Durban in 2024.

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to represent Connacht on and off the field from next season. On my visits to the province with Leinster I've always been struck by the passion of the supporters there, and the positive brand of rugby the team play."

He added: "I've loved my time at Leinster and I'm really appreciative for all the support from the fans, coaches and teammates over the last seven years.

"There's still a lot of work to do and I'm looking forward to finishing the season strongly before the move to Galway in the summer."

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster described Frawley's capture as a "real statement of intent".

"I know him well from my time in Leinster and I saw him grow from an academy prospect into a key member of the senior squad and play for Ireland also," said Lancaster.

"He's still only 28 so I firmly believe his best days are still ahead of him, and I'm delighted that the club have been able to secure a player of his calibre.

"He will be a big asset in the years ahead and personally I am really excited about working with him again."

Image source, Inpho

Hello and a very warm welcome back to our coverage of this weekend's interpro action in the URC as Leinster host Connacht at the Aviva Stadium.

Last night, Ulster enjoyed a 28-3 win over Munster in Belfast to move joint-second in the standings to make it back to back wins against Irish opposition over the festive period.

This evening, Leinster will seek to do the same and make ground on the Stormers who lead the way at the top of the table.

Leo Cullen's men squeezed out a hard-fought win at Munster last weekend, while Connacht's late charge at home to Ulster fell short.

We have live text commentary coming up, so sit back and enjoy.

Image source, Inpho