When Leinster's players ran down the tunnel at half time in last night’s Investec Champions Cup win against Leinster, they did so two points behind and in danger of falling to a shock defeat.
Johann van Graan’s Bath had given them a bloody nose in that opening half, racing out to a 14-0 lead inside the opening seven minutes, and although Leinster recovered to get in front on 36 minutes, another Tom de Glanville try on the stroke of half time had the potential to flip momentum back to the Premiership leaders.
Leinster haven’t had to go chasing games much this season, but they showed no signs of panic.
In the end, they took everything Bath had to offer, and still won the game pulling up, with a 28-0 second half guaranteeing them home advantage for at least the next two rounds of the competition should they get there.
It was a night where the province’s frightening strength in depth was on show for all to see. On 46 minutes, with his side looking to get back into the game, head coach Leo Cullen summoned RG Snyman and Caelan Doris from the bench, and within five minutes they had made an impact, Snyman reaching over the line with one arm from what was an almost comical distance to score a try. From there Leinster never looked back.
The South African was at his very best at the Aviva; abrasive when he brought the ball into contact, but with the ability to free his arms and keep the ball alive.
For Van Graan it was a reminder of why the former Munster coach brought him to Ireland in the first place when he signed him in 2020, and why his Bath side were reportedly keen on signing him last year.
"You all know how highly I rate him [Snyman] as a player," Van Graan (below) said.
"Somebody that I signed at Munster and he's now at Leinster
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