On a memorable night in Croke Park, 82,300 fans flocked to see Leinster host Munster in the first derby of the URC season.
15 years after the sides met in the 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final at this venue, they were back at GAA HQ for a game which smashed the previous attendance record for a URC game.
The Munster fans in attendance, however, were left shell-shocked, as Leinster ran in three tries in the opening 15 minutes to leave the visitors with a massive 21-0 deficit to chase.
Munster showed character in their response, but Leinster ultimately put in a tremendous defensive effort to prevent their rivals from even claiming a losing bonus point. The final score read 26-12 to the hosts, on a night when ex-Munster man RG Snyman scored Leinster's bonus point try.
HT: Leinster 26-5 Munster
A sickener for Munster as that man Snyman clinches the bonus point just before the break, following a long spell of red dominance
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/laenI5h4pw
📺 Watch on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer
📻 Listen on @RTERadio1#URC 🏉 pic.twitter.com/CeogV7J05o— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 12, 2024
On another day, however, it could have been a closer affair, with Munster repeatedly entering the Leinster 22 and leaving without any scores.
It was that facet of the game that Donncha O'Callaghan saw as crucial to Leinster's win - and the former Munster man suggested that it could mean trouble for the hosts down the line.
READ HERE: Ireland Are Returning To Women’s Rugby's Top Table
READ HERE: Ref Mic Picks Up Unhappy Tadhg Beirne Exchange After Munster Try Ruled Out v Leinster
Leinster v Munster: Donncha O'Callaghan honest about Munster performance
There was (correctly) much praise for Leinster's defence at Croke Park on Saturday evening but one can't deny that Munster's attacking display left something to be desired at times.
Former Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan was one of RTÉ's pundits for Saturday's game. O'Callaghan said that while Leinster's defence deserved praise, he felt Munster had made things too easy for their opponents.
The ex-Ireland international also bluntly said that it was a mistake that better teams may not make against Leinster as the season progresses.
I think we're praising [Leinster's] defence tonight and we're right to, it was really good tonight. But I promise that good teams are looking at that and they're going to find ways to exploit it.
Munster were blunt in attack tonight and didn't fire a shot at it. Other teams, the quality...even later in the rounds, for me, personally, I think that defence could get exploited a little bit.
It didn't [get exploited] tonight because Munster were spooked by it. They had plans but they couldn't implement it.
If you look at things like the forward passes, the lost lineouts, Munster just didn't take any of their chances. It was the conversion rate in the end.
Of course, Leinster are intelligent players and now they have this hard press off the line. They're going to do that to teams. But I think when you come up against the higher-quality [teams] in Europe, they'll be licking their lips at some of that.
It's a two-pronged criticism from Donncha O'Callaghan and one that will have both Leinster and Munster fans wary of what is to come this season.
Leinster now have the bragging rights over their old rivals until December at least, while Graham Rowntree is left scrambling to find a solution to Munster's mixed start to the URC season.
