Heineken Cup Munster v Leinster: JOHN O'SULLIVANbreaks down the match

5.33: Leinster outhalf Felipe Contepomi begins the match with a high drop-off that is nearly fumbled by Paul Warwick and Lifeimi Mafi.

5.35: First penalty of the match as Munster penalised at a ruck.

5.36: Contepomi takes the penalty from just four metres inside the Munster half but if drifts wide.

5.38: Peter Stringer charges down a Brian O’Driscoll chip but Leinster scramble back, force a turnover and then win a penalty, which Bernard Jackman takes quickly. Contepomi makes a half-break.

5.41: Three Leinster players lying on the turf underlines the savage physicality of the game. Jackman, Contepomi and Shane Jennings all require attention before resuming. Gordon D’Arcy takes exception to being held by Keith Earls off the ball. The two square up and are soon joined by most players.

5.45: Earls runs a brilliant line to scamper through the Leinster defence, races 50 metres but can’t find his support (Doug Howlett) and is tackled by Isa Nacewa. Rocky Elsom puts in a mammoth tackle on Ian Dowling near the Leinster line.

5.48: Paul O’Connell and co turn over a third Leinster throw.

5.51: O’Driscoll’s chip is hustled into touch by Warwick; Jackman finds Elsom and the passage of play ends with Contepomi dropping a fine goal. Leinster 3 Munster 0.

5.52: Cian Healy concedes a penalty and is sinbinned for taking out Munster wing Dowling as the latter follows his chip. Roan O’Gara is unerring. Leinster 3 Munster 3.

5.55: A Munster counterattack is stymied when O’Gara’s long cut out pass drifts forward, thereby negating a huge overlap on half way. It’s a scrum so Leinster have to take off Jennings and bring on Ronnie McCormack.

5.57: Contepomi strips Earls of the ball but after Leinster reach their opponents’ 22, Stan Wright is penalised for not releasing.

5.58: Leinster turnover Munster lineout for the first time, Rocky Elsom and Jackman combining.

6.00: Elsom is put through a gap by Contepomi’s slight of hand and races 35 metres into Munster 22 but Warwick makes a great tackle.

6.03: Contepomi slips and wrenches his knee as he is tackled. It’s his last action as he is replaced by Jonathan Sexton, whose first touch is to kick a 22-metre penalty to put Leinster back in front. Leinster 6 Munster 3.

6.07: Jennings and Healy return as McCormack goes back to the bench.

6.08: Luke Fitzgerald fields Sexton’s cross kick but Howlett intercepts the wing’s inside pass metres from the Munster line.

6.10: D’Arcy scores a try for Leinster. O’Driscoll’s pass allows Nacewa to race clear and the Fijian finds D’Arcy, who holds off Earls’ despairing tackle to bounce his way over the line. Sexton can not convert. Leinster 11 Munster 3.

6.15: Elsom is penalised for a pull back on Howlett; O’Gara kicks the penalty. Leinster 11 Munster 6.

6.22: Half-time, the final throes of the half having included a wayward attempted drop goal from Sexton.

6.33: Second half begins.

6.35: Leinster lose a fourth lineout.

6.37: Leinster grab a second try. After O’Driscoll’s slaloming run, the Leinster pack rumble forward before the ball is swept back against the grain. O’Driscoll and Horgan show quick hands to put Fitzgerald away and he steps inside Warwick to touch down. Sexton converts. Leinster 18 Munster 6.

6.49: Leinster’s discipline poor as they concede four penalties in six minutes.

6.51: A great turnover by Healy ends a concerted spell of Munster pressure near the Leinster line.

6.55: Chris Whitaker spoils David Wallace at a scrum for a turnover inside the 22.

6.58: O’Driscoll’s try. He intercepts O’Gara’s intended pass to O’Connell to race 75 metres to score under the posts. Sexton converts. Leinster 25 Munster 6.

7.04: Munster coach Tony McGahan brings on Niall Ronan and Barry Murphy and later Tony Buckley. Jackman departs, followed by Fitzgerald, the latter with cramp.

7.06: Horgan tackles Wallace, forcing a fumble and then Alan Quinlan is bundled into touch at the corner flag.

7.07: Sexton misses another speculative drop goal.

7.12: Heaslip to the fore in Leinster’s brilliant fringe defence. Munster have most of their replacements on, while Leinster have brought on Girvan Dempsey, John Fogarty, Seán O’Brien (two brilliant steals).

7.19: The outstanding Leo Cullen picks up a blood injury and is replaced by Devin Toner.

7.22: Heaslip boots the ball up into stand as referee Nigel Owens blows his whistle.