Kidney remains wary of Bourgoin

LEINSTER coach Declan Kidney dismisses the notion that Bourgoin will be another pushover in tomorrow night’s Heineken Cup clash at Stade Pierre Rajon.

Kidney has kept faith with the 15 players who started last weekend’s demolition of the French at Lansdowne Road, although doubts remain about the fitness of Leo Cullen and Ben Gissing is on standby until the last moment.

Kidney is not falling into the complacency trap.

“We’re lucky we have a fair bit of experience and we want to put that to good use. But, when you have played in Europe for 10 years and won only once in France, it’s time to take stock.

“In a sense, it’s a dangerous position to be in and we must recognise that just about everything worked for us. Passes that went to hand the last day might not always work out.

“What pleased me most was the way we created the opportunities. I would say, and I have reminded the players of this, that we are going to have to create chances again and we must be equally as good in our execution.”

Kidney is well-placed to assess the dangers.

“I have told them about the times I was there with Munster and how difficult it is to win in France. I was at the Munster match again last season and they were happy to come away with a single point win.

“In the south of France teams play with a huge amount of pride. We have looked at a video of a recent game against Castres and watched what they did to them. It was a prime example of the different type of team you’ll play when you go to their patch.

“Looking at the last game, I didn’t see any of the Bourgoin players shirking tackles. They certainly went in and we actually had to make more tackles than in some other games. And we missed more tackles than in any of the other Heineken Cup games. If that happens in Bourgoin then we could be beaten.”

Victor Costello, back in the Leinster team after a lay-off through injury, was surprised at the lack of physicality last weekend.

“It was tough enough at the start but I suppose it’s normal that when we stretched out into a big lead, it wasn’t that tough.”

But Costello is under no illusions.

“I have enough experience of playing in France to know it will be totally different. They will come out with all guns blazing. They will hit us with everything. They’re hurting and they have enough quality in that squad to do some serious damage. We saw what they did to Castres and that’s why we really have forgotten about last week.”

David Holwell was hand-picked by Kidney to inspire the province to Heineken Cup glory, and the decision to sign the 29-year-old New Zealander has been vindicated.

Former Hurricanes and All Black A out-half Holwell has made his mark, and that is mirrored in the two man of the match awards he received against Llanelli in the Celtic League and Bath in the Heineken Cup.

Holwell put in another five star performance in the 13-try demolition of Bourgoin and is thriving in what he says is one of the best playing environments he has encountered.

He arrived in Ireland in September, five weeks into the season, and was immediately made to feel welcome.

“It was hard coming in when the guys had played five Celtic League games. I tried to slot in quickly, got advice from the guys around me, and that helped. So far I’ve enjoyed it.”

Holwell toured France in 2000 with the New Zealand A side but admits: “We lost to the French Universities. It was a great place to visit, a great place to play in but, sadly, we were beaten. Hopefully it will go better this time.”

He knows everything clicked into place against Bourgoin last week. “Things went well for us and broke up for them. After a while they sank but I don’t think there will be a repeat.”

However, Holwell is sure a quarter-final appearance is within their capabilities.

“We have a good forward pack capable of mixing it with the best and I’d have no worries on that score.”

But the real excitement, one suspects, comes from playing alongside talented backs such as Brian O’Driscoll, Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan.

“There’s a huge amount of talent in Ireland, there’s a huge amount of talent in Leinster. Since I arrived here I never doubted that. In the right circumstances, I should give the ball to these guys and let them have a go.

“The Leinster backs I’m playing with are right up there with the best. When you have ingredients like skill and speed then the creation of tries is possible from any position. It’s just a question of taking the right option at the right time.”