WINNERS: BLUEBIRDS PAIR SCOOP AWARDS
CARDIFF Blues’ unhappy start to the season continued as they ended up suffering a heavy defeat in Dublin, with Leinster running riot in the final quarter.
Danny Wilson’s men had made a game of it for more than an hour, but then three tries in the space of eight minutes from their hosts killed them off.
There was some improvement on the previous week’s dire Arms Park loss to Edinburgh in terms of physical commitment and endeavour.
But there was still a lack of cutting edge on the few occasions they applied concerted pressure, with their only points coming through the boot of Steve Shingler, while the penalty count was heavily against them.
And their defence, which had been impressively resilient for an hour, fell away in the closing stages as Leinster romped to a bonus point win.
With a lengthy injury list and testing games at home to Glasgow and away to Connacht and Munster to come over the next few weeks, it’s going to be an extremely challenging period for Danny Wilson’s men.
There was spot of breaking news from their camp ahead of the game, with the announcement that Welsh international Scott Andrews has joined Bath on loan.
The 13-times capped prop links up with the Aviva Premiership club as short-term injury cover and goes straight on to the bench for today’s meeting with European Champions Saracens at The Rec.
With Andrews moving across the bridge and both Taufa’ao Filise (knee) and Anton Peikrishvili (lower back) crocked, the Blues had two young tightheads on duty at the RDS.
Kieron Assiratti, 20, was handed the starting spot, up against Ireland loosehead Cian Healy, with Dillon Lewis, 21, providing cover on the bench.
It was to be something of a baptism of fire for Assiratti in the early exchanges as Leinster got well on top in the scrum, putting in a couple of huge shoves.
The hosts piled the pressure on, hammering away in opposition territory, but the Blues defence held firm, with the influence of Shaun Edwards apparent in their line speed.
And, against the run of the play, it was the Welsh region that opened the scoring.
Off their first meaningful attack, they were awarded a penalty following a ruck offence when Alex Cuthbert cut through on the right and fly-half Shingler slotted the kick.
Leinster were then reduced to 14 men when centre Isa Nacewa was sin-binned for a swinging arm hit around the neck of Cuthbert, with the only question being the colour of the card.
Referee Andrew Brace decided on yellow.
The Blues extended their lead through a second Shingler penalty as their scrum gained some revenge with a shunt of their own to the delight of the pack.
But those were to be the only points they claimed during Nacewa’s spell off the field. In fact, it was Leinster who were to score just before his return.
The fact they were a man down behind didn’t really matter as the ball stayed in the forwards off a lineout drive, with TMO Peter Fitzgibbon deciding there was no reason not to award the score after checking whether hooker James Tracy had reached the line.
Ross Byrne slotted the conversion and extended his team’s lead to 10-6 at the break as Josh Navidi was penalised for an off the ball tackle on Nacewa in the final play.
Shingler cut the deficit to a point straight from the restart, only for Byrne to respond with two shots of their own.
Despite mounting penalties against them, the Blues were still only seven points behind going into the final quarter and there was hope as they built a rare period of concerted pressure.
But a spillage at the contact area on 68 minutes was to spell the start of a torrid ending to the game.
Replacement hooker Sean Cronin profited from that loose ball as he showed good pace to run in from 45 metres and further tries were to follow in quick succession from fellow subs Barry Daly and Nick McCarthy.
Daly pulled off a great onehanded take to claim a cross kick in an aerial mismatch with Matthew Morgan, while McCarthy rounded off the score of the night after a superb handling move.
The Blues had a final shot at a consolation score as they pressed on the Leinster line in the last play, only to be penalised at the breakdown.
It was just that kind of night.