Leinster target Bourgoin double

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika has targeted two wins from their back-to-back Heineken Cup duels with Bourgoin.

The opening day defeat by Bath at the RDS has left Leinster on the back foot in Pool 5. Home defeats can prove fatal in Europe but, by the calculations of prop Emmet Byrne, the province’s resident statistician, four wins from six should see Leinster squeeze through.

For that to happen, Cheika’s side will need to pilfer a win in either Bourgoin’s Pierre Stade Rajon in nine days time or in Bath’s Recreation Ground after Christmas.

First up though is the visit of the French side to Dublin on Saturday. Lose that and Byrne’s permutations might as well be thrown out the window.

“I’m a pretty simple chap and all I know is our destiny is in our own hands,” said Cheika yesterday. “If we keep winning then we’ll qualify. Emmet has told me that teams with four wins will go through. I’m looking at this from a positive point of view. Okay, we can go through with four but I’d much rather go through with five.”

Hooker Bernard Jackman will be unavailable for at least two of the remaining group games after fracturing his fibia and tearing medial ligaments in his knee against Connacht at the Sportsground last Saturday.

Medical opinion suggests it will be at least six weeks before he returns, which would leave him scrambling to be fit for the last fixture away to Bath on January 20.

“He took a tackle from both sides but didn’t realise how serious it was at the time,” said Cheika.

Jackman has struggled at times since making the summer switch from Connacht but his loss is the last thing Leinster need at a time when their deficiencies at scrums and line-outs continue to hurt them, as was again the case last week.

The good news is that Malcolm O’Kelly should make a first appearance since he was the meat in an Australian sandwich at Lansdowne Road last month. Keith Gleeson has also declared his fitness, despite picking up a rib cartilage injury five days ago.

Eric Miller’s return to full fitness took a major step forward against Michael Bradley’s side last week as well although persistent suggestions that Brian O’Driscoll may yet make the flight to France with the squad next week were again played down by Cheika.

“The door is open for him. I don’t believe in closing doors that don’t need closing. He’ll be back this month at some stage but that’s up to Brian. I haven’t ruled anything out. Injuries are all about confidence and it’s between him and his doctor to decide.

“It’s not like he’s the type of bloke who is trying to avoid matches. He’s only back in contact training this week so it’s not really an issue yet.”

As ever at this stage of the season, Leinster and the other provinces will approach the restart of the Heineken Cup seriously undercooked. On the plus side, Cheika was lavish in his praise of Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy and Girvan Dempsey who shrugged aside their recent international exertions with impressive performances in Galway.

For their part, Bourgoin have been ticking along nicely in the French league. Three games in six weeks - including a 13-point win over Stade Francais - means they should be nicely primed as they fly in to Dublin looking for a first European victory on the road since a six-point win in Sale three years ago.

“They’re quite a dynamic side with a big pack and speed out wide. Their 10 (Benjamin Boyet) is a very good player with a good passing game. They’re pretty much a complete side.”

LEINSTER 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.