World Cup star Lewis Ludlam admitted high-flying Northampton were their own worst enemies as they were shot down by mighty Leinster.
But the England flanker warned the four-time champions that Saints are capable of turning the tables in Saturday’s return across the Irish Sea.
A 40,000-plus crowd will descend on the Aviva Stadium in Dublin expecting the seven-try Blues to hand the Premiership pacesetters another rugby lesson.
But Ludlam said: “We can go there and win, we fully back ourselves. We are aware they’re a very good team and it’s a very tough place to go. But we can beat anyone on our day.”
Six years ago Leinster ransacked Franklin’s Gardens in equally ruthless fashion only to crash to defeat at home to the smarting Saints seven days later.
Rhys Ruddock played that day and vowed to spend this week reminding his Leinster team mates all about it.
“That Northampton team came with a real edge and a huge focus,” he recalled. “They knew they wanted to do a job and they had more intent on the day than us.
"This team is also capable of that kind of win and that kind of performance. They’ll have the bit between their teeth, they’ll throw everything at us. We need to be at our best to be ready.”
Despite losing captain Johnny Sexton to a worrying knee injury soon after half-time, Leinster were a class apart - scoring four tries after their talisman’s departure.
“It was an eye-opener to what happens when you don’t turn up,” admitted Ludlam. “Against a team like that, with so many good players, you give them an inch and they’re going to take a mile.
“We didn’t deal with their physicality well enough. Against some teams you can get away with giving the ball away at times and not turning possession into points, but not a team like this.”
SAINTS - Try: Tuala. Con: Biggar. Pens: Biggar 3.
LEINSTER - Tries: Lowe, Ruddock, Porter, Healy, R Byrne, McGrath, E Byrne. Cons: Sexton 2, R Byrne 2.
