Oct 22,2024
Leinster became the first team to restrict Connacht to just two tries this season in their URC win on Saturday but Jacques Nienaber says they are far from the finished product.
Pete Wilkins' side had scored 17 tries in four games prior to the 33-12 loss at the Dexcom Stadium and had secured five bonus points in total.
However, a ferocious Leinster defence ensured they left the Galway stadium empty-handed as the visitors made it a perfect five wins from five at the start of the campaign.
Connacht will feel they could have worked more than a try in each half, from Sean O'Brien and Cathal Forde, with a number of basic errors costing them position and opportunities.
Similar to Leinster’s figures following their win over Munster in round four, Leo Cullen’s side missed almost double the amount of tackles as their opponents, 35 to 18.
But, as the players and coaches have spoken about previously, the missed tackles are built into the system where linespeed and power takes precedence.
One man who had a front-row seat was Connacht number 8 Paul Boyle (above).
He returned figures of 13 carries, the most among the pack, for 40 metres, while beating three defenders.
"Our focus going into the game was to stay calm on the ball because they do come at you with such linespeed that if we stay calm there’s going to be holes to get around them.
"Saying that is easier than doing it. We had a look at their defence, their tackle stats from the game, they miss an awful lot of tackles, but again, the South African style, they don’t really care.
"Garry Ringrose is one of the best defenders at 13 you can come up against and he missed seven tackles but he just shoves you back into the man inside you.
"They are constantly in your face."
Nienaber joined Leinster last December following the Springboks' World Cup victory in France. His first game was the corresponding fixture last season so he was able to explain how his system has bedded in.
"The majority of the players have now been exposed to it for a couple of games, a couple of weeks. It’s always easier in year two.
"The group is one year along the line, which is always better.
"It’s showed growth. I would be worried if there wasn’t growth but are we there yet, the finished product?
"No, there’s still growing, learning, finding each other."
