Ulster A 31 Leinster A 20:THE GAP between what was on show yesterday and what can be seen at the RDS Showgrounds and Thomond Park this coming weekend remains significantly vast. And yet, Leinster coach Michael Cheika deems the increased number of matches between provincial reserve teams this season as crucial to the development of academy players, not to mention the bedding in of new arrivals and those returning from injury.
Basically, it is considered a step above club rugby and a better indicator of how an aspiring professional will survive when exposed to the Magners League and beyond.
The interested spectators who dropped into Donnybrook were liable to witness a few moments of quality that mark a player or two out from the rest.
It is also an environment that distinguishes someone with a long-term future from one destined for another career, but perhaps most crucially it allows young guys to make mistakes.
And learn from them without grave consequences.
It is also the ideal opportunity to look at the likes of Mark Flanagan, an Irish youths secondrow from Mullingar who may otherwise slip through the net or Kevin Sheahan, the St Mary's backrow who was capped by the US Eagles earlier this year. The A fixtures are a reward for those who perform at club level or another competitive environment.
So, who stuck their head above the parapet? No one really, to be honest, in what will be remembered as an error-strewn match. Granted, Felix Jones continues his development at fullback.
Ulster outhalf Niall O'Connor did kick goals from all angles, in contrast to his opposite number Jonathan Sexton, who was replaced at half-time to allow Greystones' James Power some game time.
The visiting winger Chris Cochrane raced over for two tries in the opening 40 minutes, but this was as much down to weak tackling than a result of Ulster's continuity game.
Leinster replied with two tries of their own, scrumhalf Paul O'Donohoe initiating a break away from inside his own half that was carried on by hooker Jason Harris-Wright and Jones before O'Donohoe scrambled over in the corner.
Former Clongowes schoolboy Fergus McFadden appears to be at the front of the queue of developing three-quarters at present and was awarded a dodgy looking touchdown on 36 minutes after a clever chip by Niall Morris.
The only other notable feature from the first half was the sin-binning of Ulster lock Filo Paulo for a late hit on Jones.
When Flanagan forced his way over for a third Leinster try a minute into the second half it appeared they would push on for a comfortable victory but Ulster quickly regained the lead through two more O'Connor penalties.
Then a moment of quality settled the contest. Jamie Smith came off his wing and into the line at pace before a flat pass saw Scottish international Rob Dewey straightened before galloping clear. O'Connor, mystifyingly, missed his easiest kick of the day.
The contest was subsequently disrupted over the next 15 minutes by a raft of replacements as coaches Collie McEntee and Gary Longwell ran their benches, but Leinster still had a half-hour to make amends.
However, the closest they came to another score was a single foray into the Ulster 22, which ended in a turnover, and a long-range McFadden penalty that came up short. The Leinster think-tank of Cheika, Alan Gaffney, Guy Eastery and Emmet Farrell set up camp in the Bective terrace for the duration. At least there will be plenty to pour over on the DVD this week. More positives, though, for Matt Williams.
Meanwhile in the Magners League, Frankie Sheahan underwent a scan yesterday afternoon after damaging his shoulder throwing into the lineout during Sunday's 12-6 defeat to Connacht - Munster's first defeat in Galway since 1979.
An update on the hooker's condition will be available today but, with Jerry Flannery also pulling out of Sunday's match, the European champions are struggling in this important department ahead of the visit of Ulster to Thomond Park on January 3rd.
SCORING SEQUENCE - 2 mins: C Cochrane try, 0-5; N O'Connor conv, 0-7; 6 mins: P O'Donohoe try, 5-7; 9 mins: N O'Connor pen, 5-10; 17 mins: N O'Connor pen, 5-13; 36 mins: F McFadden try, 10-13; 39 mins: C Cochrane try, 10-18; N O'Connor conv, 10-20; 43 mins: F McFadden pen, 13-20. Half-time. 41 mins: M Flanagan try, 18-20; F McFadden conv, 20-20; 45 mins: N O'Connor pen, 20-23; N O'Connor pen, 20-26; 53 mins: R Dewey try, 20-31
LEINSTER A: F Jones; G Brown, E O'Malley, F McFadden, N Morris; J Sexton, P O'Donohoe; R Murphy, J Harris-Wright, J Hagan; C McInerney, M Flanagan; J Dever, P Ryan, K McLaughlin (capt). Replacements: R Burke-Flynn for R Murphy, J Power for J Sexton (both half-time), R Sweeney for J Harris-Wright (53 mins), S Monahan for N Morris (57 mins), K Sheahan for J Dever, D Moore for P O'Donohoe, K Tonetti for E O'Malley (all 62 mins), C Aherne for G Brown (66 mins), J Downey for M Flanagan (76 mins).
ULSTER A: M McCrea; J Smith, I Whitten, R Dewey, C Cochrane; N O'Connor, I Porter; B Young, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick; J Sandford, F Paulo; T Anderson, W Falloon, C Henry. Replacements: S Philpott for N Brady (41 mins), D Roche for B Young (51 mins), J Carey for T Anderson (59 mins), C Napier for J Sandford (62 mins), D Drake for I Porter (66 mins).
Referee: A Rogan (IRFU).
