Cheika fires up Leinster players

MICHAEL CHEIKA has challenged his players to prove their dismal show in Wales two weeks ago was a one-off when Leinster take on Connacht in the Celtic League on Sunday.

Leinster made the trip to face the Newport Gwent Dragons bereft of billboard names like Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Shane Horgan and Malcolm O’Kelly but still fielded a team that, on paper, seemed to be bursting with talent.

It was because of that Cheika would have been reasonably confident going into that fixture at Rodney Parade. Instead, Leinster put in their worst day at the office since rolling over to Munster in a 33-9 defeat at Musgrave Park last October.

“It was a combination of things,” said Cheika. “One was attitude. You can’t ever take the game for granted. You’ve got to turn up and performe very week and they know it, so it’s not like I’m talking out of school.

“Secondly, our game options in the face of physical opposition like that. Going forward at the breakdown, we weren’t as good as we have been. They defended very well, so creating go-forward situations is something we need to address to get good clean-out ball.”

Leinster, whose pack had previously been surfing a steep upward curve, suffered gravely up front a fortnight ago and Cheika will be eager to see a better performance in three days time with a trip to Toulouse to plan for next month.

The good news is that, O’Kelly apart, the Australian has a full pack from which to choose. Cameron Jowitt and hooker Bernard Jackman have both recovered from injuries and Cheika admits he will have a job deciding who fills the jerseys from one to eight.

Leinster are the Irish side Connacht enjoy beating more than any other, which usually guarantees a hard-fought encounter, like the one earlier in the season when the visitors left the Sportsground somewhat relieved to be taking the victory with them.

“We’ve got to be the new Leinster version that keeps moving forward, even in these periods where there’s gaps between games. We must keep evolving our style of play and not let ourselves down.

“I’ve been a player and I know, sometimes, things just don’t go for you. What we need to learn is how to win when it doesn’t happen (for you). You’ve got to try and regenerate the game sometimes and win without playing well.”

With Ulster hosting Munster this weekend in Ravenhill, Leinster know a win will see them rein in at least one of the two teams standing between them and the Celtic League summit. Victory against Michael Bradley’s side would also leave them sitting atop the Interprovincial table for the season. But this game is crucial mainly because it is their last run-out before the Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Having been offered an unwanted free Celtic League weekend in three week’s time, efforts to secure a challenge instead have so far proved fruitless. There is still the hope a game can be organised for a fortnight’s time, though the province’s Irish senior and A contingents will be unavailable due to internationals in England.

“We’ll try and secure a game of our own and merge our preparation leading into that match in April,” said Cheika. “Tricky situation, no doubt about it.”

LEINSTER squad (v Connacht): Forwards: R Corrigan, B Blaney, B Jackman, D Blaney, W Green, E Byrne, B Gissing, D Toner, A Byrnes, B Williams, E Miller, K Gleeson, J Heaslip, N Ronan, C Jowitt.

Backs: G Easterby, B O’Riordan, F Contepomi, J Hepworth, K Lewis, J Sexton, G Brown, R Kearney, G Dempsey, D Hickie.