Leinster: Intercept try changed game

 

O'Connor's men gave everything they had over 100 minutes against the French giants, when many ruled them out even before kick-off.

 

The Irish side led for large periods of a game that ended 12-12 after 80 minutes and turned in the blink of an eye with an interception by Habana at the end of the first period of extra-time.

 

"It was a pretty impressive performance from my guys," said O'Connor.

 

"They gave every bit of effort they had and we led for large parts of the game.

 

"The conditions made it difficult to play out there and the defences dominated. It was hard to put passes together and get the ball to the edges.

 

"We dug in for large parts of the game, but the interception try changed the game.

 

"They are gutted in the dressing room.

 

"We wanted to drive at them, make their forwards work really hard and break them down in the last 15 minutes.

 

"Unfortunately, we weren't good enough to do that, but the effort that those 23 players put in shows how much it means to them to play for Leinster. 

 

"We may have lost, but this performance has shown we can compete against the best club side ever put together."

 

Leinster skipper Jamie Heaslip was also full of praise for the way his men marched into the lion's den and took the contest to the reigning champions.

 

"A lot of people didn't give us a shout and we came here with nothing to lose.

 

"The heart shown by everyone out there to give 100 minutes and take it right to the wire was incredible," said Heaslip.

 

"At half time we had a lot of confidence. We thought we had a couple of chances out there, but we didn't take them.

 

"We focused on our set-piece, exit plans and defensive systems in the build-up to the game and we asked a lot of questions of them. 

 

"At times we put them under pressure, but it just didn't come our way.

 

"They are a difficult side to break down. 

 

"Credit to my guys, but fair play to Toulon for the win."