Good afternoon one and all and a very Happy New Year! Welcome to our live coverage of this evening’s Guinness Pro12 inter-provincial clash between Leinster and Connacht from the RDS.

It has all the makings of a New Year’s Day treat so stick with us for all the action, with kick-off at 5pm.

Before we take a look at the team’s, there’s one late change for Leinster as Luke McGrath is forced out through injury and Eoin Reddan takes his place at scrum-half.

Leinster:

15. Rob Kearney
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Ben Te’o
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Marty Moore
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Rhys Ruddock (captain)
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jordi Murphy

Replacements:

16. James Tracy
17. Peter Dooley
18. Michael Bent
19. Ross Molony
20. Sean O’Brien
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Ian Madigan
23. Zane Kirchner

Connacht:

Weather has been miserable all day in Dublin with conditions set to be difficult for both teams as the wind and rain continues to batter the capital. For those wondering, the game is live on TG4.

Not long until kick-off now. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ryan@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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There are two other Pro12 games taking place this afternoon. Ospreys have just edged past Newport Gwent Dragons 12-7 at the Liberty Stadium while Cardiff Blues face Scarlets at 5pm.

Here’s how the table stands ahead of kick-off:

www.pro12rugby.com www.pro12rugby.com

This evening’s referee is George Clancy and Leo Colgan and Mark Patton will be running the lines. Marshall Kilgore is the Television Match Official.

Nearly all set. Which way do you see this one going?

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Connacht emerge from the sanctuary of the dressing room, sporting their pristine white shirts as Leinster quickly follow.

It’s absolutely miserable in Dublin 4 with the wind circling around the RDS and the rain continuing to drive down. Conditions aren’t ideal but we’re looking forward to this one.

George Clancy gives the thumbs up and we’re away.

Kick-off! Sexton sends it deep into Connacht territory and the western province instantly win a penalty at the breakdown.

Strange atmosphere at the RDS. Leinster say 17,000 tickets for this game were pre-sold but it appears not everyone has turned up – perfectly understandable given the weather.

First scrum of the evening as Leinster force the error. The Connacht pack is marginally heavier at 919kg but the hosts win the penalty after Marmion is penalised by Clancy.

With the wind in his face, Sexton turns down the opportunity to kick for goal and sends it into the corner instead. Strauss finds his man and Leinster have the driving momentum as they hurtle towards the line.

However, Connacht hold firm and Cullen’s side are held up. Scrum to the visitors.

It’s been a scrappy start to the game and it’s little surprise with handling conditions as they are. Couple be a stop-start evening.

Connacht look to pass their way out of trouble by keeping the ball in hand but they’re eventually penalised for holding on and Leinster have the penalty.

Once again, Sexton kicks for the corner and Strauss finds Toner. Josh van der Flier has the ball in hand at the back of the maul and the hosts are five metres short.

But Clancy brings it back for a penalty for not rolling away and Sexton keeps the pressure on by kicking into touch again. Positive start for Leinster.

After that period of sustained pressure, Connacht are rewarded for standing firm as they force the mistake from McGrath. It remains scoreless after 10 minutes.

Nathan White is heading for the touchline as Rodney Ah You comes on in his place. Not sure what happened to the Connacht prop but he was moving gingerly after the last phase of play.

Leinster are doing all the running in this opening quarter and have been camped inside the Connacht 22 for the last ten minutes.

Connacht are stretched as Leinster search for the opening. It goes wide but the visitors have numbers in defence and are holding firm for now. We’re going back for a penalty and the referee is having a word with John Muldoon.

Penalty! Leinster 3-0 Connacht (Sexton)

Straight forward decision for Sexton on this occasion as he opens the scoring with a penalty from in-front of the posts.

Nathan White returns to the field after that blood replacement. Connacht have yet to really get their hands on the ball having found themselves under the cosh since kick-off.

Great break by Garry Ringrose gets the crowd on their feet. The 20-year-old breaks a couple of tackles and races into the 22. Leinster have a good platform but Reddan’s pass is poor and Connacht pounce to clear their lines.

Superb carry there from Ringrose and there’s an air of anticipation every time he’s involved. Craig Ronaldson did well, however, to dive on the loose ball to avert the danger.

We’re going upstairs to have a look at an incident involving Nathan White and Mike McCarthy from the previous ruck.

The Connacht prop is penalised for a loose arm but the home crowd aren’t happy George Clancy didn’t send White to the sin bin. Sexton finds a good touch on this near side as the rain continues to drive in over the old Anglesea  Stand.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Leinster are asking all the questions at the moment as Rob Kearney injects some pace into the attack with a burst down the left. He flicks it inside to his brother, Dave, as the home side make good yards. The build-up is slow, however, allowing Connacht to get bodies back.

