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**dudeabides** · 09-03-2010, 03:20 PM

Matches from round 1...

Ulster v Ospreys:

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Ulster opened their Magners League campaign in style by taking the scalp of reigning champions Ospreys in a pulsating game at Ravenhill.

The lead changed hands several times and the match remained in the balance right until the end, but first-half tries from Stephen Ferris and Darren Cave helped Ulster to their narrow win, while Niall O'Connor kicked five penalties and a conversion to end the night with a 17-point haul.

Ospreys, who arrived in Belfast having had four league points deducted for failing to field a side in for a re-arranged date in last season's corresponding fixture, were missing a raft of frontline players but had Dan Biggar firing on all cylinders as the fly-half scored a try and kicked two conversions and four penalties - a 100% kicking haul - to contribute 21 points.

Richard Fussell crossed for the visitors' further touchdown, but the Ospreys had to make do with a losing bonus point.

Biggar drew first blood for Ospreys with an early penalty which was matched by O'Connor seven minutes later after the Ulster fly-half had been badly wide with a long-range drop goal attempt.

O'Connor was then wide with his second penalty attempt after 17 minutes but Ulster had the bit between their teeth and a great charge into the Ospreys' 22 by ex-Springbok and new signing Pedrie Wannenburg led to Ulster putting a penalty into the corner.

From the lineout Rory Best's throw missed Johann Muller but when Jerry Collins failed to gather the overthrow, Ferris scooped up the ball and ran over unopposed. O'Connor slotted the conversion and Ulster were 10-3 up.

They extended their lead to 10 points when O'Connor landed a long-range penalty after the restart, but then Ospreys began to claw their way back.

First Biggar slotted a penalty after Ulster strayed offside and then, even with Nikki Walker sent to the bin for taking out David McIlwhaine without the ball, Fussell was put away in the left corner after it was Ulster's turn to mess up a lineout.

Biggar's excellent conversion tied the scores, but Ulster crept ahead again after Cave shook off the attempted tackle of Marty Holah for an unconverted score.

Biggar then kicked his fourth shot at goal from four attempts after Bryan Young was penalised at a scrum to put Ulster 18-13 up at the break.

The home side stretched their lead just after the restart with an O'Connor penalty but then, again, Ulster errors allowed the Ospreys back into the game when a poor pass from O'Connor to McIlwhaine was hacked downfield before Biggar got to the ball first for a 42nd-minute try which he then converted to put Ospreys 23-21 ahead.

O'Connor was then wide with a long range penalty before he put Ulster one point ahead with his fifth success from eight attempts after 53 minutes.

But the lead did not last as Biggar kept his 100% kicking record intact with six from six attempts to put Ospreys into a 26-24 lead after Ulster infringed.

But Ulster were not finished and after the Ospreys strayed in front of a kick ahead, O'Connor stepped up to slot what proved to be the winning penalty.

Glasgow v Leinster:

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Glasgow Warriors came from ten points down at half-time to record a stirring 22-19 victory over last season's runners-up Leinster at Firhill.

Sean Lineen's Glasgow young guns pulled off a dramatic Magners League victory over a Leinster outfit that surged to the lead but could not hold it, with growing confidence and a memorable climax resulting in a home win.

A feisty first half opened quietly enough with Fergus McFadden and Ruaridh Jackson exchanging penalties in the opening five minutes but jittery Glasgow hands let Dominic Ryan come very close after he had hacked to the home line.

Ryan was denied again a minute later when Jamie Heaslip put him through the hole, the pass adjudged forward but McFadden nudged the scoreboard forward with his second penalty.

Yet it was third time lucky for Ryan when Heaslip snaffled a Fergus Thomson overthrow and put the flanker galloping in from 40 metres.

McFadden missed the kick and Glasgow came close a minute later when Jackson's hoist had Luke Fitzgerald in trouble - but from the penalty five metres out Bernie Stortoni's quick tap was easily snuffed out.

With six minutes of the half to go, Glasgow again lost their own throw and the hack on led to an extraordinary spell of football ping-pong by the home side behind their own line - until Isaac Boss put them out of their misery, getting a hand on the ball for the softest of tries.

Glasgow piled in for the remaining five minutes but bursts by Richie Gray and Graeme Morrison were easily soaked up by the Leinster defence to take the visitors in 16-6 ahead.

Glasgow came out all guns blazing in the second half and Jackson pulled the margin back with a penalty - and the confidence started to grow as the half went on.

