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.

Add in Cian Healy, who was named in the extended Six Nations panel and ‘A’ international Stephen Keogh and it is no surprise that Cheika is unhappy about his pack’s lack of game time with the Irish set-up.

‘‘Without a doubt,’’ he said. ‘‘We spoke about our pack not being respected because we had no players in the national squad, no matter whether it was the wrong or right selection.

‘‘So, you have to use all those things and we want to get players into the squad. We want to get more players into the squad because that is what we can judge ourselves on.’’

Cheika pointed to the displays by Jamie Heaslip and Bernard Jackman in Paris last weekend as evidence of what he feels his players can bring to the national team.

‘‘They both played quite well. Heaslip is the type of player who, once he gets in, establishes himself.

‘‘He has a lot of rough edges that still need to be polished because it is a specialist position. He’ll get that through experience and coaching and through his own knowledge of the game developing.

‘‘If he keeps all those bits together and keeps his feet on the ground, he’s going to be a really good player.’’

Also hoping to force their way back into O’Sullivan’s plans this weekend will be Shane Horgan who returns to the squad after injury, as well as Luke Fitzgerald who has been leapfrogged in the national pecking order by Rob Kearney.

‘‘There is a real opportunity for (Horgan) to show while playing on the wing for us that he can grab a spot there (for Ireland). He’s a finisher and we’ll use him in that role and use his experience and strength.

‘‘We want to take advantage for that, and I’m sure that Fitzgerald will look to take the opportunity playing either on the wing or full-back. He needs to take the opportunity to push his claim as well.’’

Cardiff too will be anxious to make a point to their own national team management. Only one player, Martyn Williams, started the Six Nations match against England while the number rose to three for the second tie at home to Scotland.

That should guarantee the Blues a strong travelling party later in the week while Cheika will have to make do without the Leinster players who featured in Paris as well as the injured dup of Gordon D’Arcy and Jonathan Sexton.

Leinster squad: C Healy, O le Roux, R McCormack, B Blaney, S Knoop, S Wright, L Cullen, T Hogan, C Jowitt, S Keogh, K Gleeson, S Jennings, K McLaughlin. Backs: C Keane, C Whitaker, F Contepomi, I Keatley, C Warner, M Berne, L Fitzgerald, G Brown, S Horgan, F Jones, R McCarron.