Bourgoin victory tops Leinster’s wish list
It’s been a good week by any standards for Leinster. Last week’s facile victory over the French was followed by the news that captain Brian O’Driscoll would be playing for the province for at least one more season.
“The whole team is very happy,” said coach Michael Cheika yesterday. “It’s a very important decision from the point of view of the team, the fact that he’s captain as well.
“A player of his quality staying means other players will want to play here with him. The IRFU and Brian’s people must be congratulated for getting it sorted out so quickly.”
After losing yet another coach and seeing a handful of senior players clear their lockers for pastures new over the summer, Leinster finally seem to be heading for a much-needed period of stability.
Lose on Saturday, however, and Cheika, O’Driscoll and the rest in the set-up will be left facing the Christmas festivities knowing they are edging towards elimination after the Heineken group stages.
The Australian coach was knows what his team has to do in their next three games to secure a quarter-final berth.
“I reckon 20 or 21 points will be needed by any second-placed team to come out of their group.”
Leinster have more points (11) than any of the other second-placed teams so, by Cheika’s calculations, wins from the home game against Glasgow and the away dates in France and Bath are required, as well as one bonus point and possibly two.
Unfortunately, the reality is that every trip to the Stade Pierre Rajon comes with a guarantee of hardship. Last year Leinster destroyed Bourgoin by 75 points in Dublin but only managed to grind out a last-minute three-point win in France six days later.
“Last year is a very good gauge,” said prop Emmet Byrne. “Bourgoin were our easiest game at home in the pool stages but they were our hardest away from home. French teams by tradition play harder at home.
“They scrummage harder, they’re dirtier and nigglier. We put ourselves under pressure by losing our first home game (to Bath) so we’re going to have to go there and win.”
Cheika knows what it’s like to be on the road in France, having spent spells with Castres Olympique and CASG Paris during his playing days.
“You’ve got to approach it with the same intensity you would any match. The key is to minimise mistakes, be aggressive.”
Cheika also pinpointed room for improvement at set-pieces - both in the scrum and the line-out. With hooker Bernard Jackman out injured, he will be doubly relieved that his alternatives there, the Blaney brothers Brian and David, have both recovered from slight knocks picked up in training on Tuesday.
Leinster have no other injury concerns while prop Ronan McCormack, lock Adam Byrnes and wing forward Niall Ronan have been added to the squad.
: Forwards: R Corrigan, R McCormack, B Blaney, D Blaney, W Green, E Byrne, B Williams, A Byrnes, M O’Kelly, B Gissing, C Jowitt, K Gleeson, N Ronan, E Miller, J Heaslip. Backs: G Easterby, B O’Riordan, J Hepworth, R Kearney, S Horgan, F Contepomi, G D’Arcy, K Lewis, G Dempsey, E Hickey.
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