Five-Try Home Win Gets Leinster Off The Mark

Normal service resumed tonight at the RDS where Leinster began their Guinness PRO14 title defence with a 35-5 bonus point win over the Dragons.

The three-in-a-row champions, who fell short against Saracens in Europe a fortnight ago, coasted to victory despite losing captain Jonathan Sexton to a ‘minor hamstring injury’ during the first half.

Three weeks out from Ireland’s rescheduled Six Nations clash with Italy, Sexton, Andrew Porter (hamstring) and Max Deegan (knee) all had to be replaced. Leinster led 21-0 at the break thanks to tries from Garry Ringrose, Jordan Larmour and James Lowe.

Ireland hopeful Lowe and Ashton Hewitt swapped third-quarter scores before Leinster replacement Ryan Baird wrapped up the scoring in fine style in the 66th minute.

Hugo Keenan went close to scoring from Sexton’s third-minute grubber kick, and while the Dragons defended stoutly early on, the hosts’ high-tempo play gradually paid off.

Man-of-the-match Jamison Gibson-Park’s short pass put Ringrose over near the right corner in the 16th minute, following a Lowe break. Leinster had been playing an advantage for Jamie Roberts’ high tackle on Tommy O’Brien and the Wales veteran was sin-binned before Sexton converted.

Larmour finished smartly past two poor tackles from Will Talbot-Davies and Sam Davies for try number two. On the half-hour mark, Ringrose’s incisive midfield run drew in the defence and simple hands out to the left supplied Lowe for his 38th try in 58 provincial appearances.

Ringrose and replacement Ross Byrne joined Sexton in pinging over pinpoint conversions from out wide, but the Dragons showed some promise before half-time. Set up by Jonah Holmes’ break, Sam Davies lost his footing at the crucial moment and was turned over in the Leinster 22.

Dean Ryan’s men improved again early in the second period, although Lowe managed to barge over from Ringrose’s long pass. Hewitt responded on the hour with a terrific diving finish in the left corner, the build-up seeing Roberts and Nick Tompkins both cause some damage.

Davies’ conversion attempt faded and with their lineout struggling all night, the Dragons soon allowed Leinster through again. James Ryan was foiled by Rhodri Williams’ tap tackle, but Baird soon shrugged off three defenders to rampage over following another lost Dragons lineout.

Even though a bout of Dragons pressure landed Rhys Ruddock in the bin, Richard Hibbard’s crooked lineout ruined their hopes for a late consolation score. At the other end, Keenan missed out on a try with a foot in touch due to Josh Lewis’ cover tackle.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “He’s fine – Johnny’s a precaution, yeah. Max looked the (worst) one…it’s his knee I think. The other two didn’t seem to be too bad. I think they’re okay. Ciaran (Frawley) went off with a bang on his eye.

“Overall, I thought the guys showed good intent to play and good energy, forced a lot of pressure on the Dragons both sides of the ball. First half was good, obviously a few disruptions to deal with and manage.

“Ross Byrne and Tommy O’Brien came in, Tommy after 10 minutes, so overall we’re pleased to get a win to get up and running. We’ve got a bonus point win on the board and now we move onto the challenge of Treviso, a big, physical team.

“We saw their result in Ulster (tonight) and we played them a lot last season. It’s another big week for us and then we have a sort of break, the national guys will go off into camp for a new challenge so next week is probably the last opportunity for a lot of guys to put their hand up for selection for that as well.”