O'Driscoll on song as Leinster issue Heineken Cup warning

Neath-Swansea 25 Leinster 36

Leinster and Brian O'Driscoll issued a statement of intent to the rest of Europe with an impressive display at The Gnoll ahead of this weekend's Heineken Cup kick-off.

The Irish province, just like their opponents, gratefully welcomed back their legion of internationals from World Cup duty in Australia. Malcolm O'Kelly, Victor Costello and Keith Gleeson returned and the Argentinian Felipe Contepomi made a competent debut for his new club.

Yet despite the talent on show, including Wales' new heroes Shane Williams and Jonathan Thomas, it was the return of the prodigal son O'Driscoll that decided this game.

A combination of craft and pace produced his first try and, after creating two more, he used his power and strength for his second as Leinster shot down the Ospreys' six tries to one. "He really is quite a remarkable player," the Ospreys coach, Lyn Jones, said of O'Driscoll.

The Ospreys hung on to Leinster's coat tails for over an hour, thanks to the boot of Gavin Henson, before O'Driscoll inspired three tries in eight minutes. John McWeeney scored after O'Driscoll took a pass near his feet, then the Ireland star barged through Scott Gibbs to grab another just moments later.

Christian Warner followed suit and having broken through to score earlier in the half, he opted to pass and give D'Arcy his second try. D'Arcy's first came courtesy of a sublime one-handed pass from O'Driscoll.

"We're very happy with this performance as we got a lot of the internationals back before the Heineken Cup starts and it is great to have Brian in such form," Leinster's director of rugby, Garry Ella, said.

Neath-Swansea: Try Bennett; Conversion Henson; Penalties Henson 4; Drop Goal Connor. Leinster: Tries O'Driscoll 2, D'Arcy 2, McWeeney, Warner; Conversions O'Meara 3.

Neath-Swansea: G Henson; G Morris (A Durston, 76), J Storey, D Tiueti (S Gibbs, 50), S Williams; S Connor, A Williams (E Seveali'i, 71); P James, H Bennett, A Jones (A Millward, 76), A Newman, G Llewellyn , J Thomas, N Bonner-Evans, S Tandy (G Thomas, 57).

Leinster: G Dempsey; J McWeeney, B O'Driscoll, D Quinlan (C Warner, h-t), G D'Arcy; F Contepomi, B O'Meara (B O'Reardon, 68); R Corrigan, S Byrne (G Hickie, 68), P Coyle, M O'Kelly (A Kearney, 68), B Gissing, D Dillon, V Costello (N Breslin, 72), K Gleeson.

Referee: D Changleng (Scotland).