WATCH: Murray rolls back the years as Munster make winning return to the RDS

MUNSTER returned to the RDS yesterday evening looking to make amends against provincial rivals Leinster after last month’s PRO14 Final heartbreak.

There will be no European Cup or league title for Munster this season but they do have a shot at the Rainbow Cup. This was Munster’s first match in the once-off competition and they started as they mean to go on.

The performance was not perfect and Leinster were far from full-strength but Johann Van Graan will still be proud of his team. Munster brought huge aggression from the first minute which was missed last time out.

Peter O’Mahony was a vocal presence throughout and on occasion Munster failed to control their intensity, Stephen Archer saw yellow in the first half for a stamp on James Ryan and Jack O’Donoghue was also subject to a TMO review.

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South African centre Damian De Allende was excellent against Toulouse in the Champions Cup and backed up that display in emphatic style.

The first forty was a very scrappy affair but an early moment of quality from the World Cup winning Springbok handed Munster an important lead.

The 28 year-old showed brilliant footwork to make a barnstorming break down-field before finding Conor Murray on his inside shoulder. Joey Carbery converted and Munster led 7-0 after five minutes.

Although discipline disrupted both sides’ continuity, Munster enjoyed more and more possession in the second half.

The influence of Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony and Jack O’Donoghue helped win the breakdown battle and from there the men in red advanced down field time and time again.

After the hour mark Munster finally turned possession into points. Gavin Coombes came on to add some bulk up front but it was the Corkman’s silky skills that contributed to the province’s second try.

Coombes offloaded out of the tackle to Chris Farrell, Farrell was dragged down inches from the line and two-time Lion Conor Murray burrowed his way over in trademark style.

And it was to get better for Munster.

The visitors’ dominance up front was telling throughout and in the 72nd minute the pack were rewarded with a penalty try when Cormac Foley collapsed a maul deep inside Leinster’s 22.

You can’t read too much into the result in the circumstances but full credit to Munster for producing a high level of performance regardless of competition and regardless of opposition.

Hopefully the men in red can continue this form in the coming weeks and into next season.

FT: Leinster 3-27 Munster

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