Bath made five changes from the win over Bourgoin: Andy Higgins, Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Andy Beattie and Gareth Delve starting with James Scaysbrook returning to the bench. Former Wasps forward Will Green returned to the Leinster team after missing the win over Glasgow because of ligament damage.

As I walked to The Rec I was contemplating that after a superb exhibition of defensive play in the first half and attacking play in the second half at Bourgoin, the Bath players knew they had to maintain this form against Leinster. The Irish side somehow had to secure a win to put them back in the European hunt and therefore this was set up to be a cracking match...

... and what a match it was. After surfing numerous waves of emotion as Bath struggled, Leinster dominated and the referee frustrated I just sat back on my West Stand surf board and enjoyed the one and only Brian O'Driscoll. The man is above genius and surely must be touching the heights normally the preserve of sporting Gods. Pele, Maradonna, John McEnroe, Vivian Richards, Barry John, Gareth Edwards all fall in to this category and today, in my eyes, the Irish skipper joined this elite band of sporting legends.

Watching O'Driscoll cut through the Bath defence like a hot knife through butter took my breath away. He seems to have the skill to raise the tempo of his running without breaking stride. A swivel here, a swerve there, just enough to spoil the balance of the defenders who are made to look like amateurs as they try to prevent his passage up-field. It's on days like this that one has to wonder what would have happened in New Zealand had the Lions' enjoyed more than a few moments of his presence on the pitch.

But let's not forget the full Leinster backline - Dempsey, Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Hickie - it's enough to make the mouth of any rugby supporter froth with anticipation. Watching these guys live, in a game where they knew they had to turn up the tempo, is one of those moments many of us will remember with utter joy. Quick hands and feet, an understanding of each other and the ability to execute what their brains tell them to do: it doesn't get any better than this!

Alright I can be wholly positive about the opposition knowing we had already qualified for the European Cup Quarter Finals (I put that in as a reminder for any Brisslers reading this), but to be honest even if we hadn't qualified I'm sure I would have reacted in the same way to this game because today we were all treated to something special.

Leinster started their try spree in the fifth minute after Bath had been penalised for lying on the ball in the opposition twenty-two. A quick tap-and-go saw Contepomi feed Hickie to tear up-field and supply Horgan for the first of his two tries. Moments later Contepomi intercepted a forced pass from Barkley to run half the length of the pitch to score and Will Green finished off 17 minutes of Irish magic with a try. At 3-21 the crowd and Bath players appeared in total shock and everyone could see the seeding advantage, for which we had fought so hard in the previous five games, slipping away.

If it wasn't tough enough playing world class players in great form, Bath also had to contend with a referee who was convinced we were there to watch him and he certainly couldn't keep up with the pace of Leinster so missed some key forward passes . He penalised Bath at every opportunity (because he could keep up with us) and pranced around like a Spanish horse on heat. He waved his arms in all directions, totally confusing spectators who thought he was awarding penalties and free-kicks when all he was doing was telling the players where to stand. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we lost because we had a poor referee in charge. However had the Leinster backs not been so good he would have impacted the game to a far greater extent as it would have been a stop-start affair.

Bath managed to hold on for the last twenty minutes of the first half and another Barkley penalty and a binning for Andrew Higgins saw the home side plod to the dressing room 6-21 down.

Bath had to attack in the second half and they tried as hard as they might but couldn't gain an advantage. A third Barkley penalty gave everyone hope that Bath could get within 7 points of their opponents, to get the vital losing bonus that would guarantee a home tie in the Quarters.

However cometh the hour etc and up steps Sir Bod of O'Driscoll. Firstly to set up Horgan for his second try and then to ghost through the Bath twenty-two for his own try. It was brilliant, just brilliant and I couldn't help but applaud the score: after all it wasn't just rugby as it should be played it was rugby as I want Bath to play. In fact it reminded me very much of rugby Bath used to play in our "great era". If this bloke was a footballer he'd be worth what Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane a few years back (£48 million, would you believe?).

Just when everyone was expecting the game to drift off to the final whistle Brian Ashton made a few changes of personnel. Chris Malone came on for Barkley and Andy Williams replaced Nick Walshe and this immediately put a bit of zing in to the Bath back line. Suddenly Leinster were on the back foot and both Stephenson and Stevens scored tries. With five minutes remaining Bath looked like they could create an unlikely upset and get within the losing bonus threshold. It was edge of the seat stuff as wave after wave of Bath attacks tried to break the Irish defense for a third and final time. But it was not to be and Leinster deservedly finished off 23-35 victors.

I was impressed with Molly's cameo and still believe we will be a better side with him (trained by Ashton) at fly-half and Olly at inside centre. Barkley needs space to get in to gear and make use of his pace and quick hands and brain, he doesn't get that at No 10 against the sort of top quality defence he faced today.

So where does this all leave us? An away trip to Leicester, that'll please the TV people! I loved it today and can't believe I feel quite so chirpy after a Bath defeat: thank you Brian O'Driscoll.

Bath: Stephenson, Higgins, Cheeseman, Finau, Welsh, Barkley, Walshe; Flatman, Mears, Stevens, Borthwick (capt), Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman, Delve.
Substitutes: Dixon, Bell, Short, Scaysbrook, Hudson, Williams, Malone.

Leinster: Dempsey, Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Hickie, Contepomi, Easterby, Corrigan, B Blaney, Green, Williams, O'Kelly, Jowitt, Gleeson, Heaslip.
Replacements: D Blaney, Byrne, Byrnes, Miller, O'Riordan, Lewis, Kearney.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).

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