Cheika: we can handle Leicester’s raw power

WITH a pack as tough and uncompromising as Leicester’s coming to town this weekend it may be some comfort to Leinster fans to know coach Michael Cheika believes the province’s current group of forwards is the best assembled during his time in charge.

It is nine months since the English Premiership club last visited these shores and it is an occasion that will live on in Irish rugby history after they ended Munster’s legendary unbeaten European record at Thomond Park.

Propelled by stunning performances from men like Martin Castrogiovanni and Lewis Moody, Leicester treated the Thomond crowd to the unique sight of their marauding red horde being driven backwards at a rate of knots.

Adding to the hurt was the presence of two former Leinster men in the away ranks but Shane Jennings and Leo Cullen returned to their Dublin roots during the summer to strengthen an area where Leinster have struggled when push literally came to shove.

The front row was undoubtedly the weakest remaining link but three new props have also reported for duty in the shapes of Ollie le Roux, Juan Francisco Gomez and Stephen Knoop.

With the more familiar faces of Malcolm O’Kelly, Keith Gleeson and Jamie Heaslip also on the rota, it is easy to see the reasons for Cheika’s optimism but whether they can work as a unit remains to be seen.

“They are more confident in their ability than they may have been the last few years,” said Cheika. “We are going to be in some difficult situations against a big pack on Saturday and we will have to deal with them.”

The Australian is quick to point out Saturday’s Pool Six tussle will not be confined to a slog in the trenches.

Cheika is adamant that Leinster still believe in their “creative style of play”.

With Leinster’s verve contrasting sharply with Leicester’s vigour, the inclination is to depict the game as a Beauty versus the Beast encounter but Cheika believes the visitors are anything but one-dimensional.

“It’s not just forward domination. They like to play a power game across the park. They have lots of big units, fellas that could easily play in most back rows like Dan Hipkiss and (Seru) Rabeni and their wingers are big.

“They have strengths all over the park. It isn’t just their forward power but they are very good at that too.”

All told, it promises to be a demanding three-week spell for the Irish side who face Toulouse in the Heineken Cup eight days after Leicester before reverting to Magners League duty with back-to-back trips to face the Ospreys and Munster.

Judging by their propensity to mix the good with the bad so far, it is hard to see them making it through that barrage without shipping some damage to their aspirations in one or both of those competitions.

“It’s not about consistency, it’s about having the whole of the squad together,” said Cheika. “The last two games we have performed quite well against tough Irish provincial opposition and it does take an amount of time to get the flow back.’’

The five Irish World Cup players have played all but a handful of minutes in those last two encounters and the final piece of the jigsaw has been coming together this week, with Felipe Contepomi’s return.

“The way we have tried to handle him over the last few weeks shows that we understand what a massive six to eight weeks it has been for him. Now we want to freshen him up mentally more than anything.

“What you always get with that guy is 100%. There is no other gear for him. He is so talented and he has been prepping his game for what we are doing so I don’t think it will be difficult for him to get back into our programme.”