O’Driscoll pays tribute to departing Cheika’s efforts

AFTER five years together, this isn’t how Leinster and Michael Cheika wanted their last European road trip to end but, as Brian O’Driscoll explained on Saturday night, it has been one hell of a journey.

Cheika’s arrival was considered a gamble when he replaced Declan Kidney in 2005 at a time when morale in Leinster was plumbing new depths due to the regular managerial musical chairs and divisions within the squad.

Having reached the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2003, the province subsequently failed to escape the group stages a year later and they were soundly beaten by Leicester in Lansdowne Road in a 2005 quarter-final.