In a classic Irish derby that had everything, Leinster survived a monumental Ulster fightback to claim a thrilling 29-22 victory in Belfast, a result that sees them leapfrog their provincial rivals into third place in the United Rugby Championship standings.

Leinster, despite making a dozen changes from their Champions Cup lineup, came out with ruthless efficiency. They built a commanding 29-0 lead by the 55th minute through tries from James Culhane, Jimmy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, and Sam Prendergast, who orchestrated the attack brilliantly on his return.

Just as the game seemed out of reach, Ulster ignited the Kingspan Stadium crowd with a stunning resurgence. The Ward brothers, Bryn and Zac, spearheaded the charge, with Zac scoring a quickfire double to cut the deficit to just seven points, especially after Leinster's Max Deegan was shown a red card.

In a frantic final quarter, Ulster threw everything forward in search of a dramatic equalizer, but Leinster's defense, under immense pressure, held firm to secure a crucial late-season win. This result reshuffles the URC playoff race with just three regular-season rounds remaining, proving that in derby rugby, no lead is ever truly safe.