First, DTH van der Merwe crashed over in the corner and Duncan Weir, on for Jackson, slotted the equalising conversion.

Only desperate defence kept the rampaging Gray and Richie Vernon out but the pressure told, Glasgow went through the phases and set up Weir for the drop goal which took the home side ahead for the first time in the game.

Isa Nacewa got on the board with a penalty six minutes from time to level the scores but Glasgow were not to be denied and after Leinster offended at the lineout Weir made no mistake from 30 metres.

With the last kick of the game Nacewa's attempted drop drifted wide for Glasgow - but they opened their campaign with a notable win nevertheless.

Duncan Weir then edged the Warriors in front with a drop goal only to see Isa Nacewa restore parity with just three minutes to go. However, Glasgow nicked it with an injury-time penalty from Weir.

It was a desperately difficult defeat for Leinster to take given that they had been by far the better side in the opening 40 minutes. Indeed, there had only looked like one winner at the break. The two sides had reached the end of the first quarter locked together at six points apiece but Leinster deservedly took command of the contest when Jamie Heaslip claimed a Glasgow lineout before putting Ryan away to score.

Leinster's second try arrived just under ten minutes later, former Ulster scrum-half Boss dotting after Glasgow had again failed to secure their own lineout ball. Fergus McFadden failed to convert either score, though, and that ultimately proved crucial.

The other key factors in Leinster's defeat were the sin-binning of John Fogarty in the 53rd minute, shortly after which Jackson stroked over a penalty, and the enforced substitution of the influential Heaslip, who, under the terms of the Ireland player management programme, was not permitted to play more than hour of the game.

Glasgow drew level just eight minutes after Heaslip's exit, Weir converting after van der Merwe had touched down. Weir then landed a fine drop goal to edge Glasgow ahead for the first time in the game but it appeared as if the hosts would have to settle for a share of the spoils when Nacewa landed a late penalty. However, Leinster infringed at a lineout in the dying seconds and Weir converted to put Glasgow three points to the good once more.

Nacewa had a late opportunity to steal a draw for Leinster but his 30-metre drop-goal attempt drifted to the right of the sticks.

Link

**dudeabides** · 09-05-2010, 03:32 PM

Munster v Aironi:

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Aironi Rugby proved feisty opponents for Munster before some forward grunt propelled the southern province to a bonus-point win at Musgrave Park.

The visitors, one of two Italian newcomers to the Magners League, delighted their small pocket of fans by drawing level at 11-11 before half-time, with French full-back Julien Laharrague charging through for a 31st-minute try.

A strong start to the second half saw Munster assume greater control of proceedings. The sin-binning of Aironi prop Salvatore Perugini was quickly followed by tries from man of the match Niall Ronan and Tony Buckley.

Experienced fly-half Ludovic Mercier sandwiched a Paul Warwick drop-goal with two penalties, but Munster bagged the bonus through Ronan's second try on 62 minutes.

Aironi took their time to settle and two early penalty strikes from Warwick, the first from distance, gave Munster a deserved lead.

Ronan coughed up a penalty at the breakdown which former France international Mercier miscued from the right, but Aironi soon showed what they can do with ball in hand as Italy international scrum-half Tito Tebaldi ignited a great passage for his side.

He scampered away from two midfield tackles and Gareth Krause and Giulio Toniolatti added further purpose to the move, forcing Munster back towards their try-line.

The pressure yielded two penalties in the space of three minutes, both of which Mercier converted. The visitors were visibly growing in confidence, with their grizzled forwards increasing their influence.

Munster were sluggish in attack, save for a lovely spell of continuity which teed up full-back Felix Jones' first league try. From a ruck in the 22, Aironi were caught out when scrum-half

Peter Stringer put Jones sprinting over to the right of the posts. Warwick's conversion attempt was off target.

But Aironi's infectious endeavour got them back level. They scored a terrific try, breaking forward off a scrum on their ten-metre line.

Mercier chipped over the top for centres Dylan des Fountain and Roberto Quartaroli to link, before the latter sent Laharrague darting in at the right corner.

Mercier missed the conversion, leaving the sides tied at the break.

Munster came out with more purpose in the second half and went for the jugular after Perugini was yellow-carded for tackling a player without the ball.

The men in red shunned a penalty and following a series of pick and drives, a bloodied Ronan muscled his way over under the posts.

Warwick converted, and a clever counter from Jones set Munster on the move again, with prop Buckley pouncing to score from a close-range ruck.

