ULSTER 10-25 LEINSTER
Sean O’Brien and Rory Best are Ireland teammates, but not until next month.
Tonight at Kingspan Stadium, in Belfast, the two Irish rugby stars were wrestling each other after and early shemozzle in their Guinness PRO14 clash.
It all kicked off after less than four minutes when Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey sent Noel Reid, his opposite number, sprawling. Both sides committed bodies to the breakdown and O’Brien took exception to Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale trying to yank him away from the scene.
Best may not be Ulster captain for the game – Iain Henderson has that honour – but there was no way he was having O’Brien man-handle the 21-year-old Stockdale.
He jumped on O’Brien and tried to wrestle him away from the scene as Rory O’Loughlin came steaming in to chirp at anyone who’d listen.
Referee John Lacey called ‘Time Off’ as Reid, who would eventually be helped off, received treatment.
Exhaling, he turned to senior pros O’Brien and Best and delivered a dressing down, when he was able to butt in.
O’Brien: “You’re coming in, trying to take me?”
Best: “I didn’t even know who that is.”
Lacey: “Can I get a word in? Look, there’s a knock on there. The two of ye got involved when not one of ye were in the ruck. So just stay away lads or I’ll penalise ye next time ye come in. Off ye go!”
Ulster hit the front, soon after, with a Christian Lealiifano penalty but Jordan Larmour carved them apart with a fine individual try after 15 minutes.
Jordan Larmour races clear of the @UlsterRugby defence to score the opening try for @leinsterrugby.
Live: https://t.co/V5ysGZWJYa pic.twitter.com/LXBlto7LuS
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) October 28, 2017
Ulster heaved right back and they took the lead before the half-hour mark when Sean Reidy powered over.
That was the end of the home side’s scoring, though. Leinster edged ahead 13-10 after the break and sealed an impressive win with two Luke McGrath tries in the final quarter.
Nothing like an inter-pro on a brisk October’s night.
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