Leinster boss wants fresh start

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika will hope his new charges have shaken off the cobwebs that cost them victory last week in Wales when they take on the Glasgow Warriors in Donnybrook in the Celtic League on Saturday.

With a new coach and a constant rotation of players in and out of the camp all summer, it was no surprise when Leinster failed to gel in their opening competitive fixture against last year's Celtic League champions.

What was of concern was the side's inability to master the basics of the game, particularly at the line-out and use of the ball when in possession.

"I don't think it's having a go at the players to say we need to improve our set-pieces," said Cheika yesterday.

"It's not about changing our calls wholesale. It's more to do with small things. A couple of times we lost out on line-outs because one of our guys had his arm pulled. We just need to tighten up a few small things and we'll be alright."

The most surprising aspect to the Osprey game was that, despite surviving on scraps for large portions of the afternoon, Leinster still found themselves 20-19 in front until an injury-time penalty from Matthew Jones snatched an unlikely victory from their grasp.

"I'm happy with how we stayed in the game. We were a try down after 18 seconds over there and we gave away another one in the first half, but the guys kept going for the 80 minutes and that's a big positive. I don't like losing but if I can identify areas that we can work on and that will make us improve as a team, then that's a positive."

With Brian O'Driscoll sidelined, most of the squad's Irish internationals unavailable for the opening weeks and a core of other experienced players like Shane Byrne, Leo Cullen and Victor Costello having moved on to pastures new this year, Cheika has his hands full in knitting his squad together.

Last week saw dependable squad men like Ciaran Potts, Brendan Burke, Kieran Lewis and Des Dillon return to centre stage, while new boys Bernard Jackman and Will Green got a taste of competitive fare in the blue shirt.

Not surprisingly, the onus has fallen on the remaining old hands like Girvan Dempsey, Eric Miller and Keith Gleeson to lead by example, and Dempsey was quickest to pick up the torch in the New Stadium last weekend.

Though often criticised for his lack of adventure in a green jersey from full-back, the Terenure College graduate allied some particularly effective kicking with an adventurous running game in Swansea.

"I don't know what's been said about Girvan before now because I haven't been here," said Cheika.

"He's been very enthusiastic since I arrived and he's been eager to bring ball forward at every opportunity."

Cheika also applauded the performance of the younger players in Wales, particularly winger Robert Kearney. Though he mixed the good with the bad his was the clearing kick blocked down for the opening try, though he scored one of his own five minutes from time Cheika was delighted with his overall have-a-go style performance.

"When you play like that you're going to make the odd bloop, but Rob looks the kind of player that is always involved in the game and that's a good sign. I like players like that. David Campese was the same. Sometimes things didn't work for Campo, but it's a sign of a good player that he always seems to be involved."

With little or no previous knowledge of the majority of his players, the Australian made the point that it was in top games rather than practice or academy matches where he will be able to fully appreciate the goods each brings to the table.

As for Saturday, the omens against a Glasgow side with one win on the road from their last dozen matches are favourable, with Leinster returning to Fortress Donnybrook for the first time in six months in a competitive fixture.

Eric Miller, who was replaced injured just after half-time in the Osprey game, is still a doubt for Saturday, with Cheika naming a 27-man squad that will be slimmed down by five today. Australian lock Adam Byrnes is included, having missed the 22-20 defeat on the opening day.

LEINSTER SQUAD: (Forwards): E Byrne, W Green, J Lyne, R McCormack, D Blaney, B Jackman, A Byrnes, B Gissing, D Dillon, S Crawford, C Potts, N Ronan, K Gleeson, E Miller, J Heaslip. (Backs): G Easterby, B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, C Warner, F Contepomi, K Lewis, G Brown, B Burke, J Norton, R Kearney, E Hickey, G Dempsey.