Rugby/ Celtic League Leinster 55 The Dragons 3:Gwent Dragons ought to be grateful it took Leinster about half an hour to discover their rhythm yesterday because the pitch of the Irish province's performance after that was note perfect.
Seven tries was about the absolute minimum they warranted from a freewheeling display against a Welsh side who offered more bluster than substance once the match started to slip away.
Denied eight first choice players because of international commitments, the game was always likely to be a mismatch with the home side able to call upon their contingent of Test players. Even the absence of Brian O'Driscoll (slight shoulder strain) and Leo Cullen (back) was hardly an inconvenience as others took up the slack.
For all their possession in the opening 30 minutes Leinster's patterns were conspicuously lateral rather than penetrative and this allowed the Dragons to fan out and head for the touchline in search of ball carriers. The visitors were also content to concede penalties and benefited from referee David Changleng's largesse.
Nowhere was this more evident than in the 22nd minute when Dragons prop Chris Anthony struck Leinster second row Ben Gissing four times without reply right in front of the Scottish official who just stood there without whistling. When David Holwell eventually intervened to defend Gissing he was promptly penalised. It was typical of Changleng's performance on the night.
At least Gissing would have the consolation of being called into the Ireland squad for training after team-mate Cullen and then Matt McCullough (foot) and Gary Longwell (neck) couldn't answer the call. The New Zealand-born second row needed a couple of stitches after the game for a facial wound but headed straight for Citywest.
The incident, though, seemed to galvanise Leinster - Percy Montgomery did kick the long range penalty for the Dragons - with the foot- perfect Holwell tagging on a couple of penalties before the home side decided to crank up the skill quotient.
The first try arrived on 33 minutes. Malcolm O'Kelly's catch was driven on by the pack with Gissing dotting down as a mass of bodies crumpled in a heap over the Dragons' line. Holwell tagged on the conversion as he would do again three minutes later when the home side grabbed a try.
The excellent Ciaran Potts nicked a lineout against the throw, Felipe Contepomi made a break, offloaded to Gordon D'Arcy and he sent Shane Horgan scampering over. In first half injury-time, and with the Dragons reduced to 14 men after the sin-binning of second row Neil Edwards, Contepomi crossed unopposed following Leinster's decision to opt for a scrum five metres out from the penalty.
If Gwent hoped for any respite they were quickly disabused five minutes after the restart. Holwell's beautifully judged cross-kick was fielded by Contepomi, who sent the supporting Horgan in for his second try.
Holwell was controlling the game imperiously, Contepomi and D'Arcy excelling in possession and the pack were providing plenty of front foot possession. Shane Byrne, Gissing and O'Kelly were conspicuous in all facets but it was the backrow of Potts, Eric Miller and the outstanding Niall Ronan that caught the eye.
Ronan ran some glorious support lines and was invariably on hand to take offloads or guarantee continuity. Defensively, he hunted down ball carriers, demonstrating his considerable athleticism to make tackles and block kicks.
His try on 63 minutes was the product of running a sumptuous inside line to take D'Arcy's pass and then having the football ability to chip the full back and win the race for the ball. Potts worked hard while Miller's broken field sniping and lines of running demonstrated his natural acumen.
Leinster coach Declan Kidney had the luxury of emptying the bench on 64 minutes, taking off most of his internationals, without stifling his side's scoring prowess. Denis Hickie grabbed a brace of tries, demonstrating a true poacher's instinct as the home side coasted over the half century of points.
McCullen made the most conspicuous impact from the bench, relishing the ball carrying duties but everyone contributed.
Scoring sequence: 5 mins: Holwell pen, 3-0; 26: Montgomery pen, 3-3; 28: Holwell pen, 6-3; 33: Gissing try, Holwell con, 13-3; 37: Horgan try, Holwell con, 20-3; 40 (+3): Contepomi try, Holwell con, 27-3; Half-time: 27-3; 45: Horgan try, Holwell con, 34-3; 58: Hickie try, Holwell con, 41-3; 63: Ronan try, Holwell con, 48-3; 69: Hickie try, Holwell con, 55-3.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, F Contepomi, G D'Arcy, D Hickie; D Holwell, G Easterby; R Corrigan, S Byrne, E Byrne; B Gissing, M O'Kelly; C Potts, E Miller, N Ronan. Replacements: A McCullen for Gissing (34-40 mins (+3), G Brown for Horgan (46 mins), R Nebbett for Corrigan, D Blaney for S Byrne, A McCullen for O'Kelly, V Costello for Ronan, B O' Riordan for Easterby, D Quinlan for D'Arcy (alll 64 mins).
GWENT DRAGONS: S Tuipulotu; G Wyatt, P Montgomery, S Winn, B Breeze; C Warlow, G Baber; R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony; N Edwards, P Sidoli; J Ringer, R Oakley, J Forster (capt). Replacements: A Black for Snow, R Thomas for Anthony (both 57 mins), K Crawford for Richards, M Veater for Ringer (both 66 mins), G Chapman for Breeze (71 mins), R Payne for Tuipulotu (77 mins).
Referee: D Changleng (Scotland)
