Bonus-point Dragons give O'Driscoll losing start

Newport Gwent Dragons 34 Leinster 13

Brian O’Driscoll began his season on a losing note tonight as Leinster came emphatically unstuck against the creative Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Ireland captain O’Driscoll, firm favourite to lead the Lions in New Zealand next summer, made a belated Celtic League entry because of national squad commitments.

But the Dragons, who registered their third successive league victory and claimed a bonus point in the process, were in no mood to offer him a gentle introduction.

O’Driscoll helped set up a 12th-minute try for his fellow international Shane Horgan. But that was as good as it got for Leinster, who finished the game well-beaten.

The Dragons confirmed a resounding win with late tries by scrum-half Gareth Cooper and full-back Kevin Morgan following two first-half touchdowns for Gareth Wyatt – and they now leap from fifth to third as their new coach Chris Anderson begins to enjoy success.

Leinster found their defensive line blown apart inside three minutes when Morgan sent Wyatt sprinting over in the corner, but the visitors fought back well during an exciting first period.

Leinster went ahead when a Dragons’ attack faltered and O’Driscoll hacked up field, allowing Horgan a fine try which Argentinian fly-half Felipe Contepomi converted.

Contepomi and his opposite number Ceri Sweeney then exchanged penalties before Wyatt’s second try, the direct result of a cleverly-placed kick by the impressive Morgan, edged the Dragons back in front.

Another Sweeney penalty made it 16-10 at half-time, and the third quarter proved a tense battle as both teams strived to make headway.

In the end, the Dragons looked fitter and sharper and were sent on their way to victory with two Sweeney penalties in three minutes.

At 22-13 adrift, Leinster knew the game was up, but the Dragons rubbed their noses in it with a breakaway score from Cooper before Morgan claimed the try he so richly deserved and secured an important bonus point.