Leinster ran out comfortable 52-10 winners against Dragons at the RDS today in the Guinness Pro14 in a game that saw Johnny Sexton start and lead his province expertly.
Dragons, managed by former Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman, targeted this year with hopes of vast improvements after several new arrivals and increased exposure. However, with the game in the melting pot they were dealt a hammer blow when Welsh number 8 Ross Moriarty was shown a yellow card for a late hit on Sexton.
Moriarty gets a yellow card for this.
Right call?#LEIvDRA pic.twitter.com/rPuBo60GIG
— rugby (@theblitzdefence) September 15, 2018
Sexton came into the team after Ross Byrne started last week and the incident provoked a debate online about the merits of the referee's decision.
Yellow card for Ross Moriarty for a late hit on Johnny Sexton. It’s fair to say Moriarty was not hugely impressed at the call.
— Simon Thomas (@simonrug) September 15, 2018
That's a joke of a yellow card for Moriarty. Sexton ran right into him & he's just braced himself. That's pathetic. Even the Irish commentators are disgusted by it. Which tells you everything. #LEIvDRA
— Gregg 🏴 (@GreggC_CC) September 15, 2018
Ross Moriarty needs to learn some subtlety when it comes to taking the opposition ten out of the game.
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) September 15, 2018
Fully neutral POV From a 🇫🇷 :
Maybe a bit harsh yellow - depends on how sexton falls down afterwards... pen is here though and Moriarty is a silly lad on this one!— CherryTreee (@CherryTreee) September 15, 2018
Sexton stayed down after the hit which prompted the referee to refer to the TMO. It was deemed late and that Moriarty 'braced' his shoulder. Thus, he was shown a yellow card.
The result was a welcomed one for Leo Cullen's side, coming off the back of a two-point loss away to Scarlets last week.
