Leinster to batten down hatches as western gale heading east

The usual New Year cheer should be all the more pronounced in Ballsbridge today, writes Brendan O’Brien.

With Leinster impressing in the win over Munster in Limerick on St Stephen’s Day and Connacht trouncing Ulster in Galway four days earlier, both sides will be looking to kick off the latest calendar year as they ended the last one.

A win for Connacht here would be a huge statement of intent.