Leinster must opt for patient approach

It's a decent achievement when a team scores eight tries and still mutters about a slack opening 30 minutes. Leinster's demolition of Swansea last weekend was dismissed amid a welter of disparaging remarks about the merit of the Welsh side's performance.

Coach Matt Williams referred to the less than flattering reports in some quarters but one senses he too will have found enough material on video to keep his players busy in the build-up to tomorrow's final Pool Four match against Bristol.

Leinster were nervous and error-prone for much of the first half and against better teams those jitters will prove more costly. Still they defended resolutely while finding their feet and once attuned to the pitch of the battle offered a pretty ruthless performance.

They won't be allowed the latitude of a slow start at the Memorial Stadium. Both sides will know what is required to make the play-offs in the first case and secure a home quarter-final by kick-off tomorrow.

Winning won't suffice alone for the home side who will also require a handful of tries. That responsibility won't sit easily on Bristol shoulders. They feed off scraps and are not renowned for creating much off their own bat. Still as they demonstrated at Donnybrook, they not afraid of trench warfare and also in their most recent European outing, against Montferrand.

The English club scored two tries from 80 metres in their 30-22 victory. Left wing Brendan Daniel grabbed a brace but suffered a broken thumb and misses out tomorrow. His replacement isn't too shabby though, England wing Phil Christophers.

In the Donnybrook match Bristol outhalf Felipe Contepomi kicked most of the possession, launching plenty of high balls for the Leinster back three. The fact the triumvirate dropped a couple early on encouraged the Argentinian's slavish addiction thereafter.

Williams has been working on counter-attacking with Girvan Dempsey, Denis Hickie and Gordon D'Arcy. Dempsey's return following a groin injury means D'Arcy reverts to the left wing and David Quinlan drops to the replacements.

The other injury concern is second row Leo Cullen who missed the Swansea match with a torn calf muscle. The Blackrock player has been named in an either-or scenario with Aidan McCullen but is virtually certain not to play. He will go through the motions of a fitness test tomorrow morning.

Williams was succinct in his analysis of Bristol's strengths. "They have a lot of pace out wide and a very big pack."

Andy Sheridan at loosehead prop is a converted second row and with his 19 stone-plus bulk will take a bit of shifting in a powerful Bristol scrum. The English side's game-breakers are the Argentinian half-back combination of Agustin Pichot and Contepomi who will look to bring in former All Black Darryl Gibson and fleet-footed wings Christophers and David Rees.

Leinster have risen to every challenge in the European Cup this season and there is nothing to suggest their winning mentality will change. Brian O'Meara's place-kicking woes the last day were an aberration as he has shown excellent form with the boot this season and given the superb form of the three-quarter line they should be able to profit from Bristol's need to chase tries.

Leinster need to be patient, defend sensibly and await the opportunities that will arise. This match offers a decent benchmark for the tests that lie ahead. It could be close but the Irish province have produced the answers when required to date and tomorrow should be no different.

BRISTOL: L Best; D Rees, A Higgins, D Gibson, P Christophers; F Contepomi, A Pichot; A Sheridan, P Johnstone, J White, G Archer (capt), A Brown; M Salter, R Beattie, R Oakley. Replacements: to be confirmed tomorrow.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; C Warner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne; A McCullen/L Cullen, M O'Kelly; E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, A McCullen/A Kearney, D Dillon, B O'Riordan, N Spooner, D Quinlan.

Referee: N Owens (Wales).

Previous meetings (EC 2002-2003): Leinster 29 Bristol 23.

EC Formguide: Bristol - lost to Leinster (a) 29-23; bt Montferrand (h) 24-19; lost to Swansea (a) 26-19; bt Swansea (h) 41-23; bt Montferrand (a) 30-22. Leinster - bt Bristol (h) 29-23; bt Swansea 51-10 (a); bt Montferrand (a) 23-20; bt Montferrand (h) 12-9; bt Swansea 48-19.

Leading points scorer: Bristol - F Contepomi 71. Leinster - B O'Meara 65.

Leading try scorers: Bristol - D Gibson 4. Leinster- D Hickie, G D'Arcy 5 each.

Odds (courtesy of Paddy Powers): Handicap (Bristol +5) 10/11 Bristol, 16/1 draw, 10/11 Leinster. Match betting: 6/4 Bristol , 8/15 Leinster, 18/1 draw.

Forecast: Leinster.