Although Leinster came up short for the third final in a row last season, their most significant pool win in ultimately negotiating a home route all the way to the London finale was their rain-sodden win in La Rochelle. This may have been a comparatively beautiful day but Leinster’s talismanic captain Caelan Doris hailed another ugly win which could prove equally as important.
“It’s a hard place to come,” said Doris after Leinster’s 16-14 win at the Stade Marcel Deflandre. “We were on the right side of the result last year, but we’ve obviously had a few where we haven’t been.
“As was said in the dressingroom there, you have to win ugly sometimes. It was far from perfect, but I think the intent throughout was the most pleasing thing and the defence especially.”
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While Leinster’s attack is not as potent as in the Stuart Lancaster years, there’s no doubt that Leinster’s players are relishing their heightened defensive work ethic under the influence of Jacques Nienaber.
“It’s very enjoyable,” admitted Doris after leading their defensive effort with 28 tackles in addition to some big carries and deft touches on the ball as well as trademark turnovers.
“It feels like it has come on another level this year compared to last year. There’s very good buy-in and commitment from everyone. Like Leo mentioned there, there’s the feeling of have each others’ backs if someone flies off and doesn’t make their read. We’re scrambling and working very hard for each other and it’s very enjoyable to be part of.”
Of course, this four-point haul will count for even more if Leinster back it up against Bath in their Pool 2 finale, especially if they can guarantee another top two seeding with a five-point haul, although Johann van Graan’s Premiership leaders moved third in the group with a 40-21 win at home to Clermont Auvergne on Sunday night.
“You look at Bordeaux and Toulouse who are right up there points-wise and it comes down to the smallest of margins at the end,” said Doris in reference to Bordeaux-Begles leading Pool 1 by one point over the reigning champions. “It’s important now we get maximum points out of next week, turn the page and focus on Bath because they’re a quality side too. They’re going very well in the Premiership, but it’s all about maximising points at this stage.”
Leinster did manufacture one well-worked try, when Ryan Baird and Jamie Osborne combined for Joe McCarthy to finish, albeit Ronan O’Gara commented: “As a coach the biggest thing I am disappointed with tonight is the seven points we gave up for the try. Maybe they had one or two other attacking moments but the try is too soft and we don’t deserve to win any game when you give up a try like that. That’s my frustration tonight.”
But Leo Cullen said: “It was a nicely worked try, Tyler’s [Bleyendaal] creation. It was very good and that’s what you want. We had some other chances in that period. We weathered a lot of pressure in the first 20 minutes and you looked at the scoreboard and it was hard to believe, we were stuck at 3-3 there and the lads dug in well. To hit back and score a nicely-worked try in the shortside, well-executed, but we had some other chances after that.
“We had a lineout five metres out, didn’t quite get it right in terms of that transfer when we come down,” said Cullen in reference to the long throw soon after which Gregory Alldritt cleverly pinched from McCarthy.
“We know La Rochelle are very aggressive at the ball in terms of contact area and they came up with a few different turnovers at different stages or spoiled possession and the ball was slipping out. We just didn’t ... that was some of that accuracy part we didn’t quite nail on. But it was never going to be perfect today and overall we’re pleased.”
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