All the Connacht centre could do was watch on from the sin-bin.
Bundee Aki was a touch fortunate to avoid a red card as he went in on Johnny Sexton with a levelling tackle that eventually saw the top of his head clash with the Leinster captain’s jaw.
Leinster were leading 21-3 after 35 minutes, at Aviva Stadium, when Aki came bulling through to put Sexton down, moments after he slung a pass away.
Sexton let out a loud wail and the Television Match Official alerted referee Luke Pearce to it. When there was a break in play, Pearce and his TMO talked it out:
LUKE PEARCE: “We’ve got a head contact. I think it’s number 12… definitely have contact, definitely have foul play… we’re looking at level of danger. To me, it’s low danger.
TMO: The top of Connacht 12 makes contact with the jaw of Leinster 10… hits the body first and drives up.”
As replays rolled, Bundee Aki got the attention of Johnny Sexton and let it be known there was no malice intended. Sexton laughed off whatever comments that came his way from a smiling Aki.
With the penalty that came from that collision, Sexton kicked for an attacking lineout then dished a sublime inside pass to James Lowe for Leinster’s fourth try.
Oh, Johnny Sexton! 🤤
A beautiful inside pass from the @leinsterrugby fly-half sets up fellow Ireland international James Lowe for their fourth try of the afternoon.#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/xj7ygUMIkG
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 15, 2022
As Sexton celebrated, the TV cameras flashed to Bundee Aki sitting along the sideline with a rueful look on his face.
Having pushed Leinster mighty close in the first leg of their Champions Cup ‘Last 16’ encounter, this was a day when the four-time European champions really showed the Westerners who was boss.
Earlier in the game, Jamison Gibson Park ran over Leinster’s first try. The scrumhalf had been cleared to play in the match after a citing for his yellow card hit on Kieran Marmion was deemed just that, and not red card (or ban) worthy.
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