LEINSTER COACH Joe Schmidt was philosophical in the immediate aftermath of victory at the Recreation Ground although he is less likely to spare his team when he disseminates the evidence of the 80 minutes. The primary theme for the video analysis will be the tries that the province left behind.

It was unlike them as a team and in fairness unrepresentative of the individuals who erred. The reigning Heineken Cup champions set high standards and they didn’t reach them in failing to execute ruthlessly in those moments. He admitted: “That was a frustration obviously, particularly in the first 20 minutes and even into the second half.

“There were a couple of chances that really looked gilt-edged that we managed to make look very, very difficult; so difficult that we couldn’t get the ball over the line. We want to be a lot more accurate, a lot more aware of what everyone else is doing around us to make sure we link up and finish opportunities.

“But because against a quality team it’s that difficult to create opportunities the last thing you want to do is butcher them like we did today. I thought our set-piece was pretty sound, Our defence was sound enough, apart from a couple of times we got a little bit tight or were a bit slow to get our full alignment.

“There are a lot of things that weren’t too far off right but the margins are so narrow in these games that if you don’t get it dead right against a good team they just don’t give you breathing space. We almost suffocated ourselves at times today.”

He added that he was delighted to have won in Bath but that that contentment is tempered by the fact that there’s always plenty upon which to work.

“There is always something I want here or there. But we’re delighted with the result, and with respect to Bath they certainly showed what they are capable of.”

Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin offered a player’s perspective of a torrid battle.

“It was a physical game. We knew that coming over. You’re coming to play a Premiership team in England and what they are going to try and do is beat you up. It’s no different to Leicester, Northampton or those teams.

“Especially in the first half they came at us hard but I thought we dug in there well. They had most of the possession in the first half and we were only 6-3 behind. We knew we needed to up the tempo in the second half to tire them out and I thought we did that. We made all the breaks; I thought they were a tiring team but we just didn’t finish them off and we just need to be more accurate.

“I love those kinds of games where it’s in tight and there are loads of hits to make. When they were playing in tight I felt we were in control but our discipline let us down a couple of times, that’s how they got 6-0 ahead.”

Bath’s director of rugby Ian McGeechan drew the positives from his team’s performance. “We played well and our attitude was superb. Games of this standard always ebb and flow. We defended tremendously well; restricted them to penalties. There are small margins in matches like this . . . .”

The real test for Bath will be trying to back it up at the Aviva stadium next Saturday when Leinster will want to make some points of their own.