Two tries in four minutes from flanker Rob McCusker allowed Welsh side Scarlets to stage a stunning comeback on Sunday and beat Pool Six rivals London Irish 31-22 in the European Cup.
The result did little, however, for either side's hopes of reaching the last eight as reigning champions Leinster, who travel to Twickenham to play London Irish next weekend, lead the table by five points with one match remaining.
London Irish coach Toby Booth said that his side had not really played well all through the match.
"I thought when we led 22-10 that it was a bit flattering," said Booth, whose side experienced only their second defeat in their last 13 European pool matches - both defeats coming at the hands of the Scarlets.
"We made the same mistakes early on as we did later in the match.
"It is a simple game but we didn't treat it like that and we neither found penetration nor were we able to get it out wide. We are bitterly disappointed with this performance."
Irish had looked to be cruising when they led 22-10 in the second half but McCusker showed electric pace in the 63rd minute to touch down in the corner after visiting fly-half Ryan Lamb had made a poor clearance.
A few minutes later McCusker was on hand again, taking the ball and despite a desperate tackle by former England scrum-half Peter Richards, he turned and twisted his way over the line for a try which was confirmed by the video referee.
The English side had few chances to get back into the lead and the one time they did, replacement Australian fly-half Chris Malone wasted it with a pass behind his team-mates' backs when they had an overlap.
Scarlets rubbed it in when impressive young centre Jonathan Davies went over for his second try of the match to give the Welsh side a deserved if surprising bonus point and left Irish requiring the minor miracle of a bonus point victory over Leinster if they are to progress as pool winners.
However, Booth believes that such challenges always bring the best out of his side.
"The good thing about this team is that it likes challenges and being threatened," he said.
In later matches on Sunday, French side Toulouse can reach the last eight if they beat English outfit Harlequins at home and take a bonus point in their Pool Five clash.
And should reigning French champions Perpignan, who are out of the running, beat English team Northampton in England then two-time title-winners Munster will be assured of topping Pool One.
Biarritz are the only team definitely through to the last eight, despite losing to Pool Two rivals Gloucester on Saturday.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
