Leinster juggernaut runs over Swansea

Leinster have for too long now resided in the shadow of Munster. The success of the latter in the Heineken Cup and their recent domination of the Interprovincial Championships has left Leinster as second best for much of the past three seasons.

Now, however, the desire to emulate the European feats of Munster and for that matter Ulster, is driving Leinster on. On Saturday on the other side of the Irish Sea, they further confirmed their rejuvenation by dispatching Swansea with the minimum of effort. What's more, it was done with a side missing no fewer than 10 regular starters.

Such is the strength these days of Leinster rugby, away days in Wales and Scotland hold no fears. On this occasion and with qualification for the knockout stages of the Celtic League already confirmed, the coaching team took the opportunity to expose a few fresh faces to the hustle and bustle of the competition.

The result was emphatic. Leinster, courtesy of tries from John McWeeney (2), Simon Keogh and Ben Willis, ran away with the contest without so much as raising a sweat.

Having struggled against their Celtic cousins in the early days of European competition, the tide seems to have turned. As the Welsh game seeks a change in attitudes and hopefully a switch to a similar provincial set up, the likes of Leinster just march on regardless.

Saturday's performance and result for that matter, was just about perfect. Led with passion and drive by Trevor Brennan, the visitors held the upper hand in all areas of the game, with the exception of the scrum.

Leo Cullen dominated at the line out, Nathan Spooner was far and away the game's most astute tactician, Willis kept his pack working hard and McWeeney and Keogh provided the pace out wide.

Whilst Swansea floundered on the back of a staid, predictable game of head-down rugby, Leinster injected real pace into everything they did.

Not even yellow cards for Cullen, Adam Magro and Spooner himself, could take the gloss of this consummate victory over the Welsh champions.

After Spooner's first penalty, Keogh swept over on the right flank and by half time, Leinster were 24-12 to the good, courtesy of McWeeney's brace on the opposite flank.

Spooner converted all three and despite six penalties from the boot of Swansea outhalf Arwel Thomas, Leinster were never troubled.

Spooner kicked his second penalty on 44 minutes and when Swansea dropped their guard eight minutes later, Willis nipped in around the blindside to hammer home the conclusive nail.

It's a home draw for Leinster in the quarter-final. On the evidence of this clinical demolition of the All Whites, it would take a brave man to bet against a Leinster success in this fledgling competition.

Scorers: Swansea - Thomas 6 pens; Leinster - Spooner, 4 cons, 2 pens; McWeeney (2) Keogh, Willis, tries

SWANSEA: K Morgan; R Rees, S Payne, G Henson, M Robinson; A Thomas, Robbie Jones (Robert Jones 54 minutes); J Marsters, G Jenkins (C Wells 70), B Evans (A Le Chevalier 54), T Maullin (J Griffiths 54), A Moore, C Charvis (capt), D Thomas, H Jenkins (L Jones 73)

LEINSTER: P McKenna; S Keogh, A Magro, D Quinlan (E Farrell 70), J McWeeney; N Spooner, B W Willis; P Coyle (S Barretto 57), G Hickie, N Treston, B Casey, L Cullen, T Brennan (capt), L Toland (S Jennings 77) A McCullen (N Breslin 78)

Referee: I Ramage (Scotland)