KINGSLEY Jones reckons Leinster’s academy system is “second to none” in Europe – but he is confident his Newport Gwent Dragons can take the Irish giants down a peg or two tonight.

Despite having players on international duty and missing through inj-ury, Leinster will be able to field a side bursting with talent at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7.30pm), including several academy products.

Dragons chief Jones puts the province’s ability to bring through skilled youngsters on a consistent basis down to their college and school rugby programmes.

However, ex-members of the Dragons’ own academy will also be on show this evening, as they attempt to help the Welsh region gain revenge for December’s defeat by Leinster in Dublin.

Precious Guinness PRO12 points are on offer again this time round, with the Dragons fighting to finish as high as they can in the table and second-placed Leinster battling for a play-off position.

Praising Leo Cullen’s men, and looking forward to the game, Jones said: “Leinster have got it right, if you look at their model. Their academy and schools system are producing players.

“It doesn’t seem to matter who they field, they really play some great stuff.

“They are well coached, they’ve got an academy system that’s second to none in Europe, and you can see that with the players they bring through.

“They have threats. They have two great number nines, two great number 10s, Isa Nacewa and Zane Kirchner bring experience to the team, so they are a very good side.

“I think the schooling system is the thing, with Blackrock College and all those teams, and they have good coaching within the schools.

“They obviously put a lot of money into it but produce some really good young players.”

He added: “We’ll be challenged and tested in every aspect of the game but we feel that, at home, if we play like we did the other night but take our opportunities then we have a very good chance of getting the win.

“The challenge is a big one but we are proud of our home form. We need to take a lot of the positives from the game in Connacht. It will be a disappointment if we don’t perform as well in as many areas as we did on Saturday.

“Obviously we’ve got to improve, particularly when we get opportunities we’ve got to be more clinical.”