For all their possession, Leinster’s lead is just that solitary Sexton penalty. The out-half is now receiving treatment and Ian Madigan is ready for action on the touchline.

Sexton is okay to continue as Leo Cullen watches on anxiously. No sign of the rain abating as we near the half hour mark. Connacht will be pleased with their work so far in limiting the hosts despite their dominance.

Reddan makes a break from the scrum after throwing a dummy and after Leinster recycle possession, Dave Kearney misjudges his kick and it goes out on the full.

Possession is changing hands at regular intervals with both sides guilty of making a succession of handling errors. The crowd trying to lift their side with just eight minutes until the break.

Connacht have been excellent defensively so far and are just growing in stature as the half goes on. A good line-out wins a penalty and Ronaldson finds the corner.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

First time Leinster have found themselves under pressure and they deal with it well, forcing the turnover before Sexton launches deep into opposition territory.

Connacht’s line-out is overthrown but they retain possession after a scrappy passage of play. If you haven’t already realised, this one isn’t going to be high-scoring.

Out of nothing, O’Halloran’s grubber kick in behind the Leinster defence causes chaos. The Kearney brothers get themselves in a muddle and Niyi Adeolokun is there to capitalise.

The Connacht winger gathers the slippery ball but Dave Kearney manages to get back and haul him into touch just when it looked like he would stroll over the line.

Conditions didn’t help there and Kearney recovered brilliantly to prevent a certain try.

Half-time! And George Clancy brings the first-half to an end.

Low-scoring but fascinating half of rugby at the RDS. Connacht, with the elements in their faces, defended resolutely and even posed a threat at the other end as the half progressed.

A big 40 minutes coming up for both these teams.

Jack Carty gets us back underway. Connacht, playing with the wind at their back, start brightly and are on the front foot straight away.

But they give away the penalty and Sexton brings play up to halfway.

Sexton’s penalty continues to separate the sides.

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Nothing much has changed since the restart. Plenty of stoppages, not much in the way of action as the elements continue to play the biggest part.

Leinster are looking to continuously kick the ball when they get hold of it but the approach hasn’t exactly paid dividends. When they do keep it in the hands, Ringrose makes another break, this time piercing through the Connacht defence.

The ball is eventually knocked on at the breakdown but another bright moment from the young centre. There hasn’t been a lot to shout about so far but Ringrose’s two breaks have been as good as anything.

Absolutely nothing between the sides at the moment and you get the feeling one mistake could prove crucial. Connacht, of course, are yet to get on the board and trail by three but they have worked themselves into a good position.

First change for Leinster as Sean O’Brien is introduced for Jordi Murphy. It’s the Ireland flanker’s 100th appearance for the province.

Rodney Ah You replaces Nahan White for the second time this evening.

Meanwhile, Dave Kearney chases a kick through, forcing O’Halloran to come across and cover. Both sides kicking at every opportunity, which is making it a pretty dull spectacle.

Connacht have just brought on their own Sean O’Brien.

Closest either team have come to a try. Leinster burst forward and are stopped just short. They recycle possession and knock on the door.

Phase after phase for Leinster as they go from side-to-side in search of the opening. Ruddock looks to force his way through before van der Flier appears to cross the line.

George Clancy slipped in that passage of play so we’re going upstairs.

Try! Leinster 10-0 Connacht (van der Flier) 

And the flanker powered his way over and somehow managed to ground the ball despite the attention of several Connacht defenders. Sexton adds the extras.

That try all stemmed from an incisive break from Dave Kearney as he came in off his left wing. Leinster remained patient from there and eventually forced their way through.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The game has suddenly come to life with Bundee Aki getting over the gain line and then Leinster’s Sean O’Brien bulldozing his way through a couple of tackles.

Connacht scramble back to clear the bouncing ball before more damage can be done. Time is running out for the visitors, who have yet to put together a meaningful attack.

Both sides making changed as Ross Molony comes on for Mike McCarthy while Connacht also introduce fresh legs.

Connacht have the platform now as they camp themselves inside Leinster’s 22 for the first time but van der Flier, as he so often does, is in at the breakdown to win the penalty for his side.

Superb play by the flanker as Madigan is introduced for Sexton.

A little over 14,000 in attendance at the RDS tonight.

Moments after coming on, Madigan has the chance to extend Leinster’s advantage.

Penalty! Leinster 13-0 Connacht (Madigan)

And he makes no mistake. Sweetly struck by Madigan and the wind brings it back inside the post.

Leinster are dominant in every aspect now and are just seeing this game out now. Three minutes remaining.

Nick McCarthy is on for his RDS debut.

Connacht throwing everything forward in search of a consolation.

Full-time! And that’s it, another win for Leinster.

Thanks for joining us this evening, we’ll have plenty of reaction from the RDS throughout the evening.