The 27-year-old Contepomi, warming up for Argentina’s Tests against France and Ireland later this month, kicked eight points and scored a 67th minute try against a tough Connacht side reliant again on the goal kicking of fly-half Paul Warwick.

The visitors, with only one win in Dublin since 1985, started brightly and took a ninth minute lead as Warwick continued the form which saw him plunder 32 points last Saturday with a 30-metre penalty, as Leinster failed to retreat.

Contepomi, playing out of position at full-back, upped his influence as he notched a 26th minute reply.

Left winger Gary Brown skipped by two would-be tacklers to draw a high challenge from James Downey on the Leinster ’22, and leave Welsh referee Nigel Williams with no option but to yellow card ex-Leinster back Downey and set Contepomi up for his first success.

Scrappy scrums saw Williams in talkative mood, and with Leinster assuming more control against the 14 men, Contepomi, while unfortunate with a penalty from distance on the half hour, struck a second in injury time for a 6-3 lead.

Warwick saw a late chance to draw level at the break snaffled out as his instinctive drop goal attempt was blocked down by Leinster back row Ronan.

Connacht skipper Andrew Farley stole a much-needed lineout near their own line two minutes after the break but Ronan’s intercept try seven minutes later saw their line finally breached.

As Downey attempted to free the visitors’ back line, Leinster’s under-21 player of the year Ronan grabbed a loose pass to run clean under the posts.

Contepomi’s conversion was quickly cancelled out by another 30-metre kick from Warwick on 52 minutes, and a third shorter penalty from the Australian, set up by Chris Keane’s incision, put just four points between the sides nearing the hour.

Leinster lost loosehead prop Emmett Byrne for 10 minutes as he infringed at scrum time, but Contepomi’s effort, initiated by Irish international Guy Easterby, saw the South American loop around Mark McHugh to end Connacht’s fight for a bonus point.

Other Celtic League results

Dragons 33 Ospreys 29

Glasgow36 Borders 22