O’Connor’s men poor again
LEINSTER WON’T BE happy with their performance in London as they lost 24-18, stunted as it was by several poor decisions, some sloppy handling and a general lack of urgency until Isaac Boss looked to threaten around the fringes in the closing quarter.
Leinster trudge off at the Stoop. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
There were flashes of attacking ability, as for Jimmy Gopperth’s half-break and offload in the first half, but when the pressure came on after the break, the Kiwi out-half dropped deeper and played into the hands of the ‘Quins rush defence.
Ian Madigan was excellent off the tee, but if Leinster are to progress further than the pool stages of the Champions Cup, their use of possession will need to be more clinical. Big ball carriers are being missed close to the gainline.
Leinster forcing passes
Leinster fans might have been encouraged to see their team shifting the ball into wide channels in the first half, but those efforts were a little forced if truth be told.
Rob Kearney fumed at Darragh Fanning for not taking a switch down the right in the first half, the fullback’s pass to Gordon D’Arcy slipped into touch and then Fanning spilled another Kearney tap-on in the opening 40.
It just never clicked for O’Connor’s men close to the touchline, and the Aseli Tikoirotuma intercept try came in that wide-right channel. Of course, the former Chiefs wing deserves credit for reading Kearney’s intention to pass to Zane Kirchner.
‘Quins back themselves
A crucial moment in this encounter from Harlequins’ point of view was the decision to go to the corner in the lead-up to Nick Easter’s 53rd-minute try. Trailing 12-9 at that point, Conor O’Shea’s side opted not to kick at goal from wide on the left.
Aseli Tikoirotuma scorched away for an intercept try. Source: Andrew Fosker/INPHO
Instead, they went to the corner and then battered the Leinster tryline until O’Connor’s defence cracked and Easter stretched through Jack McGrath’s tackle to score. That decision spoke volumes of ‘Quins’ composure in closing out the game.