ONE WASPS COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOSE
Wing Jordan Larmour claimed a 50-metre interception score early in the second half to keep Leinster firmly on track for another quarter-final appearance.
But Blues head coach Cullen said: “We do get a little bit lucky. The lineout throw goes crooked, Bath play for the advantage, the referee calls advantage over and within the next two seconds they throw a pass and we are suddenly scoring at the other end of the field.
“It was a big moment in the game for sure. We got a little bit fortunate there.”
Bath delivered arguably their most impressive display of a disappointing season so far but they were undone after taking the lead through prop Henry Thomas’ 22ndminute try that James Wilson converted, with Wilson adding a late penalty to secure a losing bonus point.
Hooker Sean Cronin hauled Leinster level just before the interval and with World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton converting both tries and Ross Byrne kicking a late penalty, Leinster went top of Pool One.
Bath, though, are drifting towards an early exit, having failed to win any of their first three European games and facing a testing return encounter against Leinster in Dublin this weekend.
Cullen added: “We lacked a little bit of punch in the collision part of the game and probably didn’t generate enough momentum in attack.
“It was a little bit mixed in terms of the performance and we are pleased to get the
Exeter 19 Gloucester 27 Wasps 16 Toulouse 24
WASPS’ hopes of European Champions Cup progression were all but ended after suffering a 24-16 loss to Toulouse at the Ricoh Arena.
The under-pressure Coventry-based side needed to beat an in-form Toulouse, having lost to Leinster and drawn with Bath in their opening two fixtures in Pool 1. But they fell to their sixth defeat in seven games thanks to tries from Cheslin Kolbe and Sofiane Guitoune (above) plus 14 points from the boot of Thomas Ramos.