Leinster edge it over Munster on Aviva cabbage patch

Having been cruising midway through the first half, Leinster were made to fight for a nine-point victory over auld rivals Munster but they got there in the end.

Leinster 30-21 Munster

In a game that came to life in fits and starts, the hosts had built up a commanding 30-14 lead after a wonderful Brian O’Driscoll try in the corner midway through the second half and looked set to re-establish the commanding position they’ve held in this particular rivalry in the last few years.

Munster never gave up, however, and they dominated the final quarter with Conor Murray scoring a cheeky try in the corner and Casey Laulala having another one very controversially ruled out for an apparent forward pass by Keith Earls on the line even though replays showed that he did very little wrong.

Still, Leinster probably deserved the victory on the basis of what had gone before, having built up a 20-14 lead at the break thanks to tries from the excellent Richardt Strauss and Ian Madigan, with Peter O’Mahony responding with one for Munster in between.

One negative aspect of the victory for Joe Schmidt’s men was the injury count, with Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll and Andrew Conway all having to leave the fray during the second half. Conway in particular looked in a bad way and Schmidt will be sweating over the fitness of all three ahead of the Heineken Cup next weekend; he already has enough backs out crocked at the moment.

Two defeats in as many weeks doesn’t look good for Munster, but Rob Penney will be encouraged by the way his side finished the game, the pack in particular were completely dominant as the game drew to a close.

Incidentally, the groundsmen at the Aviva will have some job trying to get the pitch into decent shape for Ireland’s game against Germany next Friday after it repeatedly cut up throughout the evening.

Actually, considering the opposition for the Boys in Green, maybe they’re better off leaving it as it is.