Leinster suffered a blow ahead of a crunch Heineken Cup fortnight with a heavy defeat to Newport Gwent Dragons in the Magners League.
Head coach Michael Cheika opted to rest his big guns just six days before the mouth-watering tie against the Scarlets and his decision came back to haunt him against the form side in Wales.
Leinster were without the likes of Ireland international stars Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and regular skipper Leo Cullen.
And Cheika paid the price for selecting a second string side after the hosts put his rusty reserves to the sword with a clinical and ruthless first-half performance.v The dismal result also completed four defeats for the Irish provinces on a miserable weekend of action.
Ulster started the misery with a home loss to Glasgow Warriors, reigning Magners League champions Munster succumbed to the Ospreys in Swansea while basement club Connacht ended up empty-handed in yesterday’s clash against the Cardiff Blues.
Wing Aled Brew crossed for the opening try as early as the fifth minute and it rarely looked like improving for Leinster after that as the Dragons grabbed maximum points five minutes before the interval. Half-back partners James Arlidge and Wayne Evans both touched down before opposite wing Richard Fussell capped a terrific opening period for the home side as Leinster wasted a golden opportunity to reassert their advantage at the top of the Magners League.
However, the visitors can boast they won the second period 8-6 and their efforts were rewarded when Dave Kearney scored a late consolation but it was too little, too late for the Dubliners.
Now the visitors must lick their wounds with a full compliment back in their ranks before a return to Wales ahead of the European clash at Parc y Scarlets next Saturday.
Cheika blooded the youthful Rhys Ruddock, who was watched by his father and former Dragons boss Mike Ruddock, and Dominic Ryan for their senior debuts after impressive displays in the British and Irish Cup.
Hooker Bernard Jackman took over the captain’s armband from the rested O’Driscoll for the trip to Rodney Parade.
The Welsh side had won seven in a row in all competitions at Rodney Parade since Munster triumphed in March – and Leinster did not look like troubling Paul Turner’s well-drilled side.
With a gusty wind, Arlidge missed a close-range penalty in the third minute but it was no long before the hosts broke the deadlock two minutes later.
Lock Rob Sidoli won a routine line-out and a slick passing move among the backs, Brew opened the scoring from Jason Tovey’s pass.
Fergus McFadden spurned the opportunity to cut the deficit for Leinster when the centre pulled to the right-hand side of the posts.
But he made amends in the 15th minute with a long distance strike to level the scores.
The Dragons were back on top moments later when Arlidge took a quick tap and scored in the left corner despite the despairing dive of CJ van der Linde.
Turner’s side had gained the upper hand in terms of possession, with more than 70 per cent to their name, and momentum and although, Ian McKinley produced a deft drop goal in 27th minute, Wayne Evans showed just why he is the form scrum-half in Wales with great support play to pounce for the third try after neat work by Gavin Thomas, Brew and Rhodri Gomer-Davies. The home side could have gone further ahead had centre Tom Riley held onto Richard Fussell’s reverse pass. Then the impressive full-back Tovey cut through the Leinster defence again but Eoin O’Malley saved the day with a last-ditch tackle. But it was only a matter of time before the Dragons claimed the crucial bonus point when Wales lock Luke Charteris started another fine move by taking yet another valuable line-out and Tovey’s pass allowed Fussell to finish in the 35th minute.
Tovey then stepped up to convert from the touchline to cap an excellent half for the Gwent region.
McFadden and Tovey exchanged penalties after the interval before a glut of replacements disrupted the flow of the game.
Will Harries nearly scored with his first touch before fly-half Arlidge nudged the Dragons to the 30-point mark with his first penalty as the match petered out. But Cheika’s side ended the drab contest on a high as Kearney scored a well-worked try.
The win puts the home side level on points with Leinster who sit one point off the top of the table ahead of the derby fixtures over the festive Christmas period.
Scorers Dragons: Tries – Brew, Arlidge, Evans, Fussell; Pens – Tovey, Arlidge; Cons – Arlidge, Tovey;
Leinster: Try – Kearney; Pens – McFadden (2); Cons – ; Drop Goal: McKinley
