Leinster coach Cheika delighted after ‘huge’ win

THIS was about more than just bragging rights, although they are considerable, given Leinster took the scalp at in front of a crowd largely comprised of baying Munster fans at Thomond Park last night.

The Leinster coach Michael Cheika might well have been delighted that his charges came and conquered Munster in this battle of champions, but of far more importance to him was the effect the result has for his side at the top of the Magners League.

Leinster pulled a further three points clear of Munster and Edinburgh, who were beaten at the death against Connacht, and now enjoy a seven-point lead with a game in hand.

Cheika described it as a hugely important victory in the context of Leinster’s Magners League campaign, admitting that it gave them some considerable comfort to emerge from Thomond Park with the four points.

“It was more than bragging rights, of course; that game was an excellent preparation for next week (Heineken Cup quarter-final vs Clermont). That is a huge game for us and we understand the context of this win, this was more about hard work, honesty and getting those things right to understand what we’re going to have to do if we’re going to win next week.

“Of course (the added bonus) is for the guys to come down here and win; at this stage we’re trying to get the team peaked at the right time and there are a few different cycles going on with some guys coming out of the Six Nations and some guys who have been here the whole time.

“Next week, hopefully, there will be a bit of fresh energy to bring back into the team, so it’s about understanding what happened here and understanding the core elements that help you win down here because it’s very difficult to win here,” he said.

But win they did, and that didn’t go down at all well with his Munster counterpart Tony McGahan, who said that even the losing bonus point to keep his side’s challenge ticking over was no adequate compensation.

“To lose at home to Leinster is a bitter pill to swallow,” said McGahan. “Maybe the bonus point will be beneficial at the end of the Magners League when you need points but right now it’s not quite what we expected.

“We’re very disappointed because we were here to get a result. We fought very hard and two very good sides went at it. At the end it was marginal, with just one point at the end of it.

“There were a number of things that made the difference; that’s what top quality games come down to, kicks, bounce of the ball, interpretations that go your way or don’t, but the scoreline is as it is.

“I thought we worked very hard at the breakdown for the majority of the game, our kicking game was solid, but we lost and that’s what counts.”

McGahan awaits injury reports on Ian Dowling, David Wallace and Ronan O’Gara, all of whom sustained knocks but he hopes all three, along with Paul O’Connell who missed last night’s match, will be ready to front up to Northampton in next week’s Heineken Cup quarter final. “We will just have to wait a day or so to get medical up dates, but we hope all will be available for selection,” he added.