Dan Sheehan's focus on Leinster's stuttering attack pays off against Connacht

Dan Sheehan of Leinster scores his side's first try. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Dan Sheehan says Leinster focused on improving their attacking game in training last week, and it showed as the province claimed eight tries in a convincing defeat of Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

Opinions on their efforts with ball in hand have not been kind of late with Ulster head coach Richie Murphy’s comments about their battering ram approach and Munster captain Tadhg Beirne touching on their defensive focus during the Christmas.

Neutral observers have been just as unimpressed but there were clear signs of an improvement in that area against Stuart Lancaster’s side, even if Connacht are a step below some of the game’s more superior opposition.

“It's something we've talked about, something I wanted to sort of address during the week, was let's see if we can play to spaces,” said Sheehan who was captain for this 52-17 URC interpro victory.

“We've seen pictures where we might have kicked the ball and there is space to play, and it's not the wrong option, but can we give it a shot by playing, keep the ball, and then keep the pressure on.

“So it was really nice and it was enjoyable to play that sort of game there where obviously sometimes you're gonna have to kick it, but if we saw the space, I thought we took it well and finished off and put them under pressure while retaining the ball.

“So I thought that was good and I thought it was just the focus we put on during the week and how we trained it and if you probably look at our training during the week, you could have seen it.” 

It leaves Leinster with seven successive wins across two competitions as they turn their attention back to Investec Champions Cup action next week and the visit to Dublin of Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle side.

There are a whole host of frontline players due to come back into the province’s 15 and 23 for that but there were a number of impressive performances by younger and less experienced players against the Westerners.

Hands shot up for further selections, not least among them the impressive JJ Kenny on the wing who possesses a speed rare in Irish wings. Charlie Tector was another with a solid display in midfield that was highlighted by two tries.

Others of their ilk were Hugh Cooney in the centre and Diarmuid Mangan in the back row. Encouraging for head coach Leo Cullen as he continues to chop and change his personnel from week to week after a difficult start to the season.

“It's great. JJ on the left wing, he's come in during the summer, he's been fantastic. Charlie Tector [scored] a couple of tries as well, Hugh Cooney in the centre was good.

Sam [Prendergast] is I think younger than most of them, but obviously because he's experienced maybe doesn't fall into that category.

Conor O'Tighearnaigh, his first appearance this season, obviously Will Connors back in the mix because he broke his arm here against Zebre. Diarmuid Mangan is another younger player that's coming through all the time, playing at six there as well today.”