Cheika ends Reds rivalry with a bang

THE ageing, rickety old RDS was almost shaken from its foundations for the final 40 minutes of Saturday night’s Magners League semi-final in which Leinster overpowered Munster for the fourth time in as many meetings of these old rivals.

Departing Leinster coach Michael Cheika initially struggled to find his feet in this particular derby situation but as he prepares to take up his new challenge at Stade Francais, he might feel well entitled to claim that he has figured it all out pretty impressively.

But that’s not the way of the Aussie who is unquestionably leaving Leinster in a far better position than he found it.