Job far from done for Leinster: Cheika

Leinster coach Michael Cheika admitted his side need “a little bit of a miracle” to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals but they were helped on their way by their 20-13 defeat of Toulouse at the RDS.

Edinburgh’s surprise win at home to Leicester has also aided Leinster in their quest to make the last eight and it will be at Welford Road, the home of Leicester, next Saturday where the Irish province’s fate is ultimately decided.

Two tries from Ireland cap Luke Fitzgerald and 10 points from the boot of Argentinian star Felipe Contepomi steered Leinster to a deserved triumph over three-time champions Toulouse.

Cheika said: “For qualification we are talking about a little bit of a miracle and by now everybody knows that. You have to believe and I think now is the time for us to start believing again.”

Toulouse still sit top of Pool Six, three points clear of Leinster going into the final round of matches, and Cheika was admittedly proud of how his players carved out today’s win.

“It’s a really weird feeling because it’s not that often you get the chance to beat a team like this when they come to your home town.

“I thought we played quite well and you don’t know whether to cheer or say, ’oh God what could have been?’ if we had played like that all of the time.

“The best teams in Europe don’t give away points easily and we got to the edge of an opportunity to score a couple of times.

“I was really proud of the players because when they made that decision to kick for the corner instead of going for goal (in the first half), they stuck with it. It didn’t work for them on the first, second or third time. They stayed down there.”

Having gone 17-6 behind after winger Fitzgerald’s second try, Toulouse rallied with replacement Yves Donguy crossing the whitewash in the 70th-minute to effectively secure the losing bonus point.

Cheika added: “Having watched their game against Castres last week we can understand that Toulouse really put on a surge, particularly if they feel they are not performing and being smothered out of it. I think in the first half they came out in a big way but they really got on top of us in the second half.”

With his side not yet through to the quarter-finals, Toulouse coach Guy Noves admitted: “It was important to win the match firstly and the (losing) bonus point was secondary to that.

“We need to get the bonus point against Edinburgh next weekend. My main objective was obviously to win the game but Leinster played very well in the first half and because of their early work they deserved to win the game.

“I would just like to congratulate them because they played very well and it was a magnificent win for them.”

Leinster number eight Jamie Heaslip, who claimed the man-of-the-match award, said: “It’s always nice to beat a side of the quality of Toulouse, especially after our last performance against them (when we lost 33-6).

“We were clinical when the chances came our way, but fair play to Toulouse. They fought hard throughout the game.

“I thought the pack today were immense. We gave good ball to our backs, and though we’re disappointed not to get the bonus point, that’s the way it goes. We’re determined to go to Welford Road and try to get the win.”