MAGNERS LEAGUE: Dragons 18 Leinster 9:LEINSTER'S SEASON in the Magners League ended where it began, with frustration in Wales following defeat to lowly Newport Gwent Dragons.
Last year’s champions launched the defence of their title with a 16-16 draw against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park eight months ago and by Saturday, after their crown had been passed to Munster, their league campaign ended with a whimper. They were out-scored two tries to nil by a team showing far more hunger for the tie, though that was hardly surprising given Leinster’s date at Murrayfield. But coach Michael Cheika admitted his team still has a way to go before it can compete on two fronts and this performance proved Leinster still do not possess a squad capable of combining European glory with domestic success.
Leinster were restricted to just three Fergus McFadden penalties and precious few clear-cut try-scoring opportunities.
“We still have a small way to go in getting the squad to mature enough to win games like this,” said Cheika. “We had the same situation at Edinburgh after winning the Heineken Cup quarter-final at Harlequins. We weren’t able to come away with a result. That’s the small distance we still have to travel.
“It wasn’t difficult to motivate the team, we came here to win. Once we realised we couldn’t win the tournament, we wanted to make sure we finished second. That was still up in the air, but we’ve always finished in the top three since I’ve been here and we want to continue that.
“We wanted to win the game, but we didn’t manage key moments and some calls went against us and that all meant we couldn’t get a roll of momentum.”
Cheika rested key players ahead of Edinburgh next weekend though was nevertheless hoping more than a few of the second-stringers would take the chance to clinch a place in his final team.
In the end, however, he may have lost one after skipper Simon Keogh made way early in the second half to a shoulder injury. He will be assessed today, but the early signs we not good.
“He was in contention for the final,” Cheika said. “He’s done well over recent weeks, he’s strong and physical and we need that against a team like Leicester.”
He added: “I wanted some of the players to put their hands up. The priority was winning the game and second was seeing those players in contention for a start or a place on the bench for the final.
“There were some good performances from the likes of Seán O’Brien, Kevin McLoughlin, Ronan McCormack and Devin Toner. But we lacked experience in our decision-making.”
Leinster were twice reduced to 14 men during the first half when O’Brien and then McFadden saw yellow cards. Leinster survived the first, but the second saw Newport awarded a penalty try for McFadden’s off-the-ball block on Jason Tovey as he looked set to touch down. Martyn Thomas grabbed a quick-fire second.
NG DRAGONS: M Thomas; G Wyatt, R Gomer-Davies (A Brew 75), P Dollman, R Fussell; J Tovey (J Arlidge 62), W Evans (A Walker 73); A Black (H Gustafson 68), T Willis (capt) R Thomas, A Hall, L Charteris, D Lydiate, C Hill (G Webb, 68), L Evans.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Keogh, F McFadden, K Tonetti (D Kearney 60), R Kearney; I McKinley (I Madigan 75), C Keane (P O'Donohoe 50); R McCormack, J Fogarty, S Knoop (J Hagan 78), T Hogan, D Toner, K McLaughlin, S Keogh (capt, C Jowitt 50), S O'Brien.
Referee: Graham Knox (SRU).
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