Leinster eventually claim the spoils

Jennings opens the scoring

Leinster coughed up another healthy half time lead, but this week it did not cost them as they battled on for a 34-23 bonus point win over the Cardiff Blues at the RDS.

Jonathon Sexton  was a late absentee due to injury and Ian Madigan was drafted in to operate at fly-half. It looked as if Sexton would not be missed as the hosts took a lead of 14 points inside 10 minutes, thanks to tries from Captain, Shane Jennings and the Virtuoso man of the match Isa Nacewa.

After taking some stern criticism from his coach midweek the kiwi winger was evidently out to impress. And he did that in spades, demonstrating brilliant athleticism to chase, catch, tackle and score expertly.

Despite trailing 20-6 at the break, the Blues could have snatched victory, with a solidified scrum they battled back to lead the game 20-23 with less than 20 minutes to run. But scores from Fergus McFadden and Madigan ensured the hosts earned maximum points.

Improvisation from |saac Boss carved open the defence inside just three minutes, he released his captain to race to the line before Chris Czekaj could smother him.

The fullback was left frustrated again minutes later when Nacewa lined him up and hit him with a powerful square tackle to drive him backwards.

It was thanks to the former Auckland Blue that Leinster were under the posts again minutes later. Bustling play on the left from Richardt Strauss, whose perfect, back handed, offload unleashed Luke Fitzgerald. And the fullback made no mistake in allowing Nacewa finish.

As the first half wore on, Dan Parks had clawed the visitors back into contention with a pair of penalties. Casey Laulala was sniffing out chances to test Brian O'Driscolls fitness. He proved that fitness on 30 minutes, flying through the air performing an awe inspiring tackle, forcing Sam Warburton to hold on for a penalty. 40 metres out and that man again, Nacewa, dispatched it perfectly.

Tom Davies was coming under serious pressure in the scrum from Mike Ross and Leinster's wing was able to add another three before the break. Davies, meanwhile was substituted minutes before halftime. Fearing, after a warning from Andy McPherson, that he would be sin binned on the impending scrummage.

Nacewa was at it again after the break, sliding to mark Tom James' chipped kick, he did however slice his clearance, the only blot on his copybook for the night.

The welsh scrum , which threatened to derail them in the opening period was a much firmer base thanks to Tau Filise's introduction. The hosts battered at the door in the third quarter but just could not increase the lead.Instead they gave it up.

First, Bradley Davies bundled over the line and before the hour, the Blues were level. Thanks to a scintillating burst from Richard Mustoe, who then fed Richie Rees to touch down under the posts.

With Brian O'Driscoll substituted and the visitors resolve growing, it was difficult to see where winning scores would come from. But driven on by a raucous crowd of 15,890, concerted pressure paid, and Fergus McFadden broke the resistance to spark jubilant scenes in the South stand.

Then as 80 minutes approached, the celebrations were repeated when Madigan raced clear to seal the bonus point

LEINSTER: L Fitzgerald; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F McFadden, I Nacewa; I Madigan, I Boss; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, M Ross, N Hines, E O'Donoghue, S O'Brien, S Jennings (capt), J Heaslip. 

Replacements: J Fogarty (R Strauss '55), C Healy (H Van Der Merwe '60), S Shawe (M Ross '66), M Galarza (E O'Donoghue '78), D Ryan (S Jennings '60), E Reddan (I Boss '53), D Kearney (S Horgan '49), E O'Malley. (B O'Driscoll '60)

CARDIFF BLUES: C Czekaj; R Mustoe, C Laulala, D Hewitt, T James; D Parks, R Rees; T Davies, T Rhys Thomas, S Andrews, B Davies, D Jones, M Paterson, S Warburton, X Rush (capt). 

Replacements: R Williams, J Yapp (S Andrews '49), F Filise (T Davies '39), J Down, B White (S Warburton '72)), L Williams, C Sweeney, G Evans (C Laulala '72.) 

Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU)