Leinster grind out spoils in dour derby

Leinster 8 Ulster 3: Not exactly the kind of evening to restore one’s faith in Irish provincial rugby.

A disappointing crowd and a largely disappointing game between two sides scrambling for form, momentum and belief did at least see one of the provinces register a much-needed win, but much work is clearly required in Dublin and Belfast in the weeks and months to come.

There may have been fewer Ireland internationals on view than is usually the case when these two meet — just 17 between the two first XVs — but it was still significant if not exactly startling that there were vast numbers of empty blue seats in all corners of the RDS.