Cheika out for Connacht revenge

THE disappointment of defeat at the Galway Sportsground earlier in the season was enough in itself for Leinster’s head coach Michael Cheika to vow the return fixture at the RDS on Friday would be a revenge mission.

Accordingly, despite the loss of squad captain Leo Cullen, Girvan Dempsey and Bernard Jackman through injury, Cheika is taking no chances with selection and will choose from a relatively full deck — amongst it Gordon D’Arcy, who made a splendid return from long-term injury at Ravenhill last weekend.

It is as much a tribute to Connacht emerging this season with a resilient reputation as much as an increasing base support level for Leinster that Friday’s game could well be a sell-out.