URC: Leinster too strong for Munster once again after South Africans complete another clean sweep

Despite the Limerick outfit claiming a victory the last time these two teams met in the Rainbow Cup, the Dubliners have generally held the upper hand over the last few years.

And they controlled the majority of this match, despite only holding a 14-12 lead at the break.

Joey Carbery kicked four three-pointers in the first half thanks to Leinster’s ill-discipline, but Leo Cullen’s men were more dangerous with ball in hand and scored the only try prior to the break as Garry Ringrose went over.

Ross Byrne also kicked three penalties before the visitors ramped up the intensity in the second period and took the game away from the hosts.

Scores from James Lowe and Jimmy O’Brien put them in command and although Damian de Allende briefly gave Munster hope, Lowe’s second try sealed an excellent victory for the Leinstermen.

Leo Cullen’s men built a number of early phases before fly-half Byrne kicked them ahead. Carbery, who was tackled high by Jack Conan, landed a levelling 13th-minute penalty.

A smart Leinster move off a lineout had O’Brien and Lowe stretching their legs. The pack pounded away before Byrne swung a pass wide for Ringrose to go over unopposed in the corner.

With the conversion missed, Carbery punished a second high tackle to close the gap to 8-6, before then cancelling out a Byrne effort.

Carbery duly nudged Munster in front with a 36th-minute place-kick, only for Leinster to force a late turnover and set up Byrne to boot them back in front.

Notably, with Caelan Doris becoming more prominent, Leinster went up a gear on the restart as Byrne and Robbie Henshaw sent Lowe reaching over for an unconverted 47th-minute try.

Fineen Wycherley’s late hit on Josh van der Flier soon allowed Byrne to widen the margin to 22-12.