Leinster coach Matt Williams believes that Leinster's eight-try blitz in defeating Swansea at Donnybrook last night could be crucial to their progress in the Heineken Cup this year. Forty of Leinster's 48 points came from tries as their Welsh visitors were handed a Pool Four mauling.
Leinster go to Bristol next week with a healthy try count of 18 from the group stages, which could be the difference between earning a home draw or facing a tricky away-day in the quarter-finals.
"Those tries could be crucial in 10 days' time. We've still got some work to do but we'll know by Sunday night, after Bristol play Montferrand, exactly what we have to do," Williams said. "Needless to say, we're just going there to win and we're not looking past that. I don't know if things are going according to plan but I don't mind scoring eight tries and it was a great win. Tries are going to be so important in this competition and we're absolutely delighted."
Williams added that though his side remain unbeaten in the competition this season, they have not started celebrating yet. Last year they had won five from five before going to Toulouse and getting hammered 43-7, ending up with a last-eight tie against Leicester at Welford Road. "This is the same as the position we were in last year, so the changing room is very subdued," Williams added. "We feel we're only halfway there and we just want to get through next week in Bristol so we can go and have our Christmas party on Tuesday week."
Williams was forced to make two late changes to his starting line-up when Ireland full-back Girvan Dempsey and lock Leo Cullen withdrew with a groin and calf injury respectively. "Girvan's definitely available for Bristol. If it had been the final tonight he would have played. Without sounding arrogant, we felt we could win tonight and we just didn't want to risk him," Williams said. "With Leo we won't know. It was just one of those things. It was a lineout and he got a twinge in his calf and, again, we just weren't prepared to risk him. So Girvan is definitely starting, Leo we'll find out about during the week."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
