The bragging rights belong to Leinster after a 23-17 win over Munster at the Aviva stadium. It was a haggard, frenzied game with both sides a little coarse around the edges as they sharpened up their preparation ahead of the Champions Cup next weekend. Keith Earls scored a brace of tries but ultimately it was Munster's indiscipline that cost them: eleven penalties conceded, with all within kickable distance nailed by Johnny Sexton.
Here is how we rated the players.
Leinster Player Ratings
Joey Carbery - 7.5
Fine outing by Carbery. His running from deep added pace and variety to most of the Leinster attacks, while defensively he did ok, doing well to drag down Earls on a break in the first-half to deny a certain Munster try. Set up O'Loughlin for the second Leinster try, and made more ground than any of his teammates.
Adam Byrne - 7
In another life, Adam Byrne could be the Kildare footballer's answer to Dublin's James McCarthy. He elected to go with rugby at the age of 18, however, and today we saw his full range of skills in attack: searing pace, impressive strength, and unerring consistency in the air. Defensively, however, there are question-marks: he made a poor decision to drift inside on the second Munster try, leaving Earls free to touch down in the corner. Was caught too far infield on Earls' third try, too.
Rory O'Loughlin - 8
There may be legitimate concerns about the quality of O'Loughlin's defence, but here we saw the potency of his attacking play. He scored both of Leinster's tries in the first half, the first a fine, jinking individual effort while the second was among the best team scores Leinster will score this season.
Robbie Henshaw - 6.5
Henshaw was on player mic for Sky Sports today, meaning that we now know that Henshaw calls touch-judges "touchie" in the heat of battle. Making his return from injury, Henshaw was slightly rusty which showed as he failed to gather a pass in the first half. As he tried to juggle it under control, Ian Keatley nipped in for an intercept pass. Relatively constrained in attack, gaining 21 metres across the whole game.
Barry Daly - 6.5
Daly was slow to grow into this game, and he punctuated the first half with a couple of sloppy handling errors. He was denied a try in the second half by some superb covering by JJ Hanrahan, but defended well himself, stepping in off his wing to earn a turnover to disabuse Munster of any momentum late in the second-half.
Johnny Sexton - 8
Munster picked three fly-halves but Sexton outshone them all. He took control of this game and marched Munster about every which way, notably on the fabulous O'Loughlin try. He switched Munster to the right wing with a couple of perfectly-executed bombs on top of the dominant Adam Byrne, before sweeping O'Loughlin into the left-hand corner via a trademark loop. His radar out of hand went slightly awry in the second half, but he was flawless from the tee. A second-half penalty (from the spot of the infamous miss against the All Blacks) saw him overtake Contepomi as Leinster's all-time top points scorer.
Luke McGrath - 7
Decent outing by McGrath, with hands both secure and quick at ruck time. Two missed tackles a minor blemish on his afternoon's work. Lasted an hour before making way for the rugby player who sounds most like a solicitor's office: Jamison-Gibson Park.
Jack McGrath - 7
Another of Leinster's returning Lions, McGrath returned to contribute to a very solid scrum and didn't miss any of his four tackles. Not as effective as Furlong in the loose, with his most notable contribution a looping hospital pass to Rory O'Loughlin, which hung in the air long enough for half of the Aviva to realise they had taken a sharp intake of breath.
James Tracy - 6.5
Tracy's darts were accurate in an otherwise solid performance, notable for being flattened by Chris Farrell. Lasted 49 minutes before making way for Cronin.
Tadhg Furlong - 8
Furlong did not see the fiftieth minute with the Champions Cup on the horizon, but he was mightily impressive once again. Untroubled in the scrum, Furlong was instrumental in the two tries Leinster scored while he was on the field. Two monstrous carries laid the platform for the first, a pair of liquid hands combined with Sexton on a loop to set up the second.
Devin Toner - 7
An errant offload by Daly perhaps cost Toner a rare try, but otherwise this was typical Toner. He was a towering presence of consistency in the line-out, and made more tackles than any of his teammates: nine.
