Sean Farrell reports from the Sportsground
CONNACHT HEAD COACH Andy Friend believes his team will be better for the experience of losing to a suffocating Leinster performance.
In form after beating the Scarlets last time out, Connacht came into the Galway clash with confidence high, but the mood was sombre after they finished the 3-20 defeat with 13 men.
For long stretches of the opening half, Connacht were the more threatening side, cranking up pressure through long sets of phase-play borne out of excellent skills and intent.
However, they found precious few of the line-breaks they sought. Though stretched time and again, Leinster’s line was rarely breached.
“There were moments of that game where we certainly matched Leinster. But that’s why they’re a champion side, they can hold on and keep that consistency for 80 minutes and there’s no let-up. That’s what champion sides do
Though soundly beaten by 17 points, a performance of this calibre would likely go a long way towards victory against opposition that is not a fully-loaded and vengeful Leinster side.
After hammering at the door through the opening quarter, Connacht trailed at the interval and once Garry Ringrose broke free to score inside a minute of the second half, Leinster made sure it was a long road back.
“Half-time 6-3 is probably a fair reflection,” says Friend, “it was a bit of an arm-wrestle. The try after half-time really hurt us.
“You couldn’t find fault with them. They’re a quality outfit. That’s why they’re European champions. Full credit to them, they earned the victory today.”