Dragons profit from Leinster’s gamble

LEINSTER will return to Wales next Saturday with a different side in a different competition and hoping for a different result.

Michael Cheika gambled with Leinster’s Magners League title bid by resting Ireland stars Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and skipper Leo Cullen.

The Leinster coach wanted his youngsters to step up to the plate but they were brushed aside with ease as Newport Gwent Dragons put them to the sword with a ruthless first-half display.

You cannot argue with Cheika giving the youngsters a chance but he admits it was hardly the preparation he would have liked just six days before Leinster’s Heineken Cup clash with the Scarlets.

Cheika said: “The first half performance was disappointing. We got caught on the hop and nothing went our way.

“It was always going to be tough with the amount of experience we were missing. We had to regroup and I thought we did well in the second half.

“We had to get some of our core values back because otherwise it could have been a disaster.

“We have only conceded four tries in the Magners League but we let in four in 40 minutes. It was tough for the young players but you don’t need experience to tackle.

“But I don’t regret picking that side. We have to manage our resources and with this being a Sunday game, and we’re back in action next Saturday I was happy with the decision the management made and had trust in the players. The young players will learn from this experience.”

The dismal result also completed four defeats for the Irish provinces on a miserable weekend of action.

When Aled Brew crossed for the opening try as early as the fifth minute, the contest rarely looked like improving for Leinster as the Dragons grabbed maximum points five minutes before the interval.

Half-back partners James Arlidge and Wayne Evans both touched down before wing Richard Fussell capped a terrific opening period for the home side as Leinster wasted a golden opportunity to reassert their advantage at the top of the Magners League.

However, the visitors can boast they won the second period 8-6 and their efforts were rewarded when wing Simon Keogh scored a late consolation but it was too little, too late.

Now the visitors must lick their wounds before a return to Wales ahead of the European clash at Parc y Scarlets next Saturday.

Cheika blooded the youthful Rhys Ruddock, who was watched by his father and former Dragons boss Mike Ruddock, and Dominic Ryan for their senior debuts after impressive displays in the British and Irish Cup.

Hooker Bernard Jackman took over the captain’s armband from the rested O’Driscoll for the trip to Rodney Parade.

With a gusty wind, Arlidge missed a close-range penalty in the third minute but it wasn’t long before the hosts broke the deadlock two minutes later.

Lock Rob Sidoli won a routine line-out and after a slick passing move among the backs, Brew opened the scoring from Jason Tovey’s pass.

Fergus McFadden spurned the opportunity to cut the deficit for Leinster when the centre pulled to the right-hand side of the posts.

But he made amends in the 15th minute with a long distance strike to level the scores.

The Dragons were back on top moments later when Arlidge took a quick tap and scored in the left corner despite the despairing dive of CJ van der Linde.

Although, Ian McKinley produced a deft drop goal in 27th minute, Wayne Evans showed just why he is the form scrum-half in Wales with great support play to pounce for the third try after neat work by Gavin Thomas, Brew and Rhodri Gomer-Davies.

The home side could have gone further ahead had centre Tom Riley held onto Richard Fussell’s reverse pass.

Then the impressive full-back Tovey cut through the Leinster defence again but Eoin O’Malley saved the day with a last-ditch tackle.

But it was only a matter of time before the Dragons claimed the crucial bonus point when Wales lock Luke Charteris started another fine move by taking yet another valuable line-out and Tovey’s pass allowed Fussell to finish in the 35th minute.

Tovey then stepped up to convert from the touchline to cap an excellent half for the Gwent region.

McFadden and Tovey exchanged penalties after the interval before a glut of replacements disrupted the flow of the game.

Will Harries nearly scored with his first touch before fly-half Arlidge nudged the Dragons to the 30-point mark with his first penalty as the match petered out.

But Cheika’s side ended the drab contest on a high as Keogh scored a well-worked try.

Scorers for Dragons: Tries – Brew, Arlidge, Evans, Fussell; Pens – Tovey, Arlidge; Cons – Arlidge, Tovey

DRAGONS: J Tovey (M Thomas 67); A Brew, R Gomer Davies, T Riley, R Fussell (W Harries 62); J Arlidge, W Evans (D Lee 67); H Gustafson, S Jones (D Goodfield 66), P Palmer (P Bracken 71), R Sidoli (A Jones 59), L Charteris (capt), D Lydiate (H MacDonald 66), G Webb, G Thomas Leinster scorers: Try – David Kearney; Pens – McFadden (2); Cons – ; Drop Goal: McKinley.

LEINSTER: N Morris (I Madigan 48); D Kearney, E O’Malley, F McFadden, Simon Keogh; I McKinley (M Keating 67), C Keane (P O’Donohoe 58); R McCormack (M Ross 48), B Jackman (capt), CJ van der Linde (R McCormack 69); D Toner, M O’Kelly (T Hogan 58); R Ruddock, Stephen Keogh, D Ryan (P Ryan 55) Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU) Attendance: 5,437.