Dragons travel to RDS with fire in bellies

Guinness Pro 12

Leinster v Dragons

RDS, Saturday, 2.30pm

TG4 Martin Moore will take his first steps of the season at the RDS and Rhys Ruddock will do likewise in following on from the bench.

The Dragons will travel with the confidence of knowing they can win in Dublin.

The Men of Gwent will be led by South African Rynard Landman, a true believer from last year’s barrier-breaking defeat of Leinster.

"Nick Crosswell got a yellow card in the first few minutes and I thought 'oh no, we can't play with 14 men against them'," he recalled. "But we turned things around. Our kicking game was great. We left nothing on the pitch, got the 'W'.

Leinster will defend their house in the knowledge that it just won’t happen. They have to go out and make it happen.

“They won’t underestimate us this time,” continued Landman. “But, I think that was the same when they came to Rodney Parade with an even better side than in Dublin and we won again (25-22).

“We know it will be a tough game and they will have a strong side, even though they are affected by World Cup call-ups.

“They’ve got depth and a big budget but last season gives us confidence.”

And there you have it. The Dragons will breathe fire into this one.

It will be up to Leinster to stand toe-to-toe through the leadership of Ireland international forwards Moore, Mike McCarthy, Dominic Ryan and Jack Conan and let halfbacks Isaac Boss and Cathal Marsh take it from there.

LEINSTER: I Nacewa (capt); F McFadden, B Te'o, N Reid, G Ringrose; C Marsh, I Boss; M Bent, A Dundon, M Moore, R Molony, M McCarthy, D Ryan, J van der Flier, J Conan.

DRAGONS: C Meyer; A Hewitt, R Wardle, A Warren, T Prydie; J Tovey, S Pretorius; B Stankovich, H Gustafson, B Harris, N Crosswell, R Landman (capt), J Thomas, J Benjamin, E Jackson.

Verdict: Leinster.