Three-time winners Leinster were left battling for survival in this season’s European Champions Cup when they slumped to a 19-16 defeat at Bath on Saturday, their second successive loss.
The defeat, which followed last week’s 33-6 mauling at the hands of Wasps in their Pool 5 opener, left the Irishmen facing back-to-back games with defending champions Toulon to keep their hopes alive.
Fly-half star George Ford kicked the match-winning penalty for Bath from 40 metres with three minutes left at the Recreation Ground.
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It was his fourth successive kick of the game and came just moments after Johnny Sexton had missed a difficult 55-metre penalty for Leinster which fell just short with the match level at 16-16.
The victory was also sweet revenge for Bath after they had lost 18-15 to the powerful Irish side in last season’s quarter-finals.
“We showed our inexperience at 16-9 up,” said Bath coach Mike Ford, the father of George.
“We were in control of the game, but we stupidly did things that let them back in.
“I am pleased we won against a Leinster side full of internationals. Our scrum was awesome – Henry Thomas and Nick Auterac were outstanding – but we can’t afford to give teams easy outs and chances to score points like we did on Saturday.”
Four-time champions Toulouse lost their opener 32-7 at Saracens last weekend but hit back with a 24- 18 win over Oyonnax.
All of the game’s five tries came after the interval with Timoci Matanavou, Maxime Medard and Gael Fickou scoring for Toulouse.
Fantastic win for @bathrugby against three times champions Leinster! @StuHooper rallies his forwards at a scrum… pic.twitter.com/rKpdw14mSo
— Patrick Khachfe | OI (@onsideimages) November 21, 2015
Two-time champions Leicester defeated Stade Francais 33-20 last week and followed it up with a 36-3 win at Pool 4 whipping boys Treviso with Tongan winger Telusa Veaninu grabbing a brace.
It was the Tigers’ second successive bonus-point win. Racing 92, who will welcome World Cup winner Dan Carter into their ranks next month, started their Pool 3 campaign with a 29-12 win at the Scarlets in Wales.
Racing’s scheduled opener at home to Glasgow last week was cancelled but they were quickly into their stride, sprinting to a 26-0 lead at the break.
They scored four tries in a dominant first half through Maxime Machenaud, Joe Rokocoko, Chris Masoe and Marc Andreu.
Racing played most of the second half with 14 players after France flanker Bernard le Roux was redcarded for stamping on Phil John.