Scott Fardy - 8
Early days, but Fardy may be the answer to Leinster's long-standing second-row woes. Here, he was outstanding. He competed with Peter O'Mahony brilliantly at the line-out, earning a crucial turnover midway through the second-half. His decoy line on the second O'Loughlin try, meanwhile, was subtle but brilliant, creating space for Carbery to offload to O'Loughlin.
Rhys Ruddock - 6
Ruddock was solid if unspectacular: he didn't miss any of the six tackles he made, although made little impact in attack. Made way for Jordi Murphy.
Josh Van Der Flier - 7
Made one huge turnover midway in the second-half, Van Der Flier was a characteristic pain for Munster at the breakdown, and his ability to slow ball allowed Leinster's line speed to catch the eye.
Jack Conan - 6.5
Still had the energy to make tackles on the Munster try line as the clock ticked oast eighty minutes, but Conan was relatively disappointing, and wasn't really seen with ball in hand.
Munster Player Ratings
JJ Hanrahan - 6.5
Started the game at fullback but moved to 10 when Ian Keatley was taken off shortly after the break. Combined well with Farrell in a move which led to Keith Earls' second try.
His step up in defence while playing fullback for Rory O'Loughlin's second try made Leinster's task easier.
Andrew Conway 6.5
Started the game on the wing. Moved to fullback in a backline rejig. Did well under some testing high balls from Sexton.
Got lucky with a partially blocked clearance after 30 minutes. Managed more clean breaks than any other Munster player.
Chris Farrell - 7
Showed moments of flash including a monster pass for Keith Earls in the first half which, momentarily, looked like had led to a Munster try. It was shortly after called back for a forward pass. Hit hard in the tackle both early and late in the game.
Hit hard in the tackle both early and late in the game. Did well in combination with Chris for Keith Earls' second try to secure a losing bonus point.
Tyler Bleyendaal - 6
In a disjointed Munster performance, the Kiwi failed to exert the required influence on the game.
Keith Earls - 8
Brilliantly finished Munster's second try despite the best efforts of Adam Byrne. He did remarkably well to keep his feet from going into touch. Also ensured his side did not leave the Aviva empty-handed - he touched down for a late losing bonus point try for Munster.
Though he was under serious pressure when up against Adam Byrne under the high ball from Johnny Sexton's boot, he was good in defence otherwise.
Ian Keatley - 5.5
Showed good anticipation to take a Sexton pass off James Tracy's fingers for an intercept try. With Munster down to 14 at the time, it was a big moment in the game. Overall, he failed to give Munster the control their required at ten.
Replaced by Alex Wooton shortly after half-time as Munster rejigged their backline.
Conor Murray - 6
Poor game for Murray with the boot.
Dave Kilcoyne - 6
The Munster scrum looked solid in the first half but rocked a little in the second. Worked hard in defence putting in 11 tackles over the game. Pinged for three penalties by the referee.
Niall Scannell - 6
Yellow card for what the referee views as a deliberate knock-on after 20 minutes. Lineout operated well with him on the pitch.
John Ryan - 6
Awful missed tackle for Rory O'Loughlin's opening try of the game. Worked hard in defence.
Robin Copeland - 5.5
Worked hard enough, putting in eight tackles during his 70 mintues on the pitch. Not the force required in the second from Munster.
Billy Holland - 5
A disappointing game from Holland. Largely anonymous.
Peter O’Mahony - 6.5
Had an indisciplined opening 40 minutes, conceding two penalties. Worked hard in defence, putting in 11 tackles.
Tommy O’Donnell - 7
Did superbly well, cutting through the Leinster defence for Munster's second try. It was a big moment with Munster looking lacklustre against a Leinster side starting to purr.
Munster's top tackler in the game with 12.
CJ Stander - 6
Had a disappointing first-half and it continued into the second. He was unusually quiet as a ball carrier in the first half. That improved in the second but the 27-year-old was not the force you usually expect him to be.
