Exiles celebrate sinking Leinster

London Irish headed home from Dublin today confirmed as major contenders to win this season’s Heineken Cup.

Their successful raid on the home of reigning European champions Leinster – a tense 12-9 verdict secured by substitute Ryan Lamb’s late penalty – installed them as strong Pool Six favourites.

The Exiles, Heineken semi-finalists last year, stunned a Leinster side that had mauled fierce rivals Munster 30-0 in Magners League action last weekend.

“We’ve won a game in the back-yard of a very difficult place to come against the defending champions that are in good form,” said Irish head coach Toby Booth.

“Of course, we were expecting a very difficult contest.

“We’ve snuck it at the end, and I think the enthusiasm with which the boys celebrated was purely out of respect for Leinster because they know how hard it is to come here and get anything.

“Part of the evolution of London Irish has been trying to be adaptable. Being able to win in different ways is all about your evolution as a team.”

Fellow Guinness Premiership challengers Gloucester also got off to a winning start – but a 19-17 home win against Newport Gwent Dragons hardly gripped the imagination.

Wales international fly-half Nicky Robinson’s 75th-minute penalty thwarted a Dragons side that had lost all 10 of their previous Heineken ties against English opposition.

“It was a missed chance,” lamented Dragons head coach Paul Turner after the Pool Two clash at Kingsholm.

“I am disappointed, but we didn’t do enough and the indiscipline killed us. It was a night when Gloucester were there to be taken.”

Gloucester, with just two Premiership wins behind them this season, ultimately did enough to start lifting the gloom during a campaign that has already seen them have four players cited and banned.

“Our work-rate to get ourselves back in the game was pretty good,” said Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath.

“We’ve got to keep plugging away and hope that we get some continuity in our game. You have just got to dig in.”

Bath had flanker Andy Beattie sent off for stamping during their 26-12 Pool Four defeat against Ulster in Belfast.

But Bath head coach Steve Meehan said: “It is really out of character for Andy, and if there was an action it came probably more out of frustration.”

Ryan Davis kicked all of Bath’s points with four penalties, but the visitors were left counting the cost of a poor second-half display.

Meehan added: “I felt our first-half performance was very good, and the guys were confident in the changing room, but unfortunately for us we made one or two errors which put us on the back foot.

“As a result, Ulster fed off our errors and played well.

“We just had to deal with too much pressure and they really played well with a solid set-piece and great percentage play. It was a typical Ravenhill performance from them.

“For us, it’s one match out of six, and it’s really too early to say what impact it will have.”