Leinster 14 Northampton Saints 19:LUKE FITZGERALD and Kevin McLaughlin were the only survivors from last May's Heineken Cup final starting XV. Northampton had six returnees. It showed on the scoreboard.
The dropped Fitzgerald’s mere presence, however, did ensure this preamble to the regular season, which starts next Friday away to the Ospreys, was never going to be as interesting as the subplot unfolding on Leinster’s left wing.
Or wherever else the deposed Fitzgerald chose to roam in 50 minutes full of admirable energy.
Joe Schmidt is certainly not complaining; Ireland’s loss being Leinster’s gain and all that.
The Northampton forwards were not in the mood to be generous last night. Their scrum was also dominant. Still, Fionn Carr looked sharp and got his reward with a late try to hearten the 3,784 turnout while Andrew Conway was provided an opportunity at fullback before Isa Nacewa returns. Shane Horgan and Dave Kearney will further bolster the three-quarter options, which is just as well as Eamonn Sheridan (knee) and Conway (ankle) were helped off having sustained second-half injuries.
The contest also proved beneficial for Declan Kidney as Isaac Boss and Seán Cronin, making his Leinster debut, got some game time before boarding the plane to New Zealand on Tuesday.
It was a rusty performance in general but there were some positives. The nomadic Damien Browne seems like a powerful addition to the secondrow but the troubling sight of South African import Steven Sykes limping off with medial ligament damage to his knee may provide a reprieve for Devin Toner. Dominic Ryan looks poised for a big season.
The Leinster defensive line was never actually breached – Northampton’s try coming off a clever intercept by Paul Diggin (when Sheridan was emptied).
The response came with seven minutes remaining as Jason Harris-Wright was mauled over for a consolation try.
LEINSTER: A Conway; F Carr, B Macken, E Sheridan, L Fitzgerald; I Madigan, I Boss; H van der Merwe, S Cronin, J Hagan; S Sykes, D Browne; K McLaughlin, D Ryan, R Ruddock (capt). Replacements: D Toner for S Sykes (28 mins), S Jennings for K McLaughlin (half-time), D Kearney for L Fitzgerald (50 mins), M Berquist for I Madigan, J Cooney for I Boss, A Dundon for S Cronin (all 51 mins), L Auva’a for D Ryan (61 mins), D Hudson for E Sheridan (63 mins), I Madigan for A Conway (67 mins), M Flanagan for D Browne, J Harris Wright for A Dundon (both 72 mins), C Willis for I Madigan (76 mins).
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: G Tonks; P Diggin, T May, J Downey, N Cato; S Myler, L Dickson; P Doran-Jones, B Sharman, B Mujati; J Craig, M Sorenson; C Clark, B Nutley, A Eustace. Replacements: M Roberts for L Dickson (30 mins), A Waller for P Doran Jones, T Mercey for B Mujati, R Lamb for S Myler (all 52 mins), M Haywood for B Sharman (57 mins).
Referee: D Courtney (Irfu).
