Leo Cullen: Crowd figures show derby lustre remains

It might not have been a barnburner but for Leinster head coach Leo Cullen a valuable victory over Munster more than proved there is life still in this age-old rivalry.

Former team-mate Gordon D’Arcy had irked Cullen in the build-up to Saturday’s showdown at the Aviva Stadium by suggesting some of the intensity that has been the hallmark of this fixture had gone out of the blue-red battle.

Yet there was plenty of evidence to counter that theory as Cullen looked back on an efficient afternoon’s work after Leinster’s 25-14 win gave his side a fifth win in six starts this season and sent them level on points with Ulster at the top of the Guinness Pro12 table.