Leinster comeback foiled

Northampton 33 Leinster 21

Second half tries from Cian Kelleher, Dan Leavy and Mick McGrath brought Matt O’Connor’s men to within five points of the hosts, but George North’s late effort took the game away.

A youthful Leinster team displayed their powers of recovery as they bounced back from a 26-0 deficit to finish with a second-half flourish. Northampton were able to secure the win thanks to Tom Stephenson, Samoan star Kahn Fotuali’i, Luther Burrell and North, but Leinster were far from overawed. Instead, they showed their steel, giving the coaches plenty of encouragement.