Backs against the wall

LEINSTER played the game to a standard any team would have been proud of while Munster produced their most shambolic performance since the bad old amateur days, resulting in an inevitable outcome at a packed RDS on Saturday night.

Leinster romped home by 30 points and deservedly soared to clear leadership of the Magners League table. Their physicality and strength in the tackle and skill at poaching opposition possession in every facet of play completely shattered the defending champions who had been pummelled into total submission long before the finish.

It was a night from which Munster may well take a long time to recover, mentally as well as physically. The men in red never like to be driven back in the tackle by any side, never mind Leinster, and that’s what happened.