Selection dilemma for Cheika

ON a bitterly cold evening in south Dublin, Leinster consolidated their position on top of the Magners League with a bonus point victory over a shadow Ospreys side, but Michael Cheika was left facing some selection dilemmas ahead of this weekend’s Heineken Cup clash with Toulouse.

The Leinster coach assessed Saturday’s performance as “patchy” but was, nevertheless, upbeat on Brian O’Driscoll’s improved form — the Ireland captain rolling back the years to unfurl a litany of splendid second half cameos. Moreover, the emergence of Chris Keane as a scrum half of some substance also left Cheika purring as Leinster went five points clear at the summit of the table.

The return, on loan, of 36-year-old Guy Easterby to the province last month provoked heated debate, and Cheika fielded sharp criticism for his reluctance to blood younger scrum halves from within Leinster.