RoadtoLansdowne

Compiled by Gavin Cummiskey

All just a pack of lies for Leinster

Have you heard the one about the Leinster backs and the Munster forwards? The nauseating cliche was given another run out at yesterday's Leinster media conference.

"It's water off a duck's back at this stage," said Jamie Heaslip. "I'm only new this year and I've heard it so many times that it is getting ridiculous. Like Brian (O'Driscoll) said, we've proven ourselves time and time again against the bigger packs. When we've had to, we've stood up to it.

"If you (the media) want to write about that, it's fine by us, but we'll step up to the challenge again. We're not paying any heed to it."

Surely, that clears that up.

Provinces unite to ignore ERC

All hell is expected to break loose on Sunday afternoon, but off the field the Leinster and Munster Branches are on a similar wavelength. The more outlandish requests of ERC Ltd have been met by a united front this week.

The governing body of the European Cup are dictating affairs, as is their right, but this being a strictly domestic affair, several issues have not sat well with either camp.

Problem number one is Saturday's joint press conference at Lansdowne Road. Declan Kidney, Michael Cheika, Brian O'Driscoll and Anthony Foley are expected to show up for an awkward, and largely irrelevant, lunchtime gathering. Don't hold your breath.

A proposed post-match dinner in the shadow of the East Stand has also been scuttled, with both squads preferring the familiar surrounds of the committee rooms under the West Stand - adjacent to the dressingrooms and the team coach. One team is going to need an exit strategy come Sunday evening.

Contepomi gives O'Gara a lesson

Leinster 35-23 Munster RDS, New Year's Eve

Felipe Contepomi produced the gamut of Latin artistry, a yellow card included. Ronan O'Gara was completely outclassed by the Argentinian's 25-point haul that included a magical individual try and some outstanding place-kicking.

And yet, the Irish outhalf almost stole the show by kicking Munster within five points in injury-time. Denis Hickie made a late, try-scoring interception, before Contepomi crossed for his second try, which he converted into a howling gale from the touchline. Game over. Happy New Year.

The game exposed Munster's failure to punish teams on the outside, but, equally, it displayed their dogged resilience. Such was Leinster's mood, they would have put 60 on a less streetwise team.

There were plenty of other subplots.

Barry Murphy's natural running ability showed signs of what was to come. Alas, the 23-year-old centre is out of the current equation with a badly broken leg.

Brian O'Driscoll made his first start since Tana and Keven dumped him on his head the previous June. Ripping possession from a rampaging prop was the most impressive cameo. Marcus Horan was the victim of O'Driscoll's trademark thievery.

Not to be outdone, Ireland's other leader, Paul O'Connell made a try-scoring return from a broken thumb.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, K Lewis; F Contepomi, G Easterby; R Corrigan, J Blaney, W Green; A Byrnes, M O'Kelly; C Jowitt, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Williams for Byrnes (17-28 and 52 mins), R McCormack for Jowitt (63-71 mins), D Hickie for O'Driscoll (71 mins), E Miller for Jowitt (73 mins). Not used: D Blaney, B O'Riordan, J Hepworth. Sinbinned: Contepomi (46 mins), Corrigan (61 mins).

MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, B Murphy, G Connolly, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, F Pucciariello; M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell; D Leamy, D Wallace, A Foley. Replacements: J Hayes for Pucciariello (52 mins), D O'Callaghan for O'Driscoll, T Halstead for Connolly (both 63 mins), T Hogan for O'Connell (78 mins), J Manning for O'Gara (83-84 mins). Not used: D Fogarty, M Prendergast.

Attendance: 14,135.

Referee: Alistair McKay (IRFU).