Leinster advanced to the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs as top seeds but were made to scrap all the way by eighth-placed Edinburgh at the RDS.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: LEINSTER 15 EDINBURGH 13
POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS WITH LEO CULLEN AND BRIAN O’DRISCOLL
Matt O’Connor’s men succeeded in winning their final home game of the regular season, with the province topping the table for the fourth time in seven years (2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014).
However, they will want to forget this error-strewn encounter as Edinburgh, who were hammered by Munster last week, finished just two points behind the league leaders.
Two Greig Laidlaw penalties after 6 and 40 minutes gave the Scottish club a 6-5 lead after an uninspiring first half.
In between, young flanker Jordi Murphy grabbed his fifth try of the current league run and Leinster, turning with the wind behind them, had the better of the second period.
Jimmy Gopperth landed a penalty and converted Dave Kearney’s 57th-minute try to get Leinster over the finish line, albeit with Tim Visser’s seven-pointer making them sweat right until the end.
O’Connor’s charges will host fourth-placed Ulster at the RDS next Saturday night (kick-off 7pm) in what is a repeat of last year’s final which Leinster won 24-18 at the same venue.
Importantly for both Leinster and Ireland, Sean O’Brien had a successful return from shoulder surgery with the fit-again back rower making his first appearance since December.
Injury-hit Edinburgh lost winger Sam Beard to an early knock, but hit the front thanks to an opening penalty from the Gloucester-bound Laidlaw.
Leinster replied within four minutes, Gordon D’Arcy and Dave Kearney combining to good effect on the left wing and Murphy spun out of Dave Denton’s challenge to plunge over from close range.
Gopperth missed the conversion and after Richardt Strauss unfortunately had to hobble off, Leinster had a let-off when Carl Bezuidenhout’s try was ruled out for a forward pass from Visser.
Having leaked 55 points to Munster, Edinburgh looked a very different team here and frustrated the hosts for much of the first 40 minutes.
The Scots were severely hampered by two more injuries as number 8 Denton and centre Matt Scott were forced off in quick succession.
But they dug their heels in and pressed from turnover ball with prop Willem Nel just held up by Leinster’s retiring duo Leo Cullen and Brian O’Driscoll.
Edinburgh managed to edge in front for the break as O’Brien infringed at a ruck close to the Leinster line and Laidlaw tapped over the three points.
Rob Kearney was central to Leinster’s fast-paced start when play resumed, Edinburgh clinging on despite Gopperth and full-back Kearney both going close.
Gopperth’s 51st-minute penalty was all the home side had to show for a concerted spell of pressure, but the second try eventually came at the end of the third quarter.
Gopperth’s inviting pass sent Dave Kearney darting past two covering defenders to score just to the right of the posts, with the conversion quickly added for 15-6.
There was no sense of Edinburgh surrendering though and a smart break from talisman Laidlaw released Visser for a well-worked try in response. The scrum half’s conversion made it a two-point game again.
Edinburgh remained a live threat during the final 14 minutes, hunting for their first Dublin win since 2005, but off-colour Leinster held on to secure home advantage once again in the semi-finals.
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