Ronan O’Gara says he was in “shock” watching Leinster’s “backbone caved in” against Wasps but predicted a response against Bath this weekend.
Leo Cullen’s men fell to a 33-6 round-one Champions Cup loss at home to Wasps and face a huge challenge now to get out of a pool that also contains triple champions Toulon. They travel to the Rec on Saturday.
The 2009, 2011 and 2012 winners went into the tie hampered by injury and lost more key players – including Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien – during the game.
Former Munster and Ireland out-half O’Gara told RTÉ 2fm’s Game On: “I think the mindset changed. I think players realised who they’re playing with.
“That’s probably what disappointed them most [was] when their backbone caved in and they were put under pressure, they rolled over, which is most unLeinster-like.
"When their backbone caved in and they were put under pressure, they rolled over"
“I was sitting in shock on the couch watching it, I couldn’t believe it. For the players, when you lose the momentum, you lose the body language battle.
"It goes downhill pretty quickly.
“I think there will be sparks this weekend because they’ve been questioned in every single department, more so character-wise so it’ll be an interesting Saturday afternoon.
“I don’t think they were good enough to beat Wasps. If you take [Ben] Te’o, [Luke] Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and [Isa] Nacewa out of the backline, it’s completely different.
“One or two of them you can get by – with four of them [missing] you’ve no chance at that level. That’s the reality.”
