Guinness PRO12: Ian Madigan scores 19 points as Leinster ease to win over Ulster
Last Updated: 03/01/15 9:29pm
Leinster fly-half Ian Madigan accounted for 19 points and outshone international rival Paddy Jackson as his side defeated rivals Ulster 24-11 in the Guinness PRO12.
With first-choice fly-half Jonathan Sexton ruled out of Ireland’s Six Nations opener with Italy, this was an excellent chance for his two understudies to stake their claim for his No 10 jersey and it was Madigan who seized the opportunity.
Ulster started brightly, with South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar orchestrating phase after phase of pressure in the Leinster half. A try looked likely until Richardt Strauss produced a huge hit on Dan Tuohy two metres from the line to turn the ball over.
The visitors continued to apply the pressure however, and Pienaar – after seeing an earlier attempt clatter off the crossbar – slotted a penalty from the halfway line on 17 minutes to give them a deserved lead after Madigan was penalised for a high tackle on Stuart Olding.
Leinster hit straight back when Luke Fitzgerald sliced through Ulster’s defence and Rory Best was penalised at the breakdown five yards from the try-line to hand Madigan the easiest of penalties.
The visitors bossed territory and possession in the opening quarter and took the lead again on 26 minutes when Pienaar slotted over after Leinster failed to roll away at the breakdown. Madigan responded with his second penalty to level things up again.
Heaslip injured
Leinster captain Jamie Heaslip was forced from the field just before the half-hour mark after injuring his shoulder while attempting to tackle Best, with Josh van der Flier coming on in his place.
The visitors were reduced to 14 men just before half-time when Tuohy was sin-binned for cynically playing the ball while off his feet and Madigan converted the resulting penalty to give Leinster a 9-6 lead at half-time.
The home side took advantage of their extra man at the start of the second half when Madigan quickly tapped a penalty in Ulster territory before crashing over the line and converting the extras.
Ulster managed to cut the deficit before Tuohy’s return to the field when prop Wiehahn Herbst forced his way over the line from close-range, but Pienaar pulled the resulting conversion to leave the visitors trailing 16-11.
Madigan made it a two-score game on the hour mark when he kicked a penalty after Ulster just about managed to survive 19 phases of Leinster pressure deep in their 20.
Man-of-the-match Jack Conan capped off a dynamic individual performance and dominant Leinster second-half display when he bulldozed his way over from five yards out at the death to seal the win for the hosts.
