British & Irish Cup Leinster A 21 Pontypridd 9:Joe Schmidt's eyes were upon Leinster A as they outscored Pontypridd two tries-to-none to take control of Pool Five at Donnybrook on Saturday.

“This is huge for these players. From their point of view, they are trying to show the senior management what they can do,” said novice coach Girvan Dempsey, the Leinster Academy manager.

“It is important. They want to put their hands up for selection for that senior jersey. The players will take credit from that performance.

“There are PRO12 League matches coming up during the Six Nations. There will be opportunities there for these guys there,” he continued.

“In terms of this competition, we were disappointed the way it worked out last year, losing the semi-final against Munster in extra-time at The RDS.

Chance to win

“We are keen to go, at least, one better this season. It is another trophy. It is another chance to win a competition”.

Centre Brendan Macken’s late movement onto outhalf Noel Reid’s clever pass and a flying finish from centre Jordan Coghlan’s no-look feed, either side of the interval, put an 11-point gap between the sides that Pontypridd could not even eat into never mind breach.

Leinster will have to take down Leeds Carnegie in the final round of the Pool to guarantee their passage into the knockout phase. Dempsey added:

“It leaves our destiny in our hands. We go to Leeds (next Saturday) knowing what we have to do, knowing only one club can come out of the Pool. We just have to back-up our performance here in Leeds”.