Mercier's brace of penalties briefly kept Aironi in touch at 26-17. Doug Howlett, who was hungry for work all night, blasted his way through midfield - with the help of fellow All Black Sam Tuitupou - and although Johne Murphy was held up short, Ronan squeezed over from the ensuing ruck.

Warwick converted and struck the post from a long-range penalty.

Although the game was now beyond them, Aironi kept pulling away and replacement scrum-half Michael Wilson was inches away from registering a late try that their efforts would have merited.

Link

Connacht v Dragons:

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Connacht scored four tries in a Magners League rout of Newport Gwent Dragons as Eric Elwood's coaching reign began in fine style at the Sportsground.

Fly-half Ian Keatley stole the show by running in from the halfway line for the bonus-point score, with his conversion topping off an impressive 25-point haul.

An excellent early try from man of the match Ray Ofisa and an equally slick second from hooker Sean Cronin, on the half-hour, showed Connacht's ability to break down the Dragons.

Paul Turner's men travelled with a lengthy injury list and never really looked like improving their record of just one win in their last 24 visits to Ireland. New number 10 Matthew Jones booted four penalties and winger Will Harries grabbed a late consolation try.

Full-backs Jason Tovey and Gavin Duffy saw plenty of early ball in the balmy conditions, and Connacht were able to crack the Dragons' defensive line after just three minutes.

Using quick line-out ball, Keatley invited bustling centre Niva Ta'auso through a midfield gap and he drew the cover before passing for the supporting Ofisa to round in behind the posts.

Keatley converted and the home side continued to make good strides, probing through the forwards and out wide.

The Dragons lived off scraps of possession and their indiscipline, particularly at the breakdown, saw them fall foul of referee James Jones.

Both Keatley and Tovey missed penalty attempts before the latter was the victim of a dangerous tackle from Connacht's new number eight Ezra Taylor, whose hand caught Tovey around the face.

Jones took on the place-kicking duties and he opened the Dragons' account with an effort that nicked in off the post. But Connacht dominated the next quarter-hour, getting the tricky Fionn Carr on the ball and pulling 13-3 clear through the boot of Keatley.

The Dragons lost their captain Luke Charteris to the sin-bin for coming in at the side of a maul after repeated warnings, and Jones was off target with a long-range penalty.

Connacht collected their second try when Jamie Hagan charged through at a ruck, off-loading one-handed for his front row colleague Cronin to skip past the despairing Tovey and in behind the posts.

But the Dragons managed to get back in touch before half-time as two meaty Jones kicks closed the gap to 20-9.

Upping the intensity, the visitors threatened further on the restart and Connacht lost Duffy to the sin-bin for not rolling away after tackling Charteris. Jones kicked the second of two penalty attempts to make it an eight-point game.

Connacht needed a response and they got it when Keatley made a slashing break through the middle. He kicked two penalties in quick succession, steadying the ship in a slow-burning second half.

Injuries to Rhodri Gomer-Davies and Taylor held up play, but hungry Connacht sensed more scores and a penalty try, following a series of scrum resets, was swiftly followed by Keatley's solo effort, which saw him brilliantly outpace both Tovey and Aled Brew for the line.

Space on the left allowed Harries have the final say for the Dragons, however a worrying neck injury for Brew, who had to be stretchered off, added to their woes.

Cardiff v Edinburgh:

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Cardiff Blues underlined their title credentials with a bonus point-clinching 34-23 victory over Edinburgh in the Welsh capital.

Dai Young's men took command of the contest with two tries inside the opening quarter through Bradley Davies and Tom James. A brilliant break from Chris Czekaj led to Davies' score, while James dived over after a stunning run from Xavier Rush which featured a chip-and-chase and an audacious flicked pass.

Rhys Thomas crossed just after half-time following a fine catch-and-drive to stretch the Blues' advantage before Tim Visser gave Edinburgh a flicker of hope with his 57th-minute try. However, Casey Laulala crossed with six minutes to go after another terrific break from Czekaj to render Visser's second try, which arrived in the dying seconds, purely academic.

Dan Parks picked up the Man of the Match award on his Blues debut, the former Glasgow Warrior converting all four of his side's tries as well as landing two penalties during an impressive display at fly-half.

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**dudeabides** · 09-12-2010, 03:27 PM

Round 2...

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Munster maintained their winning start to the new Magners League campaign with a narrow 16-13 victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night.

