Leinster must beware fiery Dragons, warns McQuilkin

AS Leinster bring back some heavy hitters for Friday’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium, it’s fair to assume defence coach Kurt McQuilkin has put the players through the wringer this week.

Leinster beat Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS (23-14) last week but McQuilkin knows certain aspects of the performance will not suffice to secure future success against stronger opponents.

The Heineken Cup champions welcome back Girvan Dempsey to the panel and he will feature alongside Eoin Reddan and Nathan Hines, who both made their debuts against the Dragons. Gordon D’Arcy is one of nine full Ireland internationals in all and he joins Isa Nacewa, a try scorer last weekend, and last week’s man of the match, Sean O’Brien in the squad.

But McQuilkin says everyone will have to be on top of their game and said: “There are areas we have to improve upon. We weren’t happy with our first-up tackling or our line speed and we have work to do this week.”

He also suggested similar defensive lapses this Friday will be punished and warned the players need to be at their best. He said: “Players know if they slip up in training or in matches there will be someone champing at the bit. If you have an average day at the office you could lose your place and I think that fear will drive them on.”

It wasn’t all negative thinking though, with McQuilkin pointing out: “It was good for the likes of Darce (Gordon D’Arcy), Nathan (Hines) and Redser (Eoin Reddan) to get their first game of the season under their belts so they, along with the other returning players, will get sharper as the games come on thick and fast.

“Mike Ross performed strongly up front along with the other forwards, so our form is improving. There was no resting on our laurels over the summer and though last year went well, with the way teams scout each other nowadays you can’t sit back on past success.

“We’ve got to continue to hammer home the basics and keep adding to our armoury. Something I’ve been really impressed with over the last few months is the positive approach the players have made in training. They’re striving to improve, demanding more of coaches and of themselves, which is helping to build a strong culture.”

Yet, McQuilkin is expecting a tough day at the office: “The Ospreys are an outstanding team with speed, power and skill across their pack and back line. In (Jerry) Collins, (Filo) Tiatia and Ryan Jones they have a really physical back-row presence who will come right up at you in midfield.

“Then take someone like Mike Phillips, a key man. He likes to probe around the fringes and is another big presence. And with players like Jonny Vaughton, Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams out wide, they have pace.

“Even though they (Ospreys) will have been disappointed with their defeat by Ulster last time out, they remain serious contenders for the title. It just shows how open the competition is this year.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Ferris is amongst a strong Ulster squad named for Friday’s Magners League clash with Edinburgh at Ravenhill (8pm).

Coach Brian McLaughlin named a 24-man squad, which also includes fellow Irish internationals Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Tom Court.

LEINSTER squad. (Backs): S Berne, G D’Arcy, G Dempsey, S Horgan, C Keane, D Kearney, S Keogh, F McFadden, I Nacewa, P O’Donohoe, E Reddan, J Sexton

(Forwards): L Cullen, J Fogarty, J Harris-Wright, C Healy, N Hines, B Jackman, S Jennings, S Keogh, R McCormack, K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, M O’Kelly, M Ross, D Toner, S Wright

ULSTER squad. (Backs): T Nagusa, D Cave, S Danielli, I Whitten, I Boss, I Humphreys, A Trimble, P Wallace, C Willis, C Schifcofske.

(Forwards): N Brady, T Anderson, B Botha, B Young, E O’Donoghue, A Kyriacou, S Ferris, N McComb, R Diack, C Henry, W Faloon, T Horua, T Court, D Fitzpatrick.