LONDON IRISH V GRENOBLE
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP – POOL 5
MADEJSKI STADIUM
SATURDAY, 3PM
LONDON IRISH must learn to better close out games, Topsy Ojo has warned.
Ojo marked his return to the Exiles starting XV with a try during last Sunday’s vital victory over Newcastle Falcons at Madejski Stadium, but the side were left hanging on having let slip of a commanding 20 point lead.
Irish, despite finding themselves under siege during the dying moments of the Aviva Premiership basement battle, showed impressive rear guard action to hold out for a 20-15 win which pulled them off the foot of the table.
While delighted to help the side record just a second league triumph of the campaign, winger Ojo believes lessons need to be learned.
He said: “Obviously it was great to get the win because we knew how important the game was and everything going off around it, but there was probably a bit of frustration on our part because things didn’t play out the way we wanted them to in the end.
“We had an amazing start to the second half but then Newcastle hit back.
“We were working hard on our defence in training during the week, but that was a real test for us on Sunday as they (Newcastle) practically sat on our line, but we managed the situation well because we could have easily given a penalty away, but the resolve was really pleasing to see.”
Ojo added: “This win does give us a bit of a building block because there is a big stretch of Premiership games coming up after the European break and with the season reaching the halfway point we do really need to start picking up some momentum.
“But we do need to close out games better – something which will be important come the business end of the season.”
Already the club’s record top scorer, 30-year-old Ojo added to his account when dabbing down having collected a high-bomb kick from replacement Shane Geraghty, who also laid on Alex Lewington for the opening try of the afternoon early in the second half.
“Shane is capable of producing moments of magic and he came on and did that in the second half,” said Ojo.
“It is great to have a fly-half stepping up off the bench and hurting teams like that.
“He is dangerous on the ball, but that is not a surprise to us because we know what he is capable of.”
Victory was Exiles’ fourth on the spin at Madejski Stadium, and a fifth this weekend would put the club in a strong position to reach the quarter finals of the European Challenge Cup.
But in order to snatch the driving seat Irish must first overcome a Grenoble side who sit top of Pool 5 and took the points after securing a dramatic 27-20 victory when the two teams met at the Stade des Alps back in November.
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A last-gasp try from Clement Gelin, who profited from an Irish overthrow at a line out, saw the hosts snatch victory, so Ojo and Co will only be too aware of the threat the Top 14 outfit could pose on Saturday afternoon.
He said: “It was a really tough game and they shell shocked us in the first 20 minutes, but we fought our way back into the contest.
“They are a physical side and will come here and play rugby. They are attack-minded so we will need to try and starve them of the ball.
“We will need to take account of the simple things – that could be a really good thing for us, but if we lose the ball then we know Grenoble are going to come at us.
“They are strong up front and can run with the ball.
“But if we can do the simple things right and continue building up the momentum then I’m sure we will be a step closer to the quarter-finals.”