The Scottish team were under the cosh from the outset against a powerful Munster outfit which piled on the pressure and were denied a try in the opening 40 minutes by a solid home defence. Two penalties from Paul Warwick to one by Chris Paterson on the stroke of half-time saw Munster lead 6-3 at the interval. Tim Visser's converted try five minutes after the break moved the hosts into a 10-6 lead only for lock Donncha O'Callaghan to cross for the visitors' only try, which was converted by Ronan O'Gara. A Paterson penalty tied the score but O'Gara replied in kind to make sure of the away win.

Visser's try was a fine poacher's effort - the Dutch wing plucking a Phil Godman kick out of Doug Howlett's arms before sprinting 40 yards for the finish. Paterson added the extras but from there on Munster's power ensured that they were on the front foot. Ian Dowling scorched in off his wing following Tomas O'Leary's 56th-minute break and was hauled down a metre short but O'Callaghan, who had been on the pitch for around 60 seconds, powered over.

Ulster remain on the heels of their Irish rivals having made it two wins from two in with a hard-fought 22-15 victory over Aironi at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana. Just as they had done against Munster on the opening weekend, tournament newcomers Aironi turned in another fiercely competitive display. Indeed, the Italians dealt impressively with the sin-binning of Nick Williams on 32 minutes to reach the interval just three points in arrears, with Ulster fly-half Niall O'Connor having outscored his opposite number Ludovic Mercier by three penalties to two.

Mercier then put the hosts into the lead with a drop goal and another penalty but their ill-discipline ultimately proved their undoing. Gabriel Piazarro was sent to the sin bin on 58 minutes and Ulster, who beat the Ospreys last weekend, ruthlessly exploited their numerical advantage this time around, racking up ten points in the space of three minutes through an O'Connor penalty and a converted Robbie Diack try. Mercier and O'Connor then traded penalties once more and although Ulster's Pedrie Wannenburg was yellow carded in the closing stages, Aironi were unable to earn themselves a share of the spoils.

Elsewhere on Saturday, a last-gasp try from Sean Lamont saw the Scarlets claim a dramatic 35-33 victory over Connacht in an absorbing encounter in Llanelli in the afternoon kick-off. The two sides were locked at 30 points apiece when Ian Keatley landed a penalty to edge the Westerners ahead with just five minutes remaining. However, Connacht's Ronan Loughney saw yellow with just under 60 seconds of normal time remaining. The Scarlets battered away at the Connacht line before finally, in the seventh minute of injury time, Lamont found a way through to score, leaving the visitors heartbroken.

It was hard not to have some sympathy for Eric Elwood's men, and particularly Fionn Carr, who bagged a hat-trick. However, all of that was of little concern to the Scarlets, who came away with five points, with Lamont's late heroics having been preceded by a brace tries from Jonathan Davies and one for Regan King.

On Friday, the Ospreys registered their first win of the season by defeating Benetton Treviso 32-16 in Swansea. The visitors arrived on a high after an opening round win over the Scarlets, but shipped five tries in atrocious conditions. The win helped the Ospreys make a remarkable leap from bottom place in the standings up towards the top in only a matter of hours. After starting the day on -3 points, the Welsh region finished it on +6.

First they had their four-point deduction for this season overturned after an independent Celtic Rugby disciplinary appeal. That penalty was imposed after the Welsh region failed to fulfil their Magners fixture in Ulster in March. And the appeal victory was followed by a comfortable bonus win with tries for Lee Byrne, Nikki Walker, Andrew Bishop, Jonathan Thomas and Shane Williams. Benetton scored a late converted try from fullback Brendan Williams with scrum-half Tobie Botes providing 11 points with the boot.

Two tries in the final ten minutes saw Leinster claim a 34-23 victory over Cardiff Blues at the RDS on Saturday. Leinster, no doubt still hurting after their last-gasp defeat in Glasgow on the opening weekend, made a storming start in Dublin, with Shane Jennings and Isa Nacewa both crossing inside a hectic opening ten minutes. The latter converted both scores to leave Cardiff in dire straits. Dan Parks, fresh from his man of the match-winning display against Edinburgh in round one, stroked over two penalties to settle the Blues but Nacewa responded with a pair of his own to send the home side in 20-6 ahead at the interval.

However, Cardiff were level by the hour thanks to converted tries from Bradley Davies and Richie Rees during a third quarter which they dominated. The Blues then went ahead for the first time in the game when Parks slotted a penalty on 63 minutes but Leinster were not done and Fergus McFadden touched down with nine minutes to go before Ian Madigan crossed in the dying seconds to secure a valuable bonus-point win for the province.

