Leinster ready to vent frustration

EXORCISING their Murrayfield ghosts may be Leinster’s primary goal for the visit of Magners League basement boys, Ulster, to the RDS on St Stephen’s Day, but under pressure Blues coach Michael Cheika may also have a point to prove to his detractors.

If ever there was a game for Leinster to repair the hurt of their 29-10 Heineken Cup drubbing to Edinburgh on December 15, then no better game to restore confidence and regenerate momentum than a big performance against Ulster, themselves experiencing greater problems.

Ulster supporters are still awaiting official news on a successor to Mark McCall, and it now appears that likely favourite for the head coach role, Matt Williams, won’t begin his tenure in Ravenhill until the new year. The arrival of hard-working, straight-talking Williams can’t come soon enough for Ulster — currently in the hands of caretaker boss Steve Williams — as they are in danger of missing out on the 2008/09 Heineken Cup if they fail to lift themselves above Connacht in the Magners League before the end of this season.