That is exactly what Leinster need.
Matt O’Connor’s men have been struggling for tries all season – with five-pointers coming in gluts between droughts – but Ben Te’o has officially arrived.
The New Zealander, signed from rugby league side South Sydney Rabbitohs last summer, ran in a brace of superb tries. Unfortunately he then got sin-binned and was off the field as Dragons scored two tries to seal a 25-22 comeback win at Rodney Parade.
Jimmy Gopperth missed the conversion – his second wayward kick of the day – but made up for it with another Leinster try just before half-time. He converted that one to leave it 15-8.
Te’o scored his second of the match, early in the second-half, after another line break made it 22-8.
Dragons responded with a try from close range from Jack Dixon. Te’o was yellow carded on 63 minutes and by the time his spell in the bin expired, James Benjamin’s double had made it 25-22 to the Welsh side.
The 14-point turnaround meant Dragons have now done the double over Leinster.
