Heaslip: We must do better
Leinster will be on the road in the glamour Champions Cup semifinals and Jamie Heaslip accepts they will need to move up another gear if the three-time European champions are to be present at Twickenham next month for another final appearance.
They edged Bath Rugby out 18-15 through the immaculate kicking of Ian Madigan and the help of their 16th man – the crowd.
"Those 43,000 odd fans really got us through those last five to 10 minutes," said the Ireland No 8 as they wait to find out if they will be up against defending champions Toulon or Wasps in the last four.
"We know we still have a lot to work on and we have got a massive league match coming up next week but we know both of the teams we could play in the semifinal very well and we are just very glad to be there.
"It was a difficult game – we put ourselves in positions to take our scores and I am not at all concerned that we did not score any tries. We played what was in front of us and we got into positions and then got penalties. I don't care if we win by one or 10 points – just as long as we win
"Because these are the game we all want to play in – you want to be busy at this time of year. We said all week that if we made mistakes against a team like Bath at this level of competition then it would be difficult.
"Bath scored some tries and it went to the wire – they are so hard to unlock and they have some real attacking prowess.
"This means everything to us – our season was riding on this game because we have had mixed form in the league. It might not have been the prettiest game but we got there in the end and the crowd were simply fantastic.
"Bath are a really good side and tested us throughout the whole 80 minutes but Leinster have proved over the last 10 years that we are a knock-out team and when it comes to knock-out rugby we know how to win."
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