Toby Booth was delighted with Delon Armitage's try-scoring return from injury in London Irish's win over Brive.
Exiles full-back marks return from injury with crucial try
London Irish head coach Toby Booth hailed Delon Armitage's "true class" after the England full-back returned from a three-month injury lay-off with the try that sealed London Irish a bonus-point 34-13 victory over Brive.
Armitage had been out after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction that ruled him out of England's autumn international campaign.
Back two weeks ahead of schedule, Armitage came off the bench to score the Exiles' fourth try with the final play of the game to keep them top of Pool Six.
"It was always going to be him," laughed Booth.
"You joke about it being fate but you saw Delon Armitage's true class. When you give him the ball, that is what happens.
"He has been excellent for the last two weeks in training. He was fit to start but the plan is to drip-feed him back in."
The Exiles were dominant throughout and would have been kicking themselves had they failed to take maximum spoils for the second week running against Brive, who had four players sin-binned and remain without a point in the competition.
London Irish raced into a 20-6 half-time lead with tries from Tom Homer, the England Under-20 winger who had scored twice in last weekend's 36-3 win in France, and Seilala Mapasua.
Elvis Seviali'i showed neat footwork to score a third but it was not until the last minute that Armitage sealed the bonus point.
"I was a bit disappointed we hadn't achieved it before then but I wasn't that anxious because we were creating opportunity after opportunity and we were probably a bit greedy in how we wanted to get it," added Booth.
"It was more about just being patient and waiting for the gilt-edged opportunity. It couldn't have come any later."
Showdown
Leinster kept the pace with London Irish with a comprehensive victory over the Scarlets, setting up the prospect of a thrilling showdown at the Madejski Stadium in late January for the right to win the group.
"They have got better and better (since London Irish beat them in the opening round of the tournament)," said Booth.
"We were probably lucky to play them when they were a bit cold.
"We did well to get a result and they have powered on well since. The Scarlets before that will be tough. They taught us a lesson about not putting two good performances together.
"The important thing today was that we produced a second consecutive good performance in the Heineken Cup. If you are consistent you have a chance to win these competitions.
"There are some very good teams in this competition and I have said before that if we look too far ahead we will trip over, but we have some excellent top-line performers that everyone knows about and some first-class youngsters who are making a name for themselves.
"That is why we are a good team."
