Leinster's victory at Rodney Parade was a hard-fought battle, showcasing their resilience despite facing numerous challenges. The match, held on Friday, November 28, 2025, saw Leinster overcome a half-time deficit to secure a bonus-point win against the Dragons. But here's where it gets interesting: the performance was far from perfect, marked by disciplinary issues and missed opportunities.
Leinster's journey began with a swift start, Alex Soroka scoring within the first four minutes. However, a missed conversion and a yellow card for Diarmuid Mangan shifted the momentum. The Dragons capitalized, with Matthew Screech scoring, putting them ahead. Leinster's woes continued as Scott Penny received a yellow card, briefly reducing them to 13 men. Despite the setbacks, Leinster managed to stay in the game, trailing 7-5 at halftime.
The second half saw a resurgence, with Joshua Kenny scoring two crucial tries. His first, set up by Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley, leveled the score. His second, a powerful run following a pass from RG Snyman, put Leinster in the lead.
And this is the part most people miss: Controversy arose late in the game when Scott Penny narrowly avoided a second yellow card for a tackle. The referee's decision, despite Dragons' head coach Filo Tiatia's strong disagreement, kept Leinster in the game. Snyman then sealed the win with a fourth try, capitalizing on a mistake by Huw Anderson. Despite a late yellow card for Luke McGrath, Leinster held on.
After the match, Leo Cullen expressed his frustration but acknowledged the positive outcome. He admitted that the result was a 'great outcome' heading into their Champions Cup opener.
What do you think? Was the referee's decision regarding Penny's tackle fair? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Did Leinster's performance show they can still be champions, or did their struggles reveal deeper issues?
