Leinster need to produce fire

LEINSTER go to Rodney Parade tonight knowing that their hopes of claiming the Magners League title will be left on the brink if they can’t reverse their disappointing recent form.

Evicted from the Heineken Cup by Wasps, Leinster suffered a second successive defeat on their return to Magners League duties last week in Glasgow on a night when their players’ commitment was called into question.

Michael Cheika gave that argument short shrift earlier this week but lock Trevor Hogan admits that the side was lacking somewhat in intensity during the reversal in Hughenden.

“We need to focus on that side of the game more, especially against the Dragons. It can be a very intimidating place to play,” said Hogan who has tasted defeat there with Munster.

With that in mind, Cheika has echoed Hogan’s words on the need for steel in Wales tonight.

“It might be time for us to go and enjoy a bit of a rumble,” said the Australian. “Play a bit of their game but keep a bit of ours as well. They are a very aggressive team.

“They play hard at the breakdown. They hug the offside line, trying to cut you down. They want to get into your number nine. They are very good at running the ball and offloading it.”

Hogan has been one of the few players to impress during Leinster’s defeats to Wasps and Glasgow and he will be joined up front tonight by fellow Munster convert Stephen Keogh who returns from injury.

Cheika has made three other changes to the side that lost to Glasgow. With Brian O’Driscoll still unavailable, Kieran Lewis replaces Christian Warner while Guy Easterby assumes the scrum-half duties instead of Chris Whitaker.

Stanley Wright makes way for Reggie Corrigan in the front row, a switch that sees the popular Wicklow man make a record-breaking 136th appearance for the side.

The Dragons may lie a lowly third- from-bottom in the league but, with a European Challenge Cup semi-final a week later, they will be eager to build up some steam ahead of the clash.

Wales U20 cap Martyn Thomas takes over at full-back for injured captain Kevin Morgan, meaning Michael Owen will take the armband. Better news is the inclusion on the replacements bench of prop Rhys Thomas for the first time since suffering a chest injury against Northampton last October.

After tonight, Leinster have only three more games, the final two of which will also be in Wales. The margin for error is between slim and none, a fact Hogan is well aware of.

“We’re at the stage now where, if we lose one or two more games, we’re out of it. We need to adopt a ruthless, almost cup approach to the league this week and every other week.

“We cannot afford to lose. We need to be mentally strong and not let any mistakes creep into our game. Mistakes will be costly.”

Leinster: G Dempsey, S Horgan, K Lewis, G D’Arcy, D Hickie, F Contepomi, G Easterby; R Corrigan, B Blaney, W Green, T Hogan, M O’Kelly, S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip.

Dragons: M Thomas, G Wyatt, P Emerick, N Brew, A Brew, C Sweeney, G Cooper; A Black, S Jones, L Harrison, I Gough, L Charteris, C Charvis, J Ringer, M Owen.