On Sunday, the Newport Gwent Dragons bounced back from last weekend's shock capitulation at the hands of Connacht by claiming a 23-11 victory over Glasgow Warriors and Rodney Parade. Jason Tovey opened the scoring with an early penalty before being forced injured just eight minutes in. Matthew Jones came on in the fly-half's place and, after Ruaridh Jackson had levelled matters, he opened his account with a penalty on 15 minutes.

Jones was then on hand to convert after Robin Sowden-Taylor touched down just after the midway point of the first half. Glasgow's Tom Ryder was yellow carded moments later and the Dragons capitalised, adding another try through Aled Brew as they went in 20 points to the good at the break.

Richie Gray lifted the Warriors' spirits when he dotted five minutes into the second half but and the visitors sensed they might at least claim a losing bonus point when Jackson stroked over a penalty towards the end of the third quarter. However, a sin-binning for Dth van der Merwe in the 67th minute put paid to those hopes and the Dragons held on quite comfortable to pick up their first points of the new season.

LInk

**dudeabides** · 09-18-2010, 07:23 PM

Round 3...

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Benetton Treviso secured a historic Magners League victory over Leinster on Saturday night, thumping the 2009 Heineken Cup champions 29-13 at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Leinster are the second side to fall to Treviso this season, with the Scarlets losing out on the opening weekend. The visitors were missing several big names, including Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll, but nevertheless named four British & Irish Lions among their starting XV.

Isa Nacewa put Leinster ahead with a try inside the opening two minutes but the deluge never arrived, with the Italians biting back through the boots of Chris Burton and Tobie Botes to lead 12-10 at the break.

Italian international Luke McLean scored Treviso's first try on 54 minutes as they extended their lead but there threatened to be a late twist when former Italy skipper Leonardo Ghiraldini was shown yellow with six minutes to go. Again the home side kept their cool - sealing victory at the death thanks to Brendan Williams' try.

Meanwhile, Ronan O'Gara kicked Munster back to the top of the table as they triumphed over the reigning champions Ospreys 22-10 at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

A 37th-minute penalty from replacement O'Gara was the sole score of a forgettable first half, but the second period burst into life as Munster wing Doug Howlett and Ospreys flyer Tommy Bowe, playing in the centre, swapped tries.

O'Gara's right boot dominated the remainder as he added four penalty goals for a 17-point personal haul, making Richard Fussell's late try a mere consolation for the off-colour Ospreys. Munster had further reason to celebrate as fan favourite Alan Quinlan won his 200th cap for the province.

Cardiff Blues picked up all five points from their derby clash with the Dragons at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday night, running out 43-21 winners.

The Blues were behind to an early Matthew Jones penalty but were rarely under pressure from the Dragons, who have struggled to recreate their good form of last season so far, despite last weekend's win over Glasgow.

Former Wales hooker Rhys Thomas scored a try in either half for the home side, while Leigh Halfpenny celebrated his return to the side after a mouth injury with a pacy try under the posts. The bonus-point try went to the ever-reliable Xavier Rush after strong work from the pack close to the Dragons' line, while Ben Blair was accurate throughout from the kicking tee, landing 23 points.

The Dragons scored two tries of their own, Will Harries rounding off an excellent Tom Riley break with the help of an unseen knock-on on 58 minutes and replacement Adam Hughes diving over in the final act of the game.

On Friday, Ulster moved top of the league for 24 hours after registering their third successive win of the campaign, beating Edinburgh in a pulsating 29-21 victory at Ravenhill.

Tries from the returning Andrew Trimble and Ian Whitten plus a penalty from fly-half Niall O'Connor gave the home side a 13-6 interval lead, Edinburgh's points coming from Chris Paterson.

A try to Dutch wing Tim Visser briefly threatened Ulster's superiority but more precise kicking from O'Connor, who landed a further penalty and drop-goal, put the home side back in charge before Darren Cave made the points safe with a 70th minute try. Scotland centre Ben Cairns scored late on for Edinburgh, but the Murrayfield boys are still searching for their first win of the season.

Fly-half Ian Keatley kicked Connacht to a 19-17 victory over Glasgow at Firhill as he put over four penalties and also converted a scorching try by wing Fionn Carr.

In a close match the home side were in the lead until Keatley's fourth penalty gave Connacht the win five minutes from time. The home side were ahead early after a Max Evans break down the left had Connacht back pedalling and when the ball was switched right, Graeme Morrison had room to stretch over for the opening try.

Two Keatley penalties after 25 and 30 minutes put the visitors on the front foot and Carr then took control when he cut in off his wing and left five tacklers in his wake as he rocketed in to score under the posts.

