Celtic League/ Leinster 30 Connacht 21: To dwell on the victory rather than the performance would constitute gross negligence. Leinster escaped with a victory by dint of a decent second-half display but any repetition of this 80 minutes as a package next Saturday against Wasps in the Heineken European Cup quarter-final simply won't suffice to progress in that tournament.
That may seem a damning indictment of Connacht, in terms of not sustaining their ascendancy, but that's not the case. They gorged at the trough of Leinster ineptitude in the first half, maximising the return on the scoreboard, but couldn't quite sustain that dominance after the interval.
The home side's first-half performance was strikingly ineffective, a mish-mash of unforced errors that provided Connacht with both field position and momentum. It would be churlish though not to recognise the superb manner in which the visitors accepted the largesse and turned it into points. In some respects that easy success may have provided a false buffer when the home side did eventually pose a sustained threat.
The visitors didn't have to work unduly for their points as Leinster transgressed with alarming regularity in terms of indiscipline as well as basic mistakes. Leinster coach Michael Cheika admitted: "It (the display) wasn't good enough. We were all over the place at times and we made a lot of mistakes."
That they managed to extricate themselves from this predicament is a testament to their character and ability. In contrast Connacht will reflect on a game, on which they enjoyed a firm grasp, only to watch it prised away incrementally. They were full value for their half-time lead of 21-13 but will rue not being able to sustain that momentum.
The key to their first-half ascendancy was aggressive defence and an ability to ruthlessly exploit the scoring opportunities doled out for the most part.
None exuded that sharpness more than outhalf Paul Warwick, who would contribute 16 of his team's points. The Australian's place-kicking was exemplary, his punting assured and he showed great balance and flair to claim one of his side's two tries.
It wasn't his fault that he became a peripheral influence after the interval. Leinster wrested the impetus by running harder, clearing out at rucks more forcefully and guaranteeing the quick ball that the backline craved. They also cut down on the number of unforced errors. In some respects Leinster outhalf Felipe Contepomi mirrored his team's performance, unusually error strewn in the first half but a pivotal figure thereafter.
In the first quarter of the match Leinster had racked up 11 unforced errors, ranging from the concession of a free kick and a penalty from the first three scrums, to the turnover of a lineout and rank defending. At this point Connacht led 13-3 as Warwick kicked a couple of penalties and converted a try from hooker Adrian Flavin.
Leinster's response came through the boot of Contepomi. When Leinster's excellent loosehead Stanley Wright - he had a brilliant game in the loose - was dispatched to the sin bin on 19 minutes, it hardly augured well but the home side would win that 10 minute period 7-3, following an excellent try from Bernard Jackman, converted by Contepomi.
Warwick responded with a penalty and then displayed some neat footwork on 38 minutes to exploit some brittle Leinster defence to cross for a fine try which he could not improve upon. Connacht led 21-10 at the interval, and even managed to survive the sin binning of replacement flanker Matt Lacey.
However, when reduced to 14 men while Ray Offisa - he had a fine game - was being attended to Leinster struck with a try from the game's outstanding performer Keith Gleeson. Contepomi converted, provided a sumptuous cross kick for Shane Horgan to grab a third try on 68 minutes, tagged on the extra points and then added a penalty to take Leinster 30-21 clear by the 66th minute.
Of Leinster's five games remaining, four are away from home, including three in Wales. Of more immediate concern for Cheika is this week's game against Wasps. Victory at Adams Park will require a significant improvement.
Scoring sequence: 5 mins: Warwick penalty, 0-3; 8: Flavin try, Warwick conversion, 0-10; 13: Warwick penalty, 0-13; 16: Contepomi penalty, 3-13; 19: Warwick penalty, 3-16; 27: Jackman try, Contepomi conversion, 10-16; 35: Warwick try, 10-21; 38: Contepomi penalty, 13-21. Half-time: 13-21. 53: Gleeson try, Contepomi conversion, 20-21; 63: Horgan try, Contepomi conversion, 27-21; 66: Contepomi conversion, 30-21.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, K Lewis, G D'Arcy, D Hickie; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; S Wright, B Jackman, W Green; T Hogan, M O'Kelly; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: C Jowitt for Keogh (19-21 mins); F Pala'amo for Keogh (24 mins); S Wright and Keogh for Pala'amo (31 mins); B Blaney for Jackman (56 mins); O Finegan for O'Kelly 56 mins; G Easterby for Whitaker (68 mins); C Warner for Contepomi (74 mins).
CONNACHT: G Duffy; D Yapp, D Riordan, G Williams, C McPhillips; P Warwick, C Keane; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Hogan; D Gannon, A Farley (capt); J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: M Lacey for Muldoon (33 mins); M Swift for Ofisa (58 mins); B Sturgess for R Hogan (63 mins); J Fogarty for Flavin (64 mins); M McHugh for Williams (75 mins); D Slemen for Duffy (75 mins). Sin Bin: S Wright (Leinster) (19 mins); M Lacey (Connacht) (40 mins).
Referee: P Fitzgibbon(Ireland).
