Munster fall to O'Driscoll
A try from Brian O'Driscoll clinched a 13-9 win for Leinster over Munster in the first senior match at the new Aviva Stadium.
Last Updated: 03/10/10 1:48am
Munster's unbeaten start to the new Magners League season came to an end as they suffered a fifth straight defeat at the hands of Leinster.
Brian O'Driscoll grabbed the decisive try in the 70th minute to clinch his side a hard-fought 13-9 victory in the first senior match at the Aviva Stadium.
Up until then it had been a battle between the two place-kickers - rival fly-halves Ronan O'Gara and Isa Nacewa.
The two rival number 10's stuck a penalty apiece in a finely-balanced first half that saw both sides guilty of losing their discipline at the breakdown.
Roaring start
Munster came roaring out of the blocks, a quick turnover leading to a fourth-minute penalty which O'Gara converted from inside the 22.
Flanker Sean O'Brien managed to block a drop goal attempt from O'Gara while Leinster had their hands full dealing with centre pairing Lifeimi Mafi and Sam Tuitupou.
However a break from Nacewa led to the fly-half getting a penalty chance. Having missed his first attempt at the posts, he made no mistake second time around to level the scores.
It remained 3-3 through to the half-time interval, though only due to O'Gara missing a penalty.
Leinster full-back Rob Kearney also tried his luck from a long range penalty, missing it to the right, before being on the end of a high tackle from Mafi that led to the Munster man being sent to the sin-bin.
Strong response
However the 14 men responded strongly and O'Gara kicked them back in front, punishing Ireland team-mate Gordon D'Arcy for a ruck offence.
Nacewa replied again to make it six apiece but hands in at the ruck by Richardt Strauss allowed O'Gara to boot the away team ahead again.
In danger of suffering a fourth defeat in five league outings under the stewardship of new coach coach Joe Schmidt, Leinster stepped up the pace.
After pushing hard they eventually found a way through Munster's defences when the impressive O'Brien offloaded to the supporting O'Driscoll.
The British and Irish Lion accepted the pass and galloped away to score, Nacewa adding the extras to make sure Leinster would register their first five-match winning run over their rivals since the 1930s.
