Leinster look the part, but it’s only October

LEINSTER start their Heineken Cup campaign tonight as the hunted, not the hunter.

As I know from the 2006/07 Cup campaign, this brings about its own new set of challenges. That season, Munster trudged off the pitch after suffering a crushing defeat by Llanelli. Being knocked out at the quarter-final stages reduced the previous May’s glorious high of defeating Biarritz in the final to a distant memory.

And the next three months would be spent playing out pointless, lifeless matches in a league where our mid-table status was already decided. The previous year we had achieved our ultimate goal, the Heineken Cup. Most of the players in the squad didn’t want the success to end at that. Our aim was to go on and capture trophy after trophy, etching Munster into history as one of the great European sides.

The following season brought an entirely different set of challenges. 2007 was a World Cup year and Eddie O’Sullivan had the power over the availability of players. We were going to be without our internationals for big stretches of the season.

Our first game that year was against Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park. It’s a difficult place to go with a full side. That night we arrived with a very inexperienced team, a combination of Academy youngsters and Development contract players.

When we stepped onto the field the speakers announced the arrival of the European champions. The Cardiff Blues and their supporters were relishing a shot at toppling the cup holders. At every ruck and in every tackle, Cardiff attacked with ferocious intensity. We put up a valiant effort. Young prop Timmy Ryan burst through to score a fantastic breakaway try. But in the end our inexperience told. Two men went to the sin-bin and Cardiff took us apart. Afterwards we concluded that every team we played from now on wouldn’t just be playing against Munster – they’d be facing the European champions. We would have to be ready for a physical war.

Our European campaign saw the return of the internationals. First up was a trip to Leicester, and Ronan O’Gara fuelled their fire by implying prior to the game that English players were over-rated. The Munster out-half backed up his provocative statement by kicking the match-winning penalty. We cruised through the next four matches, home and away fixtures to both Cardiff and Bourgoin. Then we suffered a devastating blow to our morale. The unthinkable happened and Leicester returned to haunt us by ending our undefeated home run in Thomond Park. Not only were we defeated but we had taken a physical pummelling. For the remainder of that season, many of us would carry forward niggling injuries sustained in that match. However, it was the psychological damage that was hardest to mend. When we arrived in Stradey Park to play the Scarlets, our confidence was brittle to say the least.

Leinster are now the top dogs in Europe and face similar challenges this season. No longer will they be known as the nearly-men of European rugby; the old jibe about being a great team on paper is forgotten. Every team they encounter will be playing for a scalp, starting with London Irish tonight.

So far they have coped with the pressure well. Apart from one blip against the Scarlets, they have been bullet-proof. Leinster’s cause has been kindly helped by a few administration changes. Declan Kidney’s approach to handling his international charges is far less draconian than his predecessor’s. Provincial coaches are now trusted to manage their front liners. Michael Cheika can rotate his squad – as a result his team never goes out completely bereft of its international players. Leinster also have far more strength in depth than Munster did in the 06/07 season, having a far more experienced squad with the likes of Trevor Hogan, Stephen Keogh and Fergus MacFadden waiting in the wings.

The impact of losing their two talismen, Contepomi and Elsom, doesn’t seem to have damaged Leinster too badly either.

When the Argentinian hobbled off in last year’s Heineken Cup semi final against Munster, Johnny Sexton slotted into the out-half position and established it as his own. He is now pushing hard to be included in Ireland’s match day 22. The loss of Elsom could have been a catastrophe. However, Sean O’Brien and Kevin McLaughlin are vieing to be his successor.

The portents for Cheika are good. Last Saturday, Leinster sent out their biggest signal that they are contenders for back-to-back European success. Their demolition of Munster was hugely impressive. Most pundits expected that they would suffer a backlash from their bitter rivals after last year’s semi, but Leinster displayed a desire and hunger not usually associated with the province. They were dogged in defence, clinical in attack. It bodes well for their chances this year.

One caveat though. There are no trophies won in October.