Leinster can extract a measure of confidence from claiming a first away win on Munster soil in over two years and 19 games, whilst Munster can take encouragement from almost pulling off a comeback from 173 adrift at the interval. But the bottom line was that last night's Musgrave Park run-out constituted a useful pre-European Cup work-out.
There were enough cobwebs and handling errors for both camps to be glad they got them out of the way this weekend rather than next.
The only blemishes, and there almost had to be a casualty or two from this exercise, were injury scares in each camp for Killian Keane, John Hayes and Eric Miller. Keane's ankle injury (though he is a good healer) and Hayes' shoulder injury were hard to assess. Miller's worryingly sore thumb is to be X-rayed today.
Studded with handling errors and turnovers, nobody would claim it was a vintage contest, though there were enough quality players and moments, coupled with increased competitiveness to give it a viable edge.
Munster were very slow into their stride as Leinster's characteristically efficient recycling enabled them to monopolise possession. Given a real cutting edge by Denis Hickie and Brian O'Driscoll, who both scored tries, they deservedly pulled 173 clear and held on to the slight disappointment of the estimated 4,500 attendance.
Confirming the impressions of the pre-match build-up that Leinster were palpably more "up" for this match in itself, they were probing from the outset, largely through the confident Eddie Hekenui. It will have given Brian O'Meara a real boost to have landed the first score, a well-struck 45-metre penalty.
Redress came quickly from his fellow Cork native and Constitution half-back partner Ronan O'Gara, but the force definitely remained with Leinster despite a couple of untypical loose passes.
The big men were having big games, Bob Casey moving up and down the line-out well, Malcolm O'Kelly augmenting his work there with his usual high work-rate at ruck time, Reggie Corrigan made a decidedly useful return after 10 weeks and Victor Costello capped a fine all-round display with some trademark rumbles.
Nothing got past Shane Horgan in midfield either, and a turnover tackle following Keane's attempted outside break off a dummy scissors with Jeremy Staunton led to the first try. It was complemented by O'Driscoll's swift pick-up and O'Kelly's support rucking and service to O'Meara, who astutely box kicked for the chasing. Hickie only had Hayes for a rival, and the winger had time aplenty to hack on, gather and score.
Corrigan hit a ruck venomously to ensure quick ball for the next try. The ball was transferred a bit flatly, but O'Driscoll quickened outside Hayes to score. O'Meara non-chantly landed the conversions to both tries to press home the advantage.
Helped by O'Kelly's sin-binning for deliberately spoiling ruck ball, Munster picked up the tempo on the resumption, though there was still no way through until Leo Cullen returned in O'Kelly's place.
Then Leinster's line-out buckled and from Galwey's steal on the deck Peter Stringer wriggled over in the corner for an unconverted try which still left Munster with a little too much to do.
The sight of Trevor Brennan coming on enlivened the crowd, and hits in Leinster's defence went up appreciably. Eventually, after much frantic attacking and the introduction of Barry O'Neill to Munster's midfield potency, Alan Quinlan and Peter Bracken took a tap penalty up the middle and from the recycle O'Gara took Brennan and Hekenui's combined tackle to score from close-range and convert.
Scoring sequence - 12 mins: O'Meara pen 0-3; 15 mins: O'Gara pen 3-3; 28 mins: Hickie try, O'Meara con 3-10; 32 mins: O'Driscoll try, O'Meara con 3-17; 60 mins: Stringer try 8-17; O'Gara try and con 15-17.
Munster: D Crotty; J O'Neill, J Staunton, K Keane, C McMahon; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), J Langford, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: B O'Neill for Keane (54 mins); P Bracken for Hayes (72 mins); M Horan for Clohessy (74 mins); D O'Callaghan for Langford (74 mins); J Kelly for Crotty (74 mins); J Blaney for Sheahan (74 mins).
Leinster: G D'Arcy; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, P McKenna; E Hekenui, B O'Meara; R Corrigan, P Smyth, E Byrne, B Casey, M O'Kelly, E Miller, V Costello, L Toland (capt). Replacements: G Halpin for Corrigan (halftime); J McWeeney for O'Driscoll (half-time); L Cullen for O'Kelly (56 mins); T Brennan for Miller (60 mins); M McHugh for Horgan (76 mins).
Referee: A Rolland (IRFU).
