When asked, Munster just could not open up the highly-motivated Leinster defence
WELL IF Kilkenny were a la carte and Tipperary hadn't eaten in nine years then both Leinster and Munster were positively starving. What a game it was and as soon as Sexton was announced on the bench the odds went from scratch to Munster slight favourites 6-5. Half-time came very quickly and by then the contest was bubbling over.
Michael Porter's determining factors of competitive advantage were well on show especially the "competitive domestic rivalry" near the ball and frequently off the ball. Ronan O'Gara, for one, was well up for the challenge as too were his centre partners.
Lifeimi Mafi received the only yellow card but more could have. It was an appropriate opener with O'Gara getting the first penalty in the Aviva Stadium and his old advisory Brian O'Driscoll getting the first try. The noise, colour and atmosphere had me thinking the roof was closed on this majestic stadium which was at times a cross between the Hong Kong Sevens and Madison Square Gardens.
There were big performers throughout the fixture but the Leinster front five were a different beast from previous weekends. It was always going to come down to the corridor of power and Leinster led the charge into contact. Where Edinburgh's tighthead Geoff Cross slipped inside Leinster's fringe for a terribly soft "Gregan" try last weekend he would have been killed on Saturday. What a difference a brutal defensive session during the week - with Munster looming - makes to the line speed.
They say leaders are born and not made and both Donnacha Ryan and Devon Toner had big games. Toner in particular was vastly improved on last weekend. He led the lineout winning four in a row and going on to steal one from Damien Varley. Both hookers had a very difficult task as each side competed throughout. Their lineout stats were excellent in such a cauldron and both went on to carry well in contact.
Varley is a brute of a man in contact but when he finds himself in open space he'll need to improve his awareness of options outside him. Overlaps don't come around that often, but still his was a fine performance.
Johne Murphy will add selection headaches for Tony McGahan as will Ica Nacewa for Joe Schmidt. With Johnny Sexton back where will Nacewa go? For me he's the best back-three player in Ireland and has to start for Leinster. Shane Horgan's physicality and hunger had him win ball that was never his. Luke Fitzgerald is growing with every match. Rob Kearney is a Lion with huge talent. All three can learn from Nacewa, especially his ability to keep the ball alive and pass before contact.
The breakdown was carnage and very difficult for French referee Jerome Garces to police. Mind you the Top 14 ruck is a war zone so he should be well used to it. So many excelled in this amazing micro contest for the ball and consequently there were lots of turnovers, aided by the slippy ball. Several times Munster had stolen brilliantly but failed to maximise the turnover.
O'Gara and Paul Warwick set an early tone for field position. But why Munster elected to go along the line for a potential five-pointer seven minutes from the end is strange. Four points down could have been one with at least five minutes remaining. They however did ask the question and Leinster responded.
Ultimately what separated the sides? For all of Munster's stoic defence, particularly in the midfield, when asked they could not open up the highly-motivated Leinster defence. More's the pity as they had created a number of overlaps which went unnoticed.
What is Joe Schmidt's game plan? Leinster with their new- found physicality were like an educated chess tactician pushing pawns around the board, searching and probing for openings. This was achieved through powerful running and intricate backline play.
Munster were much more intent in stopping dead any form of Leinster attack. Finding the balance between both will be the target for both sides.
Of concern is the battering O'Gara took from all comers. Not because he was targeted but because of his enforcer Sam Tuitupou at first centre.
Time and again Tuitupou's instinct propelled him in to support O'Gara which narrowed their defence. On 67 minutes Toner provided off-the-top ball to his backs and Gordon D'Arcy launched at O'Gara. Once again Tuitupou flew in to assist. This will not go unnoticed and the challenges that await Munster in Europe may see them exposed.
Leinster clearly had a game plan for their ball-carriers and the Munster 10. If this continues, as it will, then space will be available in the Munster midfield. Leinster didn't get enough quick ball from this tactic to exploit it but London Irish will certainly try.
With that all behind us and both sides licking their wounds, the bar must be raised again this weekend. Saturday's level of intensity is not easy to conjure up weekly but both sides will require it to negotiate their very difficult European hurdles. Unlike Kilkenny, Leinster have managed their own particular five in a row.
