Leinster set up all-Irish semi

Leinster are through to the Heineken Cup semi-finals following a hard-fought 6-5 victory at Harlequins.

A pair of first-half Felipe Contepomi penalties gave the visitors a 6-0 lead heading into half-time and, despite failing to take advantage of Nick Easter's sin-binning with a try, they held on for the win.

Even with their Argentine number 10 yellow-carded after the interval leading to a try for Mike Brown, the Magners League side still stood firm to progress.

Their triumph sets up a showdown with defending champions Munster at Croke Park in a mouth-watering all-Irish semi-final.

Battle

Both sides are still battling for honours domestically and produced a fittingly combative first-half after Nick Evans had got things underway at a bouncing Twickenham Stoop.

For all the qualities in defence, though, the first 40 minutes was also fraught with handling errors. Quins full-back Brown was the first to err, knocking on to give Leinster great attacking possession, but Jordan Turner-Hall came up with a succession of big hits to keep the Londoners firmly in it.

Contepomi's penalty took the visitors into a 3-0 lead on the quarter-hour mark and, despite breaks from David Strettle, Ugo Monye and the heavily-strapped Evans, Quins just could not find a way to breach the Irish defence.

England winger Monye was proving invaluable in defence, though, first getting back to stop the rampaging Rocky Elsom and then also Brian O'Driscoll to prevent tries. Strettle provided some sterling work in helping to hold the Ireland captain up on the line and Easter was yellow-carded for deliberately interfering with the ensuing ruck. Contepomi kicked the resulting penalty and Leinster took a 6-0 lead into the break.

Attritional

The hosts survived a period of intense pressure with 14 men after the restart and, even though Evans was forced to hobble off to be replaced by Chris Malone, Rob Kearney's missed drop goal attempt ensured Quins were able to clear their lines.

Just as Easter returned Leinster saw Contepomi sin-binned for a professional foul on the marauding Chris Robshaw, with the flanker chasing his chip down the line into the Leinster 22.

The visitors defence withstood an immense amount of forward pressure in the subsequent 15 minutes before Brown eventually crashed over for the game's one and only try. However, Malone missed the kick and Leinster still held a one-point lead.

Malone became the second Quins fly-half to limp off with 10 minutes remaining, forcing Tom Williams to come on in his place. Brown took over the kicking duties but could not convert a long-range penalty opportunity.

And, despite getting the injured Evans back on the field as a blood replacement for Williams, the New Zealander was unable to recreate his heroics against Stade Francais, coming up short and wide with a drop goal effort right at the death.