NEWS Leinster 48 Queensland Reds 19: EIGHT TRIES from Leinster in an improved second-half performance against Queensland Reds at at Donnybrook on Saturday was enough to generate some confidence in Michael Cheika's squad going into the province's first Magners League match of the season against Cardiff in Wales next Saturday, writes Johnny Watterson.
It was a decent workout for Leinster, who had most of their front line players involved and who spread the glut of tries widely among themselves.
Bernard Jackman, Shane Horgan, Shane Jennings, Cian Healy, Rob Kearney, Felipe Contepomi, Seán O'Brien and Malcolm O'Kelly each touched down, with the Argentinian centre adding four conversions in the 48-19 win.
Isa Nacewa, playing at fullback but able to slot in anywhere in the back line, hinted he could be another excellent signing by Cheika, while rookie backrow O'Brien indicated he can do a little damage around the park.
The Australian side, sprinkled with their academy players, led 19-15 at the break as Contepomi was a little "low emission" with his kicking on this green day in Dublin.
Three conversions and a penalty went awry for him.
But Leinster were rarely troubled throughout a one-sided second half.
Stephen Knoop withdrew before the match because of injury, while Jackman departed after only 18 minutes and Jonathan Sexton at half-time. However, the injuries are not thought to be serious.
Meanwhile, Connacht have suffered a big blow ahead of the start of the Magners League, with new winger Mike Roberts set to miss the opening games.
The 25-year old, who won three English Premiership medals and the Heineken Cup during his spell with Wasps, has been ruled out with a calf injury.
Roberts was very impressive in Connacht's pre-season campaign and scored two tries in the 24-12 win over Queensland Reds on Tuesday.
However, he picked up the calf injury in the early stages of the second half and will miss Friday's opening game against the Ospreys and probably the trip to Llanelli the following week.
"The new players have impressed in pre-season and Mike was going particularly well so it is a blow," said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.
"However, we have boosted our squad and there are plenty of options although, of course, you prefer to be selecting from a full hand," he added.
LEINSTER: I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, R Kearney; J Sexton, C Whitaker (capt); C Healy, B Jackman, R McCormack, M O'Kelly, D Toner, C Jowitt, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: J Fogarty for Jackman (18 mins); G Dempsey for Sexton (half-time); Stephen Keogh for Jowitt (52 mins); T Hogan for Toner, J Hagan for Healy (both 58 mins); S O'Brien for Jennings, L Fitzgerald for O'Driscoll (both 62 mins); C Keane for Whitaker (63 mins); F McFadden for Nacewa (65 mins); Simon Keogh for Kearney, G Brown for Horgan, B Blaney for McCormack (all 71 mins).
QUEENSLAND REDS: R Davies; A Toua, M Turini (co-capt), C Fetoai, D Ioane; B Gollings, W Genia; G Holmes (co-capt), J Hanson, J Slipper, V Humphries, A Byrnes, J Schatz, P Luafutu, L Houston. Replacements: S Higginbotham for Schatz (ht); B McKibbin for Genia (44 mins); L Morahan for Toua (68 mins); R Simmons for Byrnes, A Anae for Slipper (both 70 mins).
Referee: S McDowell, IRFU.
