Geech: Leinster are top dogs

IAN McGEECHAN believes Leinster are the team to beat in this season’s Heineken Cup and says Jonