Leinster will need all new found character

TALENT is a trait that has rarely been questioned in Leinster. Mental toughness, on the other hand, has. Frequently.

Time after time the province have allowed their skills to be drowned by mental doubt, but there are signs of a backbone emerging. And not before time.

Last Sunday was do-or-die for Leinster in this season's Heineken Cup, and 20 minutes in they were 13-3 down away to Sale. All too often in the past, the province would have allowed to game to slide away from them, but not this time.