I should warn you that this writeup is going to start with a bit of a moan, but hopefully when I go on to relate the story of the match as a whole you'll realise I was happy Leinster were comfortably able to keep their home winning streak going.
My beef stems from the fact that Fionn Carr touched down for our third try with the clock at 76:04, and this made the score 29-10 in our favour. When Isa Nacewa took the conversion the clock had moved on to 77:22, and was of course even later when the Dragons re-started.
Am I being incredibly nit-picky when I say Nacewa could have made an uber-quick conversion attempt via a drop goal to give us as much time as possible to get the fourth try for the bonus point?
I probably am, but still, if we're going to be putting two stars on our jersey, perhaps we should be holding ourselves to a higher standard, and for me this involves displaying a hunger for every league point that’s going.
Consider my moaning over. And let me make myself perfectly clear – it was the nearest thing to a mistake Isa made on the night, and he fully deserved his man-of-the-match award.
Having said that, had the second period not gone the way it did, I could be doing a lot more moaning. Only 6-3 ahead on the scoreboard at halftime, and still no try scored by a Leinster player since Nathan Hines bagged our third in Cardiff, there was much reason for concern.
Not that we weren't doing impressive things, mind you, it was just that for every impressive burst down the middle by Isa or Fionn Carr, once we got in the Dragons 22, even though we chose to vary our attack more than we did last week, one link in the chain would always fail either by a knockon, holding after the tackle or, more often than not, a stubborn visiting defense.
But eventually the mammoth task presented to the Dragons by the fixture computer had to take its toll. Although impressive in defending their red zone, Munster had hit them down the middle from deep twice last week and we made similar hay on this occasion.
I tell you, Fionn Carr couldn't have been too far behind Isa in the man-of-the-match reckoning. In an age of the sport where wingers are expected more to be ball-carriers and tacklers than runners, it's refreshing to see guys like him still around.
And what's more – he proved on Friday night that his style of running can produce results. After Isa took a high ball and passed it to him outside our 22, he proceeded to cut a swathe through the scrambling Dragons defence before flinging a perfect ball at full speed to Brendan Macken, who finished more like a seasoned pro than one playing his first full 80 minutes at this level.
Of course I could add an additional moan about Isa's missed conversion of that try, not because of his kicking, but because of the fact that Leo the Lion, clearly not himself that night, proceeded to bang his drum as the kick was being taken! Major mascot FAIL! But I digress – we'd finally opened our try account for the 2011/12 campaign, and the 14,000 crowd was more than happy.
Then a few minutes later, it was the turn of another Rock boy to cross the line – and Ian Madigan was surely another contender for outstanding player. In our home opener last year against Cardiff he dropped his shoulder and crashed over the line for the decisive bonus point try and it seems he has started this season with every intention to take every chance he gets on the park.
Once again, although the tackle-weary Dragons rearguard may have parted like the Red Sea somewhat, it still takes some doing to carry the ball all the way to the line from halfway, and that's just what Mads did.
And just like that, we were comfortably ahead. Sadly we then took the foot off the gas a little bit, and as much as I hate to say it, it can't be a coincidence that this happened after Willis & Madigan were replaced by Cooney & Berquist.
Now I don't want to be to harsh on a rookie, especially after also bashing him last week, but the fact remains the move that led to the lone Dragons try, brilliantly started AND finished by Jason Tovey, came after we had the ball and lost it because Cooney had held the ball too long in the tackle.
My only problem about him is that although of course he needs the experience, if Leinster are to continue their fine form in this competition, we really need to squeeze every point we can out of the matches around this time, with the second half of our campaign being mainly on the road. So if he appears to be a liability, his presence on the pitch should be minimised for now where possible.
I seem to be only mentioning backs in this writeup, so it's time to give the pack some love. Much better display from them all round, particularly in set pieces and on defence. The McLaughlin/Ryan/Ruddock backrow could well be an Ireland combination one day, and it will do them all the world of good to stay together until the World Cup is over. Also Jamie Hagan looks like he will effortlessly fill Stan Wright's “cult hero prop” shoes with the Leinster faithful.
Then we had late bit of magic from Carr, though it needed a line break from Leo Auva'a (who clearly wasn't just signed to ensure we always have at least one Leo in our squad) to set it up. Although it was actually down the wing this time, it was once again a super finish.
Which of course brings me back to that conversion again, so in case i'm tempted to moan again I'd better sign off and get the Ireland jersey out of the wardrobe for the morning. Great to see Leinster back in the win column – hopefully Glasgow will suffer a similar fate to Newport next week. JLP
