Leo Cullen hailed Ciarán Frawley's influence after the replacement steered Leinster to victory over Munster.
Mostly used as full-back this season, Frawley was introduced in the seventh minute in place of out-half Ross Byrne, who injured his arm when attempting to stop Craig Casey scoring Munster’s first try in the 21-16 BKT URC victory.
The 25-year-old, who won an Ireland cap last summer, kicked three conversions and didn’t miss a beat running the Leinster backline for the remainder of the match.
"Ciarán stepped in well. I thought he was excellent, controlled the game," Cullen told RTÉ Sport.
"Even though he was played at 15 at the start of the season for us, the way roles are, particularly with someone like Ciarán, he’s comfortable stepping up as that first receiver and that interplay between your 10, 12 and 15.
"It’s great to have that second ball-player there.
"He’s been excellent for us this season. Hopefully that will be the case going forward as well so he stepped in, kicked his goals and it was a pretty accomplished and comfortable performance from him."
On Byrne’s injury, Cullen said: "Yeah, it’s arm-related.
"I don’t know. I hope it’s not too bad. We’ll get assessed. We’ll see."
Leinster are now second in the standings ahead of next weekend’s trip to Connacht and Cullen was happy with his side’s performance, in which Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan and Jordan Larmour all scored tries.
"It’s two teams going flat out, isn’t it? It’s great to see for all supporters of the game from whatever side you’re on, red or blue," said Cullen of the derby played in front of 49,246 paying supporters.
"I thought it was a great spectacle because commitment is what you want to see. Everyone giving all they have on both teams.
"Munster started a little bit stronger than we did. We were probably a bit inaccurate. After we go 10-0 down we probably looked a bit more dominant at that period of the game.
"Jamison scored that breakaway try but we had some chances prior to that. And we probably had a chance and Dan gets over from that maul and we probably had a chance just before half-time as well, we just didn’t quite execute.
"At the start of the second half, Munster were probably on top a little bit in that period again
"Defensively, I thought we stood up well. They had a couple of breakouts and we had some chances and it was only until Jordan scored and we went eight points clear at that stage.
"We had other chances to score again but we just didn't take them.
"If you think what six or seven minutes to go, we’re defending in our 22 on the back of that Conor Murray break up the sideline.
"We get down the edge but I thought it was a really good defensive set because we get back to our point and we look, not comfortable, that’s the wrong word, but we look like we’re dominating collisions again and we eventually come up with a turnover, which is pleasing but then we get down to the other side of the field we can’t quite nail that last moment.
"That was the make-up of the game, in many ways. It had a bit of everything so, overall, we’re delighted to get a win. Four points and it potentially could have been five at the end."
