Dempsey demands Leinster ‘miracle’

GIRVAN DEMPSEY wants Leinster to produce a “miracle” in tomorrow night’s Heineken Cup clash against Toulouse.

He believes Leinster owe it to the fans to help bury the nightmare of a costly World Cup.

Dempsey hopes the Irish provinces can get right back to true form and boost the status of the game by competing successfully in this year’s European club rugby championship.

He admitted: “The World Cup displays were poor; we put in the hard work but didn’t produce the goods, and we owed as much to the people watching as we did to ourselves.

“The disappointment was even greater because we did so well in the Six Nations. There was an air of expectation, and we didn’t deliver.”

The World Cup, he said, was the lowest point of his illustrious Irish career (78 caps and 18 tries).

He said: “It was very frustrating because we went to France on a high. But it’s over now, we have to look forward.”

In terms of his Leinster return, Dempsey is confident that there are better things ahead. “Last week, against Leicester, was a major hurdle for us in terms of boosting confidence.

“We had to perform and we had to win. It was crucial that we got our Heineken Cup challenge off to a good start in a home setting.”

Although Dempsey’s Leinster consider Munster as arch-rivals, the full- back sympathised with them after they lost to holders London Wasps.

“You have to feel sorry for Munster, because they threw everything into the game with Wasps. They could have won, but at least they proved Irish rugby isn’t dead,” he said.

There was a fear, he admitted, that there would be a hangover from the World Cup; fear that the provinces wouldn’t be able to get back on track, and he said: “I think a couple of teams proved that was a wrong assumption.

“In our case, people were keenly watching how the players would react, and it was vital for everyone to go out there against Leicester and prove we weren’t a spent force.

“It was nice,” he added, “to do it in front of a full house in the RDS, and it was pleasing to see an extraordinarily good Munster display later that day.

“In one sense, it’s more frustrating that we didn’t perform in France, but it’s also nice to know that guys found form.

“It’s a sign that good players didn’t become bad players overnight; I think we will all come back stronger and more determined from that chastening experience in France,” he said.

The acid test is nigh, though, and Dempsey is conscious that Toulouse will provide Leinster with exactly that.

He describes them generously: “They’re a sublime, high-quality team; we can’t judge them on one match alone, and we certainly won’t be putting too much emphasis on the narrow victory they managed to secure over Edinburgh. Like most French sides, they don’t always travel well but there’s also the issue of selection.

“We’re fairly sure that Toulouse didn’t put out their best side against Edinburgh because they probably felt it was a game in the bag. They would have underestimated a pretty good Edinburgh side if that was the case. But French teams do tend to do that, and they can fall on their faces as a result.

“You just never know against them; one week they will be on a high and they’ll be on a low the next week. I have no doubt that they were building for this weekend on the basis that we have access to so many Irish internationals.

“Maybe they took the eye off the ball in Edinburgh, but they certainly didn’t when they thrashed Stade Français a couple of weeks ago.

“They are a star-studded side; they’re more astute in attack than Leicester, who took route one and tried to bully us in the physical stakes.

“Toulouse will kick a lot more ball and they will play for position before battling for possession. They will also try to vary the game a lot more than Leicester.

“It’s going to be a pretty exhausting and very demanding experience.”

But Dempsey is confident that the Leinster pack can now front up as never before.

He said: ” So far, the forwards have been outstanding; they’ve worked hard on defence and set pieces. Ollie le Roux has been a breath of fresh air, great around the changing room and he brings a different dimension to things. He hasn’t played a lot of 80 minute matches up to his arrival in Ireland, but has been hugely influential for us.

“Take him, add Leo (Cullen) and Shane (Jennings) into the mix, and I reckon we have a pretty formidable pack at this point.

“But still, everyone must produce something special to live with these guys,” he said.