Leinster too strong for Dragons

Leinster 55 Dragons 3

Leinster ensured a clean bill of health for Ireland at the start of the RBS 6 Nations in a landslide victory over Newport-Gwent at Lansdowne Road.

The Celtic League’s final game of the weekend failed to spark as Chris Anderson’s visitors – missing eight players to the Wales squad – were thoroughly outclassed.

Ben Gissing, Shane Horgan and Felipe Contepomi – in for the rested Brian O’Driscoll – scorched over before the break for the hosts who went on to record their first win in three league outings.

Horgan added his second on the restart – his 10th in 12 competitive games - while Denis Hickie (2) and Niall Ronan were also on target as Declan Kidney’s men chalked up their 15th straight win in Dublin.

The fourth-placed Dragons – who scored through a sole Percy Montgomery penalty - seemed determined for a scrap in a fixture which tossed up 95 points in a carnival clash last May.

Prop Chris Anthony became entangled with Gissing on 23 minutes and left the giant New Zealander with a bloodied left eye as they squared up at the side of a ruck.

Scottish referee David Changleng failed to produce any cards but sin-binned Dragons lock Neil Edwards in first-half injury time for slowing what was an inevitable Leinster try.

David Holwell, who had a flawless nine-from-nine night with his right boot, opened proceedings with a fifth-minute penalty.

That stood as the game’s only score until South African Montgomery replied on 26 minutes.

Kiwi fly-half Holwell answered back two minutes later, taking his league tally to more than 70 points before Gissing gained revenge on the Dragons’ forwards.

A third successive line-out drive on 34 minutes saw Malcolm O’Kelly take, and the Leinster pack drove Gissing over from close range.

Three minutes later, Contepomi’s snappy midfield break helped Gordon D’Arcy send an pass out to the right for Horgan to fly in.

Holwell converted and chipped neatly through, with Edwards off the field, for Contepomi to touch down for a 27-3 break advantage.

Horgan, Hickie and young flanker Ronan – bagging a cheeky 63rd-minute try, collecting his own chip kick to score – helped Leinster draw within four points of second-placed Munster in the latter stages.