Leinster had their periods of dominance in the league decider at Thomond Park, but their failure to convert pressure into points came back to haunt them in the end.

Jonathan Sexton kicked three penalties from four attempts for the visitors, while Sean O'Brien, Richardt Strauss, Fergus McFadden, Kevin McLaughlin and Nathan Hines all went close to scoring tries.

Munster managed to soak up the pressure in both halves and keep their try-line intact, with Doug Howlett's 12th-minute touchdown setting them on the way to their second Magners League title in three years.

Joe Schmidt's men travelled to Limerick in buoyant mood, just seven days after their heroic Heineken Cup final victory over Northampton Saints.

Gordon D'Arcy's ankle injury saw McFadden join Brian O'Driscoll in the centre for Leinster, who reintroduced Heinke van der Merwe and Shane Jennings in the pack.

It was a win apiece earlier in the campaign - Leinster were 13-9 winners at the Aviva Stadium and a Ronan O'Gara-inspired Munster claimed a 24-23 triumph in Limerick last month - and there was a typically bruising opening to the grand final.

Sexton miscued a long range penalty with the wind behind him, six minutes in, and although Leinster won a series of early turnovers, Munster were first on the scoreboard.

The Munster pack laid the groundwork before Lifeimi Mafi got away from Eoin Reddan and laid the ball off for former All Black Howlett to score in the corner.

O'Gara read the wind superbly to stab the conversion over, rewarding his forwards for a solid start. Paul O'Connell and man-of-the-match David Wallace were both to the fore, the latter keen to impress in his 200th outing for Munster.

The turnover rate was high as the sides scrapped for every ball, with O'Brien, Jennings and Jamie Heaslip putting their bodies on the line. Leinster patiently worked themselves into the game amid a series of attacks from deep.

One such counter led to a cynical shoulder charge by Marcus Horan on O'Driscoll which was missed by the match officials. However, a subsequent scrum infringement saw Sexton convert his first penalty goal from a central position.

There was little to chose between the sides coming up to half-time and given the balance of play, Leinster would have been pleased to go in just 7-3 behind at the break.

A sparkling run and pass from O'Driscoll got Leinster immediately into scoring range early in the second half. Their forwards battered away at Munster's defensive line until Donncha O'Callaghan was sin-binned for not rolling away in front of his posts.

Sexton took the three points on offer and Munster staved off Leinster's next assault on their line - Strauss, who almost got over from a lineout move, and McFadden, tackled brilliantly by Wallace and James Coughlan, were both thwarted.

A looping pass from Sexton was mishandled by McFadden as Munster were caught for numbers out wide, but the Leinster out-half was successful with a right-sided penalty soon after for a 9-7 lead.

With just 20 minutes remaining, it was anybody's game. After such an absorbing game in Cardiff last Saturday, tiredness seemed to become a factor for the men in blue as Munster got on the front foot again.

They barged back to within metres of the Leinster line, a thunderous tackle from Luke Fitzgerald knocking Howlett to the ground just when a try looked on.

But Munster turned the screw when O'Gara lofted a cross-field kick over to Earls who avoided Isa Nacewa's initial challenge and scored despite the best efforts of Shane Horgan and O'Driscoll.

O'Gara was narrowly wide with the conversion and watched his 48-metre penalty miss the target, with nine minutes remaining.

However, Leinster's hopes were extinguished by the concession of a third try. Munster drove them back in two successive scrums close to their line and referee Nigel Owens signalled for a penalty try after the second one.

O'Gara's conversion took the lead to 10 points and although the game was now beyond them, Leinster, with the departing Paul O'Donohoe now on the pitch, were inches away from grabbing an injury-time try. Kevin McLaughlin and Nathan Hines both went close in the dying minutes.

MUNSTER SCORERS: D. Howlett (1 try), K. Earls (1 try), Penalty try, R. O'Gara (2 conversions)

LEINSTER SCORERS: J. Sexton (3 penalties)

MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, K Earls; R O'Gara, C Murray; M Horan, D Varley, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell CAPTAIN, D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan

REPLACEMENTS: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer, D Leamy, N Ronan, P Stringer, P Warwick, J Murphy

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan (Paul O'Donohoe, 77)

1: Heinke van der Merwe (Cian Healy, 59)
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross (Stan Wright, 71)
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Nathan Hines
6: Sean O'Brien (Kevin McLaughlin, 59)
7: Shane Jennings (Aaron Dundon, 71)
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS NOT USED: Devin Toner, Ian Madigan, Eoin O'Malley

REFEREE: Nigel Owens (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Tim Hayes, David Jones (both WRU), 4th OFFICIAL: Alan Rogan (IRFU), 5th OFFICIAL: Trevor Collins (IRFU), TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU)

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip, along with team-mate Jonathan Sexton, have all agreed new contracts with the IRFU

© www.Inpho.ie

via irishrugby.ie

 

Brian O'Driscoll will continue a career that began in Ireland in 1999 by remaining with Leinster until the end of the 2012/13 season.

Jonathan Sexton will also remain in Ireland with Leinster having agreed a new contract up until June 2013, with Jamie Heaslip, who has played number 8 for Leinster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions in his career to date, now contracted up until June 2014.

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne said: "This is exceptionally good news for Ireland and Leinster to be making the announcement that Brian, Jamie and Jonathan have agreed new contracts to continue playing here in Ireland.

"I believe that they have made the right choice for everybody concerned and would like to express my delight at each of them making this commitment.

"They have shown that their desire to continue their careers in Ireland and play for Leinster was the strongest factor in making their decision.

"While being equally delighted at both Jamie and Jonathan's decision to sign new contracts, I feel I do need to make a special mention about Brian.

"He has shown unwavering professionalism and commitment to Irish and Leinster rugby throughout his career and is also the perfect example to all young players, showing how the Irish system provides support for natural talent and can have a positive influence on their development and potential by remaining playing here in Ireland."

O'Driscoll himself said: "Playing in Ireland with Leinster for my entire career has been all the more enjoyable knowing that my rugby goals I have achieved to date were with an organisation that has really grown at the same time as me over the last ten years.

"Leinster and Irish rugby has progressed so far during that time that winning Magners Leagues, Heineken Cups and Grand Slams was infinitely more satisfying knowing that it was done playing in Ireland with my home province.

"I also feel that my potential to reach those goals was best served by staying in Ireland where as players, we are so well looked after and I think it has enhanced and prolonged my career and is something that the younger players can really benefit from."

He added: "My appetite to achieve more with Leinster and Ireland certainly has not been dampened by our recent success.

"While I have been in Leinster over eleven years, it is great to see the next generation coming through and I am a little jealous as they have the chance to experience even more success then I have had.

"I am looking forward to the start of the Six Nations, and after that I can focus on those other long term goals with Ireland and Leinster over the next two years."

Jamie Heaslip said: "I am pleased to have agreed a new contract and to commit myself to Leinster for a further three years. I have been fortunate to enjoy some great success already in my career and I want to achieve more with Leinster and Ireland in the years ahead.

"There is tremendous competition for places at both provincial and national level which augurs well for the future. Now that I am going to be part of that I just want to concentrate on getting over my injury and getting back on the pitch for Ireland as soon as possible."

Jonathan Sexton said: "There is something special building in Leinster at the moment and as well as the involvement with Ireland in a World Cup year, that was the main influence on my decision.

"It has been great to get my contract finalised ahead of what is going to be a pretty exciting and challenging period for the Ireland squad and now I just want to focus on playing the best rugby that I can and hopefully contributing to further success with Ireland and Leinster."

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney said: "I think that Brian, Jamie and Jonathan agreeing new contracts is great news as all three players have key roles to play for province and country.

"The benefit to the Irish team to have these players remaining here in Ireland cannot be understated and I am delighted to see that they have made this commitment."

Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt added: "It's a great boost to finally secure the contract extensions of Brian, Jamie and Johnny.

"They have been key players in the province's recent success and they offer genuine leadership, talent and experience as we strive toward further success.

"Being of genuine Leinster stock, it's great to have three such pivotal players join with a number of other players who have recently extended their contracts, reaffirming that loyalty amongst Irish players can still outweigh lucrative overseas offers. For the province, our sponsors and supporters it offers great stability going forward."

Leinster's Devin Toner will win his first senior cap as he packs down in the second row alongside the experienced Donncha O'Callaghan.

Ireland have selected an all new front row with Tom Court, Sean Cronin and John Hayes selected to start.

Denis Leamy and Sean O'Brien are called into the back row to play alongside Jamie Heaslip who retains the number 8 jersey.

Luke Fitzgerald makes the switch from wing to full-back, with Andrew Trimble coming into the vacant left wing position.

Paddy Wallace also comes into the team at inside centre to partner captain Brian O'Driscoll, and Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer, both used as replacements against South Africa, will form the starting half-back combination.

"I'm delighted to be selected...over the moon. I'm just excited now and can't wait for the game," said Toner

"I found out yesterday when the team was announced. I wasn't told beforehand, so I got a bit of a shock.

"I've been involved in Irish squads before. You're always kind of hoping to get selected. When I saw the four games for this series, I was hopeful (of getting a first cap).

"I'm very pleased to get the call and just looking forward to playing now."

The replacements bench will be finalised after training on Thursday.

IRELAND Team:
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), Sean O'Brien (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster).

Heaslip: Looking to impress

Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip believes home ground advantage will play a big part in Saturday's clash against South Africa.

Declan Kidney's men will host the Springboks in their first international match at the new Aviva Stadium.

Heaslip, who has been in outstanding form for club side Leinster, expects the overwhelming home support to inspire Ireland to victory over the current World champions.

"I think we can do a job," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"The new stadium is unbelievable. I played there a few weeks ago against Munster in the Magners League and it was incredible.

"That was a 60-40 split, but in an Ireland home game you're going to be getting 80-20 if not 90-10 and believe me, that will be intimidating.

"I think people are going to be surprised at just how loud it is. In that match against Munster it was hard to hear the referee call the scrum.

"The crowd are right on top of you so there's no escape. It's a great ampitheatre. As well as the atmosphere the pitch is superb and the facilities are the best I have ever been in."

Ireland face gruelling encounters against Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina following the Springbok clash and Heaslip is hoping to get as much game time as possible.

"We've got four tough games ahead of us and inevitably there will be knocks and bangs. You can't have the same 15 guys going through all four games given the physicality of the game," he said.

"A player wants to play so maybe sometimes you have to protect him from himself."