Ulster went into the last 16 clash, hoping to land a blow on the Dublin heavyweights, who are widely seen as the most impressive club side in world rugby. Both sides welcomed back their international players who were away with their country for the Guinness Six Nations.
Ulster welcomed back Ireland internationals Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole and Stuart McCloskey into the starting 15. Scotland international prop Rory Sutherland also returned to the front row, who knew they were facing on of the most intimidating packs in world rugby.
At a sell out match at the Aviva Stadium, Ulster supporters made their voices heard in what was an electric atmosphere in Dublin.
In torrential rain, the match began with the intensity many predicted from the start. Ulster drew first blood in the match with scrum half Nathan Doak converting a penalty to send the Ulster supporters mad and three points to the good.
But Leinster immediately replied with an answer as their sharpshooter fly half, Ross Byrne, taking up the mantle of 10 after the injury to Grand Slam winning captain Johnny Sexton.
Leinster's power was on show as they steamed over the line through Ryan Baird to score the first try of the match. TMO had a check on whether Baird had lost control of the ball while under pressure from Ulster's defence but the score was awarded. Ross Byrne made no mistake from the spot to send Leinster 7 points to the good.
Byrne showed his kicking prowess by scoring a penalty kick from long range that got the home fans pumping their chests. Ulster suddenly found themselves 10 points down.
Ulster responded to the deficit in stubborn fashion and hit back. Fly half Billy Burns made a smart cross field kick to James Hume, who drifted off to Ulster's right wing and the young centre somehow managed to finish despite Leinster pressure.
Nathan Doak was unable to add to the points, missing a difficult conversion.
Five minutes before the break, Ulster fans breathed a sigh of relief as Jack Conan was awarded a try for bundling the ball near Ulster's whitewash but a TMO check showed that the Irish international was short and had not got the ball over the line. Leinster's continued pressure led to a penalty awarded and Byrne booted Leinster into a further lead of 16-8 going into half time.
HT: Leinster 16-8 Ulster
Ulster's second half got off to a poor start as Leinster pushed forward into Ulster's 22 and centre James Hume was shown a yellow card for not releasing. With a man down, Ulster conceded a try via the Ireland scrum half Jamison Gibson Park who after a ball was loose found himself in the fortunate open position to dart through the middle of Ulster's posts.
Byrne’s conversion moved Leinster into a 23-8 lead, but the 14 men of Ulster battled back as they hit back through their most loved weapon, a lineout maul for hooker Rob Herring to finish off. Replacement scrum-half John Cooney kicked home the extras for Ulster.
With the game finely poised at 23-15, Ulster continued to withstand the Leinster siege in their own 22. Stuart McCloskey at one point making an incredible defence against Leinster's Jimmy O'Brien, holding the ball up and preventing what would have been a certain try.
Leinster extended their lead through their brutally effective prop Andrew Porter, powering over the line to push Leinster's lead further. Byrne added 2 more points to send Leinster 15 clear.
Ulster continued to battle but the sting was taken out of the away side's game with a yellow card for replacement forward Harry Sheridan for a high tackle on Robbie Henshaw.
The Ulster faithful applauded the effort that was made in a brutally physical match with Leinster showing the reasons why they have went unbeaten all season in league and Europe.
Ulster will now focus on continuing their momentum in the BKT URC with a home Quarter Final to look forward to.
FT: 30-15
Scorers
Ulster
TRY: Hume, Herring
CON: Cooney
PEN: Doak
Leinster
TRY: Baird, Gibson-Park, Porter
CON: Byrne (3)
PEN: Byrne (3)
Teams
Ulster
(15-9) Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Burns, Doak;
(1-8) Sutherland, Herring, O'Toole, O'Connor (capt), Treadwell, McCann, Timoney, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, Toomaga-Allen, Sheridan, Rea, Cooney, Moore, Moxham.
Leinster
(15-9) Keenan; Larmour, O'Brien, Henshaw, Lowe; Byrne, Gibson-Park;
(1-8) Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Molony, Ryan (capt), Baird, van der Flier, Conan.
Replacements: McKee, Healy, Ala'alatoa, Jenkins, Penny, McGrath, Byrne, Frawley.