If Lansdowne Road was eerie and almost empty, Newport Gwent Dragons were just left empty after shipping seven tries and more than a half-century of points to international-packed Leinster last night.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock was within his rights to commandeer eight of the Dragons to prepare for what could be a make-or-break Six Nations opener against England on Saturday.

But it left Dragons coach Chris Anderson in a no-win situation and he commented: "It was tough. We came here and we gave it our best shot. For 35 minutes we competed really well. We just ran out of firepower to a big, strong side at home. "It is just disappointing that it is not an even playing field. The blokes were really focused before the game but we were just a little bit short.

"We don't have that big a squad to play a quality side away from home without our nine or ten internationals, especially when they had all, or most, of theirs out there.

"If we had had all ours, it would have been worth watching.

"I thought that up until five minutes before half-time our effort was fantastic. We really tried hard. We tried some new things that half-worked for us. So, there are some positives there. It is just that it was an unfair fight," he said.

The concession of seven tries means the Dragons are now seven points behind third-placed Leinster having played one game fewer.

Once the win and the bonus point was in the bank, Leinster coach Declan Kidney must have felt some sympathy for his former employers who allowed him to return home to coach Leinster at the start of the season.

"There is a realisation that we are into the international season and players were released for us and they weren't for The Dragons," said Kidney.

"It is something I am sure will be looked at.

"All the players can do when they are out there is give it their best and I thought all the players on the night did that."