Bernard Jackman: Leinster's dominance could be 'slippery slope' for Irish rugby

Bernard Jackman believes Leinster's total superiority over the other three provinces could represent a "slippery slope" for Irish rugby.

Leo Cullen's side maintained their 100% record in the United Rugby Championship over Christmas, their experimental side accounting for a brave Connacht in the Aviva Stadium, before the big guns returned for the 28-7 victory away to Munster in Thomond Park.

Munster, in a state of flux in the coaching booth since the departure of Graham Rowntree early in the season, did grind out an important win over Ulster in Kingspan Stadium. However, they were comfortably over-powered at home to a Leinster side, now operating on a completely different plane.

The decision to rest first-choice out-half Jack Crowley for the visit of their biggest traditional rivals was taken by some as damning evidence of their belief that the game - once the blue riband fixture in Irish club rugby - was now a write off.

"I was chatting to a lot of Munster fans before the game and they were so disappointed that Jack Crowley was out before the game," Jackman said on RTÉ 2fm's Game On.

"Their whole thing was... is that what we've become?

"Are we a team who rests players in the Champions Cup? Are we a team who rests players against Leinster? Not because we think we can win anyway, but because we don't think we can win.

"I'm not saying that's why Jack Crowley didn't play and obviously there's an IRFU mandate about how many games he plays, but certainly the fans felt short-changed.

"In fairness to the Munster players, their effort was outstanding. They just didn't have the tools. They didn't have the quality, the size, the power to go toe-to-toe with a Leinster team.

"And the challenge is, if that gets into the fans' minds, they don't