Heineken Cup champions Leinster beat Magner League Champions Munster convincingly to underline the shift in the balance of power in Irish rugby.

The home team racked up 30 points and kept their visitors scoreless in a one-sided Magners League battle at a packed RDS in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Munster will have much to ponder upon after this demoralizing defeat, and have some serious work to do to catch up with their biggest Irish rivals.

Leinster ran in three tries from Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan, while Jonathan Sexton contributed handsomely by scoring 15 points from the boot.

There were very few positives fro Munster to take out of the game.  John Hayes was sent off in the second half for a stamp on Cian Healy, and it  was the first Magners league game that Munster have payed where they did not register a score.

With the Heineken Cup just around the corner, Leinster will start their defense of the trophy brimming with confidence, while Munster will start the campaign very much unsure of themselves.