New-look Leinster hope for brighter future

A NEW season and a new coach. Hell, they’ve even got a new image, but will it still be the same old Leinster this year?

It’s hard to imagine Leinster rugby ever facing a more significant eight months, starting tomorrow with their first competitive match under Declan Kidney against Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League.

Last year was an unmitigated disaster for the province. A so-so Celtic League is never enough to set any alarm bells ringing, but when they failed to negotiate the breach between the Heineken Cup’s group stage and the quarter-finals the warning signs were abundantly clear.