Big relief following close Cull
LEO CULLEN admitted this was one that got away for Connacht at a wet and windy RDS yesterday.
“These games are tight,” said the Leinster boss. “Conditions were poor, it’s difficult to play.
“We looked a little bit flat. It can be difficult this time of the year, because we have made changes (13) this week.
“Connacht had a lot more settled look about them. But it was good to get away with the win – I think we got away with it.
“Four points and on we go. At least we don’t have a long time to wait.”
Ulster are next to visit the RDS on Saturday as Leinster look for a seventh straight win.
Connacht face Munster next weekend but there was a sense of regret for Kieran Keane yesterday.
The Connacht coach remarked: “We’re all pretty disappointed we didn’t get the result, but it was a very brave performance.
“We could construe it as one that got away, yeah.
“Emotion took over. The boys had complete control of aspects of that but we didn’t really take the right options.”
The display of new winger James Lowe caught the eye for Leinster.
“He’s very, very good,” said Cullen.
“He just has that little bit of an X factor where he’s able to keep that ball alive in contact very well.
“He creates opportunities off the back of that.
“It was his first outing in the RDS so he’s making good progress.
“It’s just great to see him up and running now.” LEINSTER’S Scrooge-like defence prevented a late smash and grab victory for Connacht and kept the RDS hex on the westerners. Connacht have never won at the Ballsbridge venue – but it took a desperate last-ditch effort to keep Kieran Keane’s men at bay yesterday. In the end it was Max Deegan’s steal in the sixth minute of injury-time that killed Connacht’s 28-phase push for a winning try.
After the thrilling performance against Munster six days earlier this was a different sort of win, with 13 changes in Leo Cullen’s line-up.
Connacht were ahead after three minutes as Jack Carty slotted over a close-range penalty.
Johnny Sexton levelled it four minutes later but errors came early and often on a greasy surface.
It was the hosts who manufactured the first real try threat – but it took them until the 23rd minute to do so.
Luke Mcgrath made a break down the blind side and his off-load to Rob Kearney (left) had the full-back galloping towards the line until Kieran Marmion’s crucial intervention.
Dan Leavy carried the ball over the whitewash but he was turned in the tackle and held up.
Leinster won a penalty from the five-yard scrum that ensued and Sexton tapped it over.
The contest began to open up as the half hour approached and it was the home side who looked better equipped to take advantage.
Mcgrath was denied a try after a break by James Lowe and Sexton, Matt Healy holding up the scrum-half.
Then Sexton found a gap and, had he found Leavy in support, the first try would have followed. Instead, his pass found the grateful arms of Connacht lock James Cannon.
Leinster did make the breakthrough in the 29th minute, Lowe working his magic in tandem with Noel Reid before Reid released Deegan, and the No8 powered over in the corner.
Sexton’s conversion drifted wide and a Carty penalty reducing the deficit as Connacht roared back into it.
With Reid caught rushing up, Bundee Aki punched a hole and a scrambling Leinster defence couldn’t stop Finlay Bealham scoring a try on the 40 minute mark. Carty’s conversion put Connacht 13-11 ahead at half-time.
That advantage lasted until Sexton capitalised on Deegan’s 48th minute penalty win.
It got even better for Cullen’s men just after the hour mark as incessant pressure saw Mcgrath twist his way over, leaving Sexton with an easy conversion for a 21-13 lead.
Back came Connacht again and it was winger Healy who danced his way over – cutting inside Mcfadden, Sexton and replacement Scott Fardy to score.
But this time Carty’s contact was poor and his conversion spun wide, keeping three points between them with 10 minutes remaining.
It proved to be enough, as the visitors passed up a golden opportunity to steal it right at the death.