Of course, it is not on round four URC games that Leo Cullen’s men will be assessed this season. They have shopped expensively in the off-season, drawing in some top talent.
Their campaign will be judged on what might be in the trophy cabinet at the season’s end. But for the most part, these 80 minutes were a reminder of their power and depth as they won with something to spare despite the absence of the likes of Joe McCarthy and Rabah Slimani, not to mention the incoming All Black Jordie Barrett.
Leinster were in charge from the off, though Munster could hardly have imagined a poorer first 25 minutes or so for themselves that included the concession of three tries.
Five times they made changes due to a series of head injury assessments and blood replacements with three of those coming at hooker. They lost two of their own lineouts in the build-up to Leinster’s second try.
And when they did get the chance to put points on the board, luck wasn’t on their side. Crowley’s penalty effort came back off the bar and into grateful Leinster arms. Later, Calvin Nash crossed, only for the try to be pulled back for a forward pass. From the resultant scrum, the Leinster pack forced a penalty. Try as they might, they could not generate any traction in that period.
At the other end, Leinster looked fleet-footed and assured in attack. They came here with numbers weighted in their favour. Twice they had played on Jones’ Road and twice they have won, beating Munster and Northampton in Champions Cup semi-finals some 15 years apart.
They have also held the whip hand in Ireland’s greatest rugby rivalry. Their only defeat to Munster in the seven games before this fixture came in that breathless URC semi-final last year.
They scored after just six minutes. Tadhg Furlong barged his way towards the Canal End before Frawley carried on the momentum after a smart pick up from Jamie Osborne. In the end, James Lowe had as much time as he wanted to open the scoring.
Leinster went over again five minutes later. This time Doris burrowed over after Munster had coughed up two lineouts. The home side grabbed their third try in nine minutes with Osborne and Frawley heavily involved again to send Hugo Keenan scampering over.
Frawley converted all three to leave Munster trailing 21-0. There were only 15 minutes gone but already it felt like it would be a long evening.
To their credit, Munster steadied the ship. The scrum earned a couple of penalties. And after a number of protracted stays deep in the Leinster 22, including the ruled out Nash try, they were finally rewarded on the scoreboard.
This time, their lineout produced a smart play and created just enough room for Sean O’Brien to squeeze through. With five minutes to play in the half, it looked like it might give them something to cling on to at the break.
However, Leinster were not finished yet. Munster repelled the first Leinster attack from a tap and go penalty under their own posts. But there was no stopping them a second time. The salt in the wound was that Leinster’s bonus point try was scored by their old team-mate RG Snyman as the home side took a 26-5 lead in at the break.
For long periods, the second-half lacked the punch of the first. But Munster went closest. Once again they camped out close to the Leinster line but once again a forward pass derailed their momentum. Eventually. Leinster forced a penalty to clear their lines. The back-slapping amongst the Leinster players served as a reminder of the emotions this fixture engenders.
Leinster threatened little in the third quarter with a clever Jamison Gibson-Park kick, which just eluded Lowe, the pick of their attacks.
Indeed 25 minutes of the second-half had passed before the scoreboard moved. It was a tad unusual with a clever kick from Munster number 8 Gavin Coombes finding the space behind the Leinster defence. Mike Haley only had to fall on the perfectly weighted dink.
For perhaps the briefest of moments, it felt like Munster might exert some pressure. But Leinster, despite two late missed penalties and a second-half in which they failed to score, retained control and continued their perfect start to the season.
Scorers – Leinster: J Lowe, C Doris, H Keenan, RG Snyman tries, C Frawley 3 con. Munster: S O’Brien, G Haley tries, J Crowley con.
Leinster: H Keenan; L Turner (R Byrne 69), G Ringrose, J Osborne, J Lowe (H Byrne 76); C Frawley, J Gibson-Park (L McGrath 69); A Porter, L Barron (G McCarthy HT), T Furlong (C Healy 65); RG Snyman (R Baird 50) (T Clarkson 52), J Ryan; J Conan (M Deegan 20), J Van Der Flier, C Doris.
Munster: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell (T Butler 75), A Nankivell, S O’Brien (S McCarthy 61); J Crowley, C Casey (C Murray 59); J Loughman (J Ryan 12) (J Loughman 24) (J Ryan 52) (K Ryan 75), N Scannell (D Barron 8) (K Ryan 16) (N Scannell 18), S Archer; J Kleyn (T Ahern 50), T Beirne; J O’Donoghue, J Hodnett (G Coombes 58) (J Hodnett 70), G Coombes (R Quinn 55).
Referee: C Busby (Ireland).
