Ignore the scoreline. Munster still have a long way to travel

The opposing mindsets coming into this game served to set the ground rules. Munster’s quest for silverware for the first time since 2011 stood in stark contrast to Leinster who were fresh and, in all probability, still recovering from parading their latest European conquest a short distance down the road in Donnybrook, only six days earlier, writes Donal Lenihan.

Reaching the last four of both domestic and European competitions might well be deemed a successful season for numerous teams spread across Europe but not for Munster, especially when Leinster are the ones that invariably manage to close the deal and progress to the decider.

The fact that Leinster were pushed to the brink in accounting for Racing 92 in last week’s Champions Cup final might suggest to some that Munster are not far off the mark when it comes to adding a third European title of their own.