Weekly review – Leinster through to Heineken Cup Final

The stage was set for what was to be the biggest club game in the world (even though I thought the provinces were representative teams, rather than clubs). Both teams have had a great season and so many of the players on career highs, with a Grand Slam win and Lions selection.

The team selections looked good, but Rob Kearney’s absence from the Leinster team would probably have been more a loss than the unfortunate loss of Thomás O’Leary to Munster, only due to the fact that “Strings” was born to play in big games like this and his experience is second to none. I must admit to have been a bit worried for Leinster when I saw Nacewa named at full-back. So a slight edge to Munster based on picking a settled, mostly first choice line up. Contepomi was going to have a big say on the outcome of this match, or so we thought. Maybe he was slightly targeted, but blowing away O’Gara in the opening minutes set the tone of the day and showed Leinster’s intent. Pity Contepomi didn’t last too long on the field, but he wasn’t missed and his loss might have also been a loss of focus for the Munster back row – one less target!

So what won the game? I could say Leinster’s commitment and will to win, but really their defence was amazing – tackles coming in consistently from everyone, whereas I can’t really remember a good Munster break. Leinster broke the Munster line so often, with Elsom, O’Driscoll and Fitzgerald all impressive.

So well done, to Leinster, even though it didn’t go to script and I was shouting for Munster to do it again. I do hope they can manage to go all the way and I’m hoping it’s Leicester they meet in the final, as they owe them one.

Great debates on radio and forums this week about “Lunsters” – (those natives of Leinster who choose to follow Munster). I understand this completely – having lived in Munster and followed them in Thomond inter-pro’s, long before the Heineken Cup existed, I can see the appeal. In Limerick, Munster is for everyone, and everyone get’s behind it. It doesn’t matter what part of the city you live or what school you went to. That doesn’t happen in Leinster or Ulster. Sport is about people coming together and having a bit of craic and if that brings people from all walks of live together to shout for a team, it work for me. Munster will be back, and I hope they have a few Lunsters shouting for them along the way. In the meantime, we’ll all be shouting for Leinster in Edinburgh.

Finally Irish Times report Quinlan was spotted gouging – I haven’t seen this reported too much yet, but if there is any truth in it, it is a real shame. Quinlan is a tough player, and probably pushes all the rules to the limit, but I can’t see him doing this and a really hope it’s a mistake.

Decide for yourself.

And here is a bit of the atmosphere from the game.