Cheika: Ireland snub will motivate players

MICHAEL CHEIKA claims a perceived sense of injustice over their lack of representation in the Ireland pack will act as extra motivation for his Leinster forwards ahead of this weekend’s crunch Magners League tie.

The Irish province face Cardiff in a table-topping encounter at the RDS on Saturday with four of their squad’s forwards capped at senior level but currently on the outside looking in at the Six Nations campaign.

Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings and Leo Cullen all had strong claims for inclusion ignored by Eddie O’Sullivan while Trevor Hogan will also be looking for a performance that could help add to his tally of four caps.