Leinster ‘better than last year’

IT may seem like a strange claim to make just days after losing to the previously pointless Borders, but Michael Cheika firmly believes his Leinster side is already better than last year’s model.

With an unbeaten and adaptable Gloucester to face in their first Heineken Cup outing of the season on Saturday, those will be words of comfort to the province’s fans who have experienced the full range of emotions, from victory over Munster to abject defeat in Scotland, in the space of seven days.

“I genuinely believe we’re playing better this year than we were last year,” said Cheika. “Performances at the start of the year without the (Irish) boys back were better in comparison to last year and we’ve got to keep improving, which comes with consistency. We can play really well at a level that can challenge any team around but we’ve got to do it consistently.”

Ever since his arrival from Sydney, Cheika has been preaching that mantra and he admits that lack of consistency is still his side’s greatest weakness.

Injuries may give rise to one or two more chinks in the armour against the Guinness Premiership side.

Kiwi wing forward Cameron Jowitt and English prop Will Green are both doubts, but it is the worry over scrum-half Chris Whitaker which is potentially the most crucial.

While Stephen Keogh and Harry Vermass would be experienced deputies for the first two, Whitaker’s absence would see 21-year old Cillian Willis step in at number nine as Guy Easterby is already ruled out with a broken jaw.

Cheika is confident his fellow Australian will be available for his European bow though and will make a decision on all three today. Surprisingly, wing Rob Kearney has failed to make even the initial squad of 27, but Denis Hickie has recovered from a slight knock to take his place.

Brian Blaney is also included after disciplinary proceedings against him arising out of the Magners League defeat of Munster were dropped by the IRFU.

Gloucester have combined a physically imposing pack with a young and exciting back line to good effect so far this season but how they will approach the game is anyone’s guess. Cheika said yesterday it will be only when their line-up is announced that he will have some idea as to their opponents’ tactics.

Coach Dean Ryan could play any one of three out-halves — Ludovic Mercier, Ryan Lamb or Willie Walker — at Lansdowne Road and each brings something different to the table.

“You’ve got to prepare differently because they’ve got different players but we’ve got smart players in our back division and in our back row,” said Cheika. “Guys are well prepared after doing a lot of homework on their opposites.”

LEINSTER squad (v Gloucester): Backs: C Whitaker, C Willis, A Dunne, C Warner, F Contepomi, D Hickie, G D’Arcy, B O’Driscoll, K Lewis, L Fitzgerald, S Horgan, G Dempsey.

Forwards: R Corrigan, B Blaney, H Vermaas, W Green, R McCormack, B Jackman, M O’Kelly, T Hogan, O Finegan, A Byrnes, S Keogh, C Jowitt, K Gleeson, J Heaslip, N Ronan.