Leinster crush Irish rivals

Sexton: Un-erring kicking

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Defending European champions Leinster sent out a message to this year's Heineken Cup rivals with a devastating 30-0 victory over Munster in the Magners League on Saturday.

The visitors were forced to play the last 25 minutes with 14 men after John Hayes was dismissed for stamping on the face of Cian Healy, merely accelerating the home side's stampede towards full points.

Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll and Shane Horgan all crossed for the home side while Jonny Sexton booted 15 points to leave rival kicker Ronan O'Gara in the shade.

The triumph was Leinster's 11th in succession at their RDS base and left the reigning Magners League champions red-faced.

Sexton kicked his side ahead in the fifth minute after Donncha O'Callaghan was caught offside and doubled the tally 15 minutes later, when Tomas O'Leary conceded a penalty under the posts following great work from the formidable Blues pack.

Classy

The first try was a long time coming but it was a classy effort when it arrived, flanker Kevin O'Laughlin driving ahead before returning Lion O'Driscoll found Horgan with a great pass to allow D'Arcy an easy score.

Sexton added the extras and although Munster gained a foothold thanks to the tactical kicking of Denis Leamy and Nick Williams, Leinster were value for the 13-0 lead at the break.

However, six minutes into the second period the game was over as a contest, O'Driscoll dashing past Jean de Villiers and Keith Earls to score the Blues' second with Sexton predictably converting.

Lions skipper Paul O'Connell and David Wallace were introduced by the visitors but made little impact despite having the wind behind them in the second half.

And when Healy tried to bring down a maul Hayes took matters into his own hands by uncharacteristically lashing out with the boot, ending his night early.

Sexton stretched the lead further as a result and then nine minutes from time Horgan intercepted a Paul Warwick pass that was meant for de Villiers to amble over, with the un-erring Sexton rounding off the scoring on a great night for the Irish principality.