Between Rocky and a hard place

IT’S mid-October and Leinster’s opening Heineken Cup defeat by London Irish at the RDS has been compounded five days later by a lengthy suspension for Shane Jennings for alleged contact with the eye area.

Having reacted furiously at the time of the alleged incident, London Irish lock Nick Kennedy subsequently admitted to having over-reacted. But the disciplinary committee was unmoved.

Jennings would be left to cool his heels for 12 weeks and, with Rocky Elsom already departed, Michael Cheika was suddenly operating without two-thirds of the rampaging back row that had helped deliver the Heineken Cup in May.