Cheika: Hard work the key

Leinster coach Michael Cheika was pleased with how his team played their natural game as the Heineken Cup champions got their campaign back on track with a 36-13 win over Brive.

Rob Kearney’s first-half try helped Leinster build a 19-6 lead at the break and, although Gerhard Vosloo touched down for the home side in the second period, a late double from replacement Kevin McLaughlin ensured Leinster ran out comfortable winners.

It was an important victory for Cheika’s men, whose opening day defeat against London Irish in Dublin had put them under serious pressure.

Cheika said: “I think hard work got us the game. There wasn’t anything flashy or fancy, just a lot of good work.

“We backed ourselves a lot to throw the ball around when there were opportunities there.

“We didn’t go into our shell, which we could have done because we knew what the implications were if we didn’t win. That’s good character.”

Scarlets’ win at London Irish has thrown Pool Six wide open but Cheika knows his team will have to produce another top performance to get a result at Parc y Scarlets when the sides meet there on December 12.

“The Scarlets will have their tails right up now,” he said. “We haven’t had the nicest draw so the way it’s worked out we’re going to go down there and try to get in their way because they’re the team that’s on a roll at the moment.”

Man of the match Brian O’Driscoll was instrumental in much of Leinster’s good work, including a beautiful lay-off for Jonathan Sexton in the build up to Kearney’s opening try.

“Obviously we’re pleased we won the game,” O’Driscoll said. “At the same time we could have picked up a bonus point but we’re delighted to come to Brive and get four points.

“It’s a hugely difficult competition to win. Having lost in the first round we put pressure on ourselves, but we’re delighted to come out of here with a win.”

The match was Brive’s first home game in the competition for 12 years and their English fly-half Andy Goode admitted it was a disappointing performance.

Goode, who kicked eight points, said: “If we’re being honest, from one to 15 they outplayed us. It was a difficult match for us and we made a fair few mistakes.

“The first try was a simple defensive error. After that we needed to control the ball a bit and we gave them a few penalties, which they kicked.

“It gave them a lot of confidence and momentum in the game and after that giving them a few soft tries killed us off really.”