Contempomi replacement not a Dunne deal for Cheika

IT could be the most important decision he makes this season so it was no wonder yesterday that Michael Cheika refused to reveal who would wear Felipe Contepomi’s vacant shirt for the Heineken Cup encounter with Pool Two leaders Agen on Saturday.

It’s a straightforward head to head between Christian Warner and Andy Dunne, Warner being one of two players chosen to accompany the coach to yesterday’s press briefing.

However, Cheika dismissed suggestions the gesture was in any way significant.

The decision, he stressed, will be made today and a number of factors will come into play.

For a start, both men bring very different attributes to the table, Dunne being a good runner and kicker, Warner offering more in terms of his passing game and organisational abilities.

Last week, Dunne was given the nod in Ravenhill with Warner taking his place after 50 minutes but, with conditions as bad as they were, Cheika isn’t reading anything into either man’s performance.

The X-factor in Cheika’s choice is full-back Girvan Dempsey who will assume the goal kicking duties if Warner is asked to start against Agen.

“He’s had the odd kick for us when Felipe has been out of action and he’s quite a good kicker. It’s about practice and the game being in Lansdowne will help him if he does kick goals for us at the weekend,’’ Cheika added.

Warner said: “It was great to get the opportunity to play early last year and work with Phil (Contepomi) at 12 and the more we played the better it was getting, The injury was very frustrating.

“With Michael and David coming over I knew the type of rugby that they wanted to play and, with the calibre of the players we had here, I knew it would work.

“This is a great opportunity for me or Andy, whoever gets on. I’ll be looking forward to playing because last year was a little bit disappointing in terms of the injury.”

Out-half isn’t the only key position where Leinster will be plugging the gaps this weekend. With regular tighthead prop Will Green and his replacement Fosi Pala’amo injured, Cheika was forced to bring in Kiwi Stanley Wright as emergency cover.

Signed on a short-term contract, Wright has been a regular with NPC side Northlands for the last two years.

So eager was he for this opportunity he left his heavily pregnant partner at home in New Zealand but Cheika cut straight to the chase in describing his new arrival.

‘‘He’s got experience and scrummaged against some of the best in New Zealand like (Greg) Somerville and (Carl) Hayman and some of those blokes. He’s played every game for Northland in the NPC over the last two years.”

Leinster squad (v Agen): Forwards: R McCormack, R Corrigan, B Blaney, H Vermaas, S Wright, T Hogan, M O’Kelly, O Finegan, C Jowitt, S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip

Backs: C Whitaker, G Easterby, A Dunne, C Warner, D Hickie, Rob Kearney, G D’Arcy, B O’Driscoll, K Lewis, S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, G Dempsey.