Leinster edge Stoop battle

Brian O'Driscoll's side, containing five of Ireland's Grand Slam heroes, were battered relentlessly but prevailed thanks to two penalties by Felipe Contepomi.

England full-back Mike Brown dashed over for Quins but substitute fly-half Chris Malone, on for injured former All Black Nick Evans, missed the conversion.

Evans reappeared as a blood replacement for Tom Williams in a move that angered Leinster's dug-out but the Kiwi failed with a late drop-goal attempt.

Quins staged a sustained assault on the Leinster line for long spells yet the breakthrough eluded them until Brown eventually crossed.

Quins were dominant at the start of the match, with Evans missing a kickable early penalty and Contepomi landed a penalty once they had escaped their half, but despite fielding an all-Ireland pairing of O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy they were suffering in midfield.

O'Driscoll had been quiet by that stage but the Ireland captain burst into life with a minute of the first half remaining, chipping ahead and gathering the kick via a kind bounce.

The race for the line was on but Brown and Strettle just prevented him from touching down, although number eight Nick Easter was yellow-carded at the breakdown and Contepomi was able to add his second penalty.

Contepomi was sent to the sin bin for a swinging arm on Chris Robshaw but the Quins flanker, who collapsed to the floor, clearly made the most of what replays showed to be marginal contact.

Quins went forward and for five minutes they camped on the visitors' line and Leinster were struggling to halt such a sustained onslaught, eventually cracking when Brown dived over and Malone pulled the conversion attempt left of the posts.