Leinster need to improve for Wasps

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika expressed relief after Saturday’s Magners League derby victory and acknowledged his side must improve drastically if they are to overcome Wasps in the Heineken Cup next weekend.

Cheika’s side started poorly and seemed in trouble when trailing by eight points at the break, But with Keith Gleeson and Shane Horgan scoring tries in a scorching second half, the hosts took victory — and denied brave Connacht a bonus point.

“The guys will be disappointed with the performance,” Cheika agreed. “But we’re happy with the win. Connacht always seem to get up for these games and we need to get our mentality right. We’re on top of the Magners League and we’re still in the hunt for the Heineken Cup, but a lot could change in a week. Of course it’s a boost going into the Heineken Cup. We want to try to win everything; we want to be as competitive as possible,” he said.

Connacht stormed from the blocks at Donnybrook. Paul Warwick kicked them into the lead after seven minutes from a penalty and moments later was converted an Adrian Flavin try before kicking his second penalty.

Felipe Contepomi and Warwick then swapped penalties before Bernard Jackman got in for a Leinster try that the Argentinean out-half converted.

Warwick continued to lead by example for Michael Bradley’s side and five minutes before the break, scrambled in under the posts ahead of Jamie Heaslip to put the visitors 21-10 ahead.

Contepomi cut the gap to eight with a late penalty and following the sin binning of flanker Matt Lacey, the tide turned. Chris Whitaker and Contempomi combined superbly in the 53rd minute to set up Gleeson for a try.

Shortly afterwards, Contempomi was at his brilliant best with a stunning crossfield kick which was collected by Horgan — the big Meath man beating two defenders before touching down.

Contepomi added the conversion to secure a 27-21 lead, pushing the advantage to nine points with a penalty soon after. Leinster never looked back, even though they were guilty of conceding silly turnovers.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley said: “I thought we went in at half time with a deserving lead; maybe it should have been more, but we have to learn from this. We had two very good chances early in the second half and we could have built on that.

“They sniffed the chances that presented themselves. They had some brilliant individual players out there. You can keep them at bay for long periods but you cannot afford to let up for a second. We lost concentration and paid the price.”

LEINSTER: G. Dempsey, S. Horgan, K. Lewis, G. D’Arcy, D. Hickie, F. Contepomi (captain), C. Whitaker, S. Wright, B. Jackman, W. Green, T. Hogan, M. O’Kelly, S. Keogh, J. Heaslip, K. Gleeson.

Replacements: B. Blaney for Jackman, O. Finegan for O’Kelly (56), G. Easterby for Whitaker (67), C. Warner for Contepomi (75). Temporary – C. Jowitt for Keogh (20-22), F. Pala’aimo for Keogh (30-33).

CONNACHT: G. Duffy, D. Yapp, D. Riordan, G. Williams, C. McPhillips, P. Warwick, C. Keane, B. Wilkinson, A. Flavin, R. Hogan, D. Gannon, A. Farley (captain), J. Muldoon, C. Rigney R. Ofisa.

Replacements: M. Lacey for Muldoon (34), M. Swift for Ofisa (53), J. Fogarty for Flavin (65), M. McHugh for Williams, d. slemen for Duffy (both 76).

Referee: P. Fitzgibbon (IRFU).