The second half was only a minute old when Keatley stretched that lead further with his third penalty. Two penalties in quick succession for Ruaridh Jackson pulled Glasgow back into the game and a third gave them a narrow lead. But Keatley held his nerve and banged over his fourth successful penalty with five minutes to go.

In Llanelli, Wales centre Jonathan Davies scored a hat-trick of tries as the Scarlets cruised to a bonus-point 49-10 win over Italian new boys Aironi at Parc y Scarlets.

The Welsh region were given few problems by Aironi as they emerged winners by six tries to one. As well as Davies, fullback Andy Fenby, wing George North and scrum-half Martin Roberts all crossed with veteran Wales fly-half Stephen Jones supplying 19 points with the boot.

There was a late consolation try for Aironi through former Munster No.8 Nick Williams, but the Scarlets comfortably avoided a second defeat by Italian opposition this season. It was a second successive bonus-point win for the Scarlets after victory over Connacht last weekend and it takes them temporarily up to second in the Magners table behind Ulster.

Leinster shown up by Treviso | Rugby Union | Magners League 2010-11 | Rugby News | ESPNscrum.com

**dudeabides** · 10-03-2010, 03:26 AM

Leinster v Munster:

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Brian O'Driscoll broke through for the decisive try as Leinster secured their fifth-straight win over Munster and ended their arch rivals' unbeaten start to the Magners League season with a 13-9 victory on Saturday night.

The first senior match at Irish rugby's resplendent new home, the Aviva Stadium, was a straight shootout between the place-kickers, until O'Driscoll moved Leinster ahead in the 70th minute.

Ronan O'Gara and Isa Nacewa struck a penalty apiece during a finely-balanced first half, before a brace from the Munster outside-half had the visitors 9-6 ahead. But Leinster dominated the closing stages and a slick offload from Sean O'Brien sent O'Driscoll scampering over to get Leinster's season back on track.

Three defeats in four Magners League games had put new Leinster coach Joe Schmidt under immediate pressure, and the visit of Munster to Dublin, with a 100% start behind them, spelled trouble.

A geed-up Munster won the early collisions, and a quick turnover led to a fourth minute penalty which O'Gara converted from inside the 22. Centres Lifeimi Mafi and Sam Tuitupou laid down a marker with some purposeful runs, but Leinster's defence stood up to the visitors' opening barrage and an O'Gara drop-goal was charged down by flanker O'Brien.

Some solid line-out work by Devin Toner and a midfield bust from Dominic Ryan helped Leinster get on the front foot and Nacewa, having missed his first shot at the posts, conjured up the game's first real line-break. He took advantage of a slip from Tuitupou to thunder into the Munster 22, with Gordon D'Arcy and Ryan in support. Munster scrambled back to cut off the options, eventually coughing up a penalty which Nacewa landed from in front of the posts.

It was nip and tuck for the remainder of the half, with the midfield suffocated and both sides guilty of losing their discipline at the breakdown. Johne Murphy threatened out wide on the left for Munster, the ball just beating him to touch after he had hacked on a clever chip through from Tomas O'Leary. O'Gara also missed a penalty on the left as the half closed with the sides level at 3-3.

Leinster full-back Rob Kearney tried his luck from a long range penalty, drawing it to the right and wide, and was then the victim of a high tackle from Mafi who was sent to the sin-bin. With O'Leary and Denis Leamy leading the charge, 14-man Munster responded strongly and O'Gara kicked them back in front, punishing D'Arcy for a ruck offence.

A trademark run and offload from O'Driscoll sent O'Brien storming towards the Munster line, with Richardt Strauss following up on a secondary drive. The pressure yielded a penalty which Nacewa slotted over for 6-6. Hands in the ruck from Strauss spoiled that good work and O'Gara effortlessly stroked over his third successful penalty, with just over 20 minutes remaining.

The game was there for the taking and Schmidt's side stepped up to the mark, pinning Munster back as they began to make better use of possession. O'Leary had to put a try-saving tackle in on O'Brien after a jinking run from Kearney. Tuitupou put in some earth-shuddering tackles in midfield, but O'Driscoll was beginning to find more space as the men in red tired.

With time running out, a chink in Munster's armour was found on the right wing where the impressive O'Brien burst past Paul Warwick and threw a backhanded pass out of the tackle for the supporting O'Driscoll to run in from the right. Nacewa added the extras and the four-point gap was enough to see Leinster complete their first five in-a-row over Munster since the 1930s.

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