Leinster 10 London Irish 25: A feel-out game for Leinster. A chance to look at the young blood and see how the older imports from Australia, second row Owen Finnegan and scrumhalf Chris Whittaker, have settled in to Michael Cheika's side as London Irish became the first side to rip into a pristine Donnybrook.
Leinster, without their heavyweight international players, had gaps to fill around the pitch but most of the names that slotted in were familiar enough and proven for the province's first challenge match of the season.
For Whittaker, Finnegan, Michael Berne, Stephen Keogh, young Ross McCarron and Trevor Hogan, it was their first senior start in Donnybrook in a blue shirt.
But far from being a friendly romp - is there such a thing anymore? - a short-lived pushing match after three minutes ensured nobody's mind drifted, just as Nick Kennedy took the first throw of Harry Vermas on Leinster's opening lineout.
That was soon rectified as Rob Kearney began the first of an eye-catching first session and steamed up the left wing with Topsy Ojo on his shoulders. Ojo heaved the flyer to touch but Kearney skilfully flicked the ball backwards for Stephen Keogh to run in for his first Leinster try.
The Exiles drew level just three minutes before the first break when number eight Juan Leguizamon took the ball into the Leinster half with pace and fed short to an angled run from left wing Dominic Shabbo for the equalising try.
Soon after the break Irish lost their captain, scrumhalf Paul Hodgson, and shortly after he returned openside flanker and French legend Olivier Magne was shown the yellow card for persistent fouling, the team as guilty as he was, as Leinster pressed for their second try.
It was just after that the visitors made 11 substitutions in one change and Leinster five. But even with Magne gone, Leinster made little impression with the extra man. With Contepomi off, the midfield lacked the speed of thought, poise and control of the first 40 and when Argentinian centre Gonzala Tiesi burst through the centre and offloaded, it was again Shabbo whizzing into the right corner for the visitors' second try, Ben Willis missing the conversion.
Five minutes later Robbie Russell went over amid a tangle of bodies for 15-5 and Leinster were in trouble as the third session came to an end.
Both sides were rusty and while substitute Luke Fitzgerald flashed past and was rewarded with a late try, Finnegan also delivered occasional biff up front. But it was hard to see where two Leinster rescue tries were going to come from.
The London Irish lineout was more consistent throughout with Leinster fluffing at least three in the first two sessions and in the closing 20 minutes, it was the visitors who were pressing for more before their opening Guinness Premiership match against Harlequins on September 2nd.
Adam Byrnes and Des Dillon were brought back for Devin Toner and Finnegan as the side struggled on their line and the game became a little dour. Finally a gap opened in the midfield and from an innocuous situation: Gonzalo Tiesi goose-stepped his way through a few clinging but tired looking tackles to touch down under the posts. This time Willis was accurate and brought his team to 22-5 and well out of reach.
But Leinster looked too ad hoc to be dangerous in greasy conditions. Cheika may have seen a few things he liked but should still be anxious about the number of things he didn't.
Leinster scorers (S Keogh try, L Fitzgerald try). London Irish scorers (D Shabbo 2 tries, R Russell try, G Tiesi try, B Willis 1 con, one pen)
LEINSTER (starting team only): R McCarron; G Brown, K Lewis, M Berne, R Kearney; F Contepomi (capt), C Whittaker; R McCormack, H Vermass, W Green, T Hogan, O Finnegan, S Keogh, N Ronan, J Heaslip.
LONDON IRISH (starting team only): D Armitage; T Ojo, D Feaunati, S Geraghty, D Shabbo; R Flutey, P Hodgson (capt); T Lea'aetoa, D Coetzee, T Warren, N Kennedy, J Hudson, K Roche, O Magne, J Leguizamon.
Referee: G Clancy (MAR)
