We are a great little nation at buying into extremes. At any given moment, we are either the very best or the very worst with little room to operate anywhere in between.

Last Saturday at the RDS, Munster were beaten more convincingly than the 16-6 scoreline suggests. Leinster were outstanding in completing a fourth competitive victory in a row over their great rivals.

That the balance of power has shifted is beyond dispute. Aside from winning, the fact that they held Munster try-less in each of those four games will have pleased Michael Cheika, his players and backroom staff no end. And, irrespective of the outcome in the final against the Ospreys, Cheika will leave some legacy before departing for France.

The best any coach can do with a squad is to leave it in better nick than he found it. Cheika has not alone done that but, in his time in charge, he has inculcated a winning culture built on a dog-tough mental and physical edge. They have assumed the Munster mantle but that does not by any means equal the end of the southern province as a European and Celtic League power ... Far from it.

They lost a match (and with it a title) but losing two semi-finals does not make for a system in decline. The structures are too good for that. So bígí cúramach when writing the obituaries. A Munster team with Jerry Flannery, Paul O'Connell, Denis Leamy and David Wallace in situ is a very different competitive animal entirely. If I did have one wish for change, however, it would be to see Munster handle constructive and objective comment with much greater dignity.

Blinded

In blazing the trail for Irish rugby, some within the organisation have become blinded by that success. They do the province no favours by believing them to be immune from informed analysis. Put simply, Munster don't do criticism well. By contrast, Leinster have taken all the 'ladyboy' jibes etc and channeled that criticism into the area of only meaningful response -- on-field performance.

On Saturday, they were magnificent. I don't think it's stretching it to suggest they won almost every battle. Pick a combined side in the aftermath and there might be some room for discussion on the wing (Lifeimi Mafi), perhaps one centre (Keith Earls) and, as ever, outside-half. Beyond that, Leinster dominated. The platform was laid up front but the Leinster back row, particularly Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip, were immense.

I suspect Wallace will work his way back Down Under but don't rule out a Kevin McLaughlin/Jennings/Heaslip back row lining out in at least one of the June matches. Heaslip took the individual gong by a mile but was joined in the leadership stakes by Jennings and the ultra-consistent Brian O'Driscoll. Leadership is about deeds not words but, most of all, it is about visibility when momentum is flowing the other way.

Heaslip's barnstorming second-half runs -- stretching Earls to the limit and almost poleaxing the brave Ronan O'Gara -- made for the icing but the real leadership is the hard yards and momentum gained in defence allied to the tackle count and groundhog turnovers at the breakdown. Here Heaslip was sublime. He is without doubt the Irish skipper in waiting and already in my view the most complete No 8 forward to wear green.

Whenever asked over the years to select my best ever Irish back row, it tripped off the tongue -- John O'Driscoll, Fergus Slattery and Willie Duggan. The chemistry and balance between the three was so good. But when a player comes along with the athleticism of Ken Goodall, the intellect of Anthony Foley, the dynamism of Victor Costello but, most of all, the Lion-heart bravery in adversity of Duggan, then the call in the middle of the all-time Irish back row becomes a no-brainer. There is an honesty and maturity to Heaslip's game that makes him a certain future Irish captain.

If ever a game defined his readiness to lead, this was it. In his team's times of crisis, it was the Leinster No 8 who controlled things with Jennings and O'Driscoll pretty close behind. Mention, too, of Rob Kearney. Uncertainty over full-back selection -- shared with Girvan Dempsey and Isa Nacewa -- has hindered his progress since last summer's Lions tour but signs are of another leader in the making.

As with the Flower of Scotland, the Munster army has been sent home to think again. Of that you can be sure they will. It is NOT the end of an era but a moment of transition.

And I for one do not believe the signing of Jean de Villiers has been a hit. His route-one style, while creating some important tries, has hindered the Munster backline development more than it helped. However, Mafi and Earls have much to offer as a potent midfield force.

Indeed, on the subject of innovation, I doubt you will see a finer creative try than that engineered by Gordon D'Arcy, Jonathan Sexton and O'Driscoll (by way of subtle obstruction) for Saturday's match-defining score. Alan Gaffney take a bow. All told, it made for one of the games of the season.

• Word has reached us that the Westmeath town of Moate will field its first adult rugby team next season. Since its formation six years ago, Midland Warriors RFC has tapped into rugby's growing popularity by fielding underage teams. Now the first batch of young Brian O'Driscoll wannabes are coming to adulthood, and the club will compete in Leinster J3 for the 2010/11 season under head coach Jude Lennon. Interested parties can contact Graham Ross (087-9290196), John Seery (086-1016042), Hugh Flynn (086-2522313) or midlandwarriorsrfc@gmail.com.

- Tony Ward

Irish Independent

MUNSTER have announced the signing of All Blacks centre Sam Tuitupou from Worcester for next season, writes Hugh Farrelly.

With Springbok centre Jean de Villiers returning to South Africa, 28-year-old Tuitupou has been brought in to bolster midfield resources. Powerfully built, with a low centre of gravity at 5'9", Tuitupou won nine caps for New Zealand between 2004 and 2006 and captained his country at U-19 and U-21 levels.

The former Auckland Blues centre joins Leicester wing Johne Murphy as Munster's back-line additions for next season and the province have also confirmed that flanker Tommy O'Donnell, prop Dave Ryan and scrum-half Duncan Williams have been upgraded from development to full professional contracts.

In addition, academy players Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Stephen Archer, Scott Deasy, Peter O'Mahony and Danny Barnes have been promoted to full development contracts.

Training contracted player Declan Cusack, who started at out-half in the recent win over Connacht, has also been promoted to a full development contract.

Irish Independent

De Villiers (R): Has backed Mick O'Driscoll to perform on Sunday

Jean de Villiers believes Munster can overcome the absence of inspirational skipper Paul O'Connell and win their Heineken Cup semi-final against Biarritz on Sunday.

The Irish province travel to the Basque stronghold of San Sebastian without Ireland talisman O'Connell, who has been ruled out with a groin problem sustained at the end of the RBS Six Nations campaign.

But De Villiers insists replacement Mick O'Driscoll can step up to the mark as the two-time champions prepare for a repeat of the 2006 final, which they edged 23-19.

The South African centre said: "Of course Paul will be missed. He's a great player, a great leader. But we have the players and experience to cope.

"One of the things I have learned through my career is that everyone can be replaced.

Fantastic

"Mick's been fantastic in the role he's played alongside Donncha O'Callaghan and the leadership abilities he's shown."

De Villiers is determined to leave Ireland with a winners' medal as he prepares to head back to South Africa at the end of the season in order to regain his place in the Springbok squad ahead of next year's World Cup.

The 29-year-old added: "The reason I came abroad and chose a team like Munster is because of how successful they've been in the past.

"If we don't win the Heineken Cup, the year will not be a success for us and I think that's how it will be viewed by the public as well.

"That's the sort of ambition that's in this squad. That's one of the attractions for joining them.

"So there's a big onus on every individual to do their part in getting that result."

Balshaw realistic

England World Cup winner Iain Balshaw will start for Biarritz at full-back but is not expecting to gain a recall into the national side even if he plays out of his skin.

Balshaw said: "I don't think I'll ever play for England again, no matter how well I play for Biarritz.

"I thought I'd done well last season for Gloucester but it turned out it wasn't good enough. I'm not angry about that.

"There are young guys coming through. If I was asked to play again by England, of course I would. I just don't think I'm going to be asked."