Ireland show a different side

Ireland Under-21s 40 Leinster A 12Ireland Under-21 coach Mark McDermott must have been delighted with the exertions of his players in this surprise demolition of Leinster A at Donnybrook last night. The combination of a complete transformation in Ireland and the lax approach of Leinster A led to a 58-point turnaround from Leinster's 44-14 win over the under-21s at Christmas.

Ireland secondrow Devin Toner's pace on to the ball from five metres out was too much for Leinster. Outhalf Conan Doyle's conversion made it 7-0 in the 10th minute.

Quick feet and fast hands down the blindside allowed right wing Peter Durcan to wheel around behind the posts. Centre Darren Cave repeated the dose, following exemplary work from lock Dan Tuohy. Cave's chip was taken to the line by Doyle and the latter made his fourth conversion in the 31st minute for a 28-0 lead.

Leinster outhalf Jonny Hepworth and prop John Lyne landed tries, the second converted by David McAllister. There was even the suggestion of a comeback until replacement wing Dale Black finished from broken play and Seán Cronin handed-off Hepworth to score from halfway.

SCORERS: Ireland Under-21: C Doyle try, 5 cons; P Durcan, D Black, D Toner, D Cave, S Cronin try each, Leinster A: J Hepworth, J Lyne try; D McAllister con.

IRELAND UNDER-21: F Carr (Blackrock College); P Durcan (Galwegians), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), F McFadden (UCD), I Hanly (UL Bohemians); C Doyle (Garryowen), P Marshall (Ballynahinch); D Hurley (UCC), S Philpott (Belfast Harlequins, capt), Doran-Jones (Dublin University), D Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College), D Toner (Lansdowne), R Noonan (UCC), E Uzoigwe (Hartpury College), B Holland (UCC). Replacements: C Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College) for Hurley (22 mins), D Black (Dungannon) for Hanly, S O'Brien (UCD) for Holland, D Ryan (Highfield) for Doran-Jones (all 61 mins), D Laffin (Blackrock College) for Uzoigwe (65 mins), D Williams (UCC) for Marshall, D McGowan (Buccaneers) for Tuohy; M Essex (UCC) for Noonan, S Cronin (Shannon) for Philpott (all 75 mins).

LEINSTER A: R McCarron; S Grissing, G Brown, D McAllister, B Burke; J Hepworth, B O'Meara; J Lyne, C Geoghegan, N Duffy, B Gissing, S Crawford (capt), A Dunlop, C Potts, K McLaughlin. Replacements: K O'Neill for Lyne (13 mins), H Hogan for Potts (23 mins), J Norton for Burke (31 mins), E Hickey for McCarron (38 mins), R Sweeney for Duffy, J Lyne for Geoghegan (both half-time), R Boucher for Crawford (53 mins), G O'Meara for O'Neill (61 mins), E Burke for McAllister (70 mins).

Referee: C Stanley (IRFU).