Frustrated Hickie set for return to Leinster panel

DENIS HICKIE is poised to make his return to the Leinster panel after spending the last two months on the sidelines with a dislocated right fibula.

Though not named yesterday on the 28-man squad to face Munster, coach Michael Cheika said the St Mary’s man may yet be added to the party for the New Year’s Eve Celtic League clash.

“He’s paid attention to detail in rehab and that’s helped him a lot,” said Cheika yesterday. “He must have the confidence that he’s ready to play, but if it isn’t this week, then it will definitely be the week after (against Llanelli).”

Hickie’s imminent return is welcome news, not just to Cheika, but to Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan as well. It has been a frustrating season for the winger, who sat out the start of the season after the rigours of the summer Lions tour to New Zealand.

The 29-year old had only a handful of games under his belt when the injury occurred in training in Anglesea Road in October, but he now has sufficient time to prove his fitness and form before the Six Nations kicks off in February.

Leinster continue their Heineken Cup campaign at home to Glasgow the week after the Celtic League trip to Llanelli, and there are four games in total with the province between now and Ireland’s opening match at home to Italy.

There was more holiday cheer for Cheika with the news that Shane Horgan should be fit to take his place for this week’s visit of Declan Kidney’s side to Ballsbridge.

The Meath man played no part in the St Stephen’s Day victory away to Ulster after suffering a hip injury in the home Heineken Cup tie against Bourgoin, a knock aggravated in the two-point defeat in France six days later.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll managed 31 minutes of rugby on his return in Ravenhill, though Cheika was reluctant to say whether the Ireland centre would start on Saturday.

“Like any player coming back, it takes time to get things right. We’ll have a look at him in training and go from there. Shane Horgan should be back and Denis Hickie is a possibility too. We have a lot of options and we’ll decide the line-up tomorrow.

“If Brian is feeling good, he’ll start. If he feels he needs a little more time on the bench, he’ll get it. The backs have configured well in the last few weeks so it’s all about finding the right balance.”

That’s something Leinster appear to be finding with increasing regularity these days. Even in defeat to Bourgoin, Cheika’s side fronted up when challenged and the return of stellar names like O’Driscoll and Hickie adds to the feeling that the jigsaw is beginning to come together for the Australian.

Cheika admitted yesterday that Leinster are a long way down the road from the team that surrendered so meekly to Munster in Musgrave Park in early October, not that he ever lost faith.

“I don’t think things ever looked down, to be honest. The team have put in some really good work since we’ve come here. We’re always building but it doesn’t always go your way.

“You can’t always be spoilt kids on the block but we bounced back pretty well from our defeat in France and I’m delighted with that.”

O’Driscoll’s re-appearance in blue capped a hugely profitable day at the office for Leinster last Monday, where they emerged five points to the good after a pulsating Celtic League derby.

Not many teams leave Ravenhill with a win, and Leinster have the added bonus of defeating an Ulster side that didn’t do a whole lot wrong on the day themselves.

“It’s that kind of game that we’re working towards as a team,” said Cheika, describing what is by now a familiar mantra. “We don’t want a situation where we’re winning at home and not able to do the same away.

“It’s about minimising errors and challenging the opposition more. Do that and you’ll get positive results. That was one of our better Celtic League performances this year.”

LEINSTER: Forwards: R McCormack, R Corrigan, D Blaney, B Blaney, W Green, E Byrne, A Byrnes, B Williams, B Gissing, M O’Kelly, C Jowitt, N Ronan, K Gleeson, E Miller, J Heaslip; Backs: B O’Riordan, G Easterby, J Hepworth, G Brown, R Kearney, S Horgan, F Contepomi, G D’Arcy, K Lewis, B O’Driscoll, E Hickey, G Dempsey, B Burke.