Scarlets coach Nigel Davies admitted his side were a clear second best as champions Leinster scored a rampant 32-7 Heineken Cup victory.
Coach unhappy with first-half performance in heavy defeat
Scarlets coach Nigel Davies admitted his side were a clear second best as champions Leinster scored a rampant 32-7 Heineken Cup victory in Wales.
Davies gave an honest assesment of his team's first-half performance that saw them forfeit three tries and in effect their unbeaten record in the competition.
Shane Horgan, Paul D'Arcy and Shaun Berne all went over without reply before the break as Scarlets were handed a European lesson.
"We were very sloppy, we were inaccurate and we came under pressure we hadn't experienced before," said Davies.
"We were found wanting. It took a lot of our boys until the second half to find their feet by which time it was all over. We coughed up too many chances.
Rebuilding
"They are obviously a quality team and the intensity they were able to bring we couldn't live with in that 20-minute spell.
"Leinster are a side that have gone through a rebuilding over the last four years and we are at year one. I'd expect a lot more from us, but I'm proud how the younger players came back in that second half.
"We are down but there is still a lot to play for.
"It's tough. I think we have to be honest with ourselves - we came off second best today. We have asked the players to go away and be honest with themselves and we will do the same as coaches.
"And we have got a challenge next week and we have to face up to it."
Mindset
Leinster head coach Michael Cheika was disappointed his players did not drive home their advantage in the second-half, and is expecting a better performance in the return fixture next week.
"I was pleased with the first half and the result," said Cheika. "But we gave them too much of a look-in in the second half.
"When you play like we did in the first half you have just got to keep going. It worked out in the end.
"We want to make sure we eradicate that second-half performance and that mindset before Dublin next week."
