Champions on top form - report

Leinster 8 Munster 15

Celtic League champions Munster survived seven minutes of injury-time to hold out for a deserved victory over Leinster at Donnybrook.

Leinster piled on the pressure in the closing minutes after Munster were reduced to 14 players following the sin-binning of prop Simon Kerr.

Five penalties from full-back Jeremy Staunton did the trick for the champions who made the most of their chances unlike their opponents who missed several kicks.

Leinster led 5-3 at the end of a disjointed first half during which Munster lost Jason Holland with an ankle injury and Rob Henderson with an arm injury.

They moved in front with a superb try after just seven minutes when Matt Leek slung out a long pass which was flicked on by Des Dillon for newcomer Brendan Burke to score out wide.

Staunton missed a couple of kicks before eventually landing a penalty eight minutes before the break.

Four second-half penalties from Staunton meant Munster led 15-5 with four minutes of normal time left although Gordon D’Arcy narrowed the gap with a penalty.

Centre Henderson’s injury is a major worry for Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan ahead of the announcement of his 30-man World Cup squad on Sunday while prop Emmett Byrne is another major doubt after failing to reappear for the second half because of an arm injury.