Leinster 34-6 Dragons recap as hosts pull away in second half
Replacement Joe McCarthy’s 64th-minute try sealed the bonus point for Leinster in a pedestrian 34-6 BKT United Rugby Championship win over the Dragons.
Playing at the Aviva Stadium with the RDS under redevelopment, Leo Cullen’s men celebrated Cian Healy setting a new record as Leinster’s most-capped player.
A subdued first half ended with Leinster leading 10-6 thanks to unconverted tries from captain Jack Conan (17 minutes) and Ross Byrne (37). Lloyd Evans landed two penalties.
Conan scored during Chris Coleman’s sin-binning, and player of the match Max Deegan struck six minutes into the second half. McCarthy, Jordan Larmour and Aitzol King made it a 29-point margin in the end.
Veteran prop Healy’s 281st appearance saw him overhaul Devin Toner, but Dragons did not read the script. It took Jimmy O’Brien’s ankle tap to prevent Ewan Rosser from racing over early on.
However, Coleman made head contact with Thomas Clarkson in the 16th minute following Ben Carter’s initial tackle.
Conan duly crashed over to take advantage of the yellow card. Byrne, who swung a pass wide in the build-up, missed the difficult conversion.
Two obstruction calls spoiled Leinster mauls, and Evans rewarded Brodie Coghlan’s breakdown work with a 25th-minute penalty.
Approaching the break, Byrne nipped inside Coghlan’s tackle to reach out for the line, but Evans’ last-minute penalty left just four points in it.
Leinster upped the physicality on the restart, aided by a Conan turnover. Deegan muscled over from close range, giving Byrne a straightforward conversion for 17-6.
The doughty Dragons failed to capitalise on an overlap when Harry Wilson elected to kick, and their challenge gradually petered out.
Conan’s lineout transfer had McCarthy powering over in the left corner, and Larmour and replacement King, with his first senior score from a long Harry Byrne pass, took the hosts’ try haul to six.
21:24Darragh Culhane
Aitzol King gets a try at the end and a straightforward win from Leinster. The first half wasn't pretty but no problems.
Byrne misses the conversion
21:11Darragh Culhane
It goes to the TMO and Jordan Larmour is rewarded a try. The conversion is missed
21:05Darragh Culhane
Byrne hits a conversion from a tight angle
21:03Darragh Culhane
Leinster kick for the corner after a penalty and Joe McCarthy gets over the line.
20:59Darragh Culhane
Josh van der Flier comes on for Will Connors as the clock goes past the 60 minute mark
20:48Darragh Culhane
Nice reception for Cian Healy as he is replaced
20:42Darragh Culhane
The points after are tapped over
20:42Darragh Culhane
Max Deegan given the try but it goes to the TMO.
They are checking if it is grounded and it's given.
Deegan has been Leinster's best player today and deserving of a score.
20:38Darragh Culhane
Max Deegan's ball carrying has been excellent all day today and Liam Turner is so close to going the whole way with the offload.
Leinster get the penalty
20:33Darragh Culhane
We are back underway for the second half.
20:21Darragh Culhane
Dragons win a penalty at the break and cut the lead back to four.
20:18Darragh Culhane
Ross Byrne misses the conversion
20:17Darragh Culhane
Leinster win the penalty, kick for touch and then the line out. Penalty advantage for Leinster but they don't need it as Ross Byrne crosses the line.
20:14Darragh Culhane
Huge carry from Max Deegan in a rare bright spot from Leinster today but Tector is then penalised for a high tackle. Poor stuff from Leinster here today.
20:05Darragh Culhane
A penalty converted and the Dragons trail by two and will welcome back Chris Coleman after the next break in play.
19:58Darragh Culhane
Ross Byrne misses the conversion
19:57Darragh Culhane
Leinster make good use of the man advantage. They risk losing the ball knowing quick ball is what is needed in this moment and get their rewards as captain Jack Conan goes over the line.
19:55Darragh Culhane
Chris Coleman is shown a yellow card for head to head contact
19:47Darragh Culhane
Lloyd Evans nearly runs foul of the shot clock and the time pressure may have put him off as he dragged his shot wide.
19:42Darragh Culhane
Lively opening five minutes in the Aviva Stadium. Jimmy O'Brien looks like he could be on his way after fielding a short kick pass but is well tackled.
Dragons come back up for a couple of huge chances of their own after a turnover and twice look to be in for tries but Leinster put in last-ditch efforts both times and eventually win a penalty to clear their lines.
19:36Darragh Culhane
The teams are on the field and it is time for kick off
19:33Darragh Culhane
The light and fire show is underway and we are nearly ready to go. Cian Healy will get a good reception when he comes out onto the field.
19:15Darragh Culhane
Leinster Team: Jamie Osborne; Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector, Jimmy O’Brien; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Brian Deeny, James Ryan; Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan (c).
Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Aitzol King.
Dragons: Angus O'Brien; Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Steff Hughes, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Dane Blacker; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (capt), George Nott, Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes.
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rhodri Jones, Luke Yendle, Matthew Screech, George Young, Rhodri Williams, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser.
19:01Darragh Culhane
Hello and welcome to live coverage as Leinster takes on the Dragons in the URC tonight.
Cian Healy will become Leinster's record appearance holder when he takes to the field for the 281st time.
Making his debut back in 2007, Healy overtakes Devin Toner for the honour.
Today's game kicks off at 7.35 pm and will be shown on TG4 and the TG4 Player as well as Premier Sports 2.
The Irish Mirror will have live score updates of the game right here.