Michael Bradley hailed Connacht as the best team ‘from top to toe’ after their superb victory over Leinster in the Magners League last night.
Tries from Brian Tuohy, Michael Swift and Troy Nathan helped Connacht to a 27-13 victory at the Sportsground and only their second win over Leinster since 2004. It was no shadow side either, with Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, Leinster skipper Leo Cullen and a host of other frontline stars in the reigning Heineken Cup champions’ line-up.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, the Connacht manager said: 'Our lads responded very well to the challenge of playing Leinster here on a Wednesday night. It was a very good win and I thought we were the better side from top to toe. It is a good win for us.'
The Westerners face a crucial run of fixtures over the next number of weeks with an away match against Llanelli Scarlets on Sunday. The visit of French thoroughbreds Toulon for an Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final follows soon after and a crucial clash with Heineken Cup rugby next season on line against Ulster following that.
But restoring pride after a disappointing defeat to Munster at the weekend was Connacht’s main priority last night.
Bradley said: ‘We’re level with Ulster in terms of points (but) the most important thing was to bounce back from the Munster match and say to the people of Connacht that the Sportsground is a difficult place for people to come to. We’ve done that.'
Cork native Bradley, who is due to leave his post at the end of this season, is clearly relishing the fact that his men will play a string of crucial matches over the coming weeks.
He added: ‘We have Toulon coming after the Scarlets game here (at the Sportsground). I think there should be a rush for tickets now if you get that sort of entertainment and bang for your buck.
‘To be honest with you we’re already looking forward to that game in that competition which is our last home game of the season no matter what happens.’
‘We then will have Ulster post the Toulon game and that by the looks of things will be a winner take all for the European Cup slot, which is great.’
