5 years ago 
Did you know?
- Leinster Rugby’s only defeat in the Guinness PRO12 this season was 25-33 to Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun on round 2.
- The Leinstermen are unbeaten in their last 18 home games in the PRO12, including a run of 16 successive victories.
- The Leinstermen have only ever lost twice to a fellow Irish province at the RDS Arena: to Munster in September 2008 and to Ulster in March 2013.
- Connacht have won their last four matches with the two most recent taking them to the top of pool two in the European Champions Cup.
- Connacht’s only defeat in their last five encounters with an Irish opponent was 10-18 in Ulster in April.
- Connacht have won their last two matches against Leinster including last season’s Guinness PRO12 final and have never tallied three successive wins against their neighbours since the two first locked horns in 1931, however Connacht have not been victorious in Dublin since a 26-23 win at Donnybrook in the PRO12 in September 2002.
Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record:
Played 28, Leinster won 20, Connacht won 8.
Leinster v Connacht
At the RDS Arena
Kick off 5.15pm.
Live on Sky Sports
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU, 57th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Andy Brace, Jonathan Peak (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Tim Lowry (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
| HEAD TO HEAD – RECENT GUINNESS PRO12 MEETINGS | |||||
| Date | Venue |
L |
C |
Leinster scorers | Connacht scorers |
| Sat 4 Jan 14 | Sportsground |
16 |
8 |
Jimmy Gopperth(C/2P) Gordon D’Arcy(T) Ian Madigan(P) | Jack Carty(P) Fionn Carr(T) |
| Fri 19 Sep 14 | Sportsground |
9 |
10 |
Ian Madigan(3P) | Jack Carty(C/P) Kieran Marmion(T) |
| Fri 19 Dec 14 | RDS Arena |
21 |
11 |
Jimmy Gopperth(C/3P) Shane Jennings(T) Zane Kirchner(T) | Jack Carty(2P) George Naoupu(T) |
| Fri 1 Jan 16 | RDS Arena |
13 |
0 |
Ian Madigan(P) Johnny Sexton(C/P) Josh van der Flier(T) | – |
| Sat 26 Mar 16 | Sportsground |
6 |
7 |
Ian Madigan(2P) | Aj MacGinty(C) Kieran Marmion(T) |
| Sat 28 May 16 | BT Murrayfield (F) |
10 |
20 |
Sean Cronin(T) Johnny Sexton(C/P) | Matt Healy(T) Tiernan O’Halloran(T) Aj MacGinty(C/P) Niyi Adeolokun(T) |
| COMPARISON | Leinster | Connacht |
| Last 3 PRO12 results: | 23 Sep – Ospreys (H) W 31-19 | 24 Sep – Scarlets (A) L 8-17 |
| 1 Oct – Cardiff Blues (A) W 16-13 | 30 Sep – Edinburgh (H) W 28-15 | |
| 8 Oct – Munster (H) W 25-14 | 7 Oct – Ulster (H) W 30-25 | |
| PRO12 2016/17 | 2nd – W5 D0 L1 – 22pts | 8th – W2 D0 L3 – 10pts |
| 2016/17 form | WlwWwW (22pts) | LLlWW (10pts) |
| Top try scorer | 3 – Isa Nacewa, Josh van der Flier | 3 – Niyi Adeolokun, Cian Kelleher |
| Top points scorer | 35 – Johnny Sexton | 32 – Jack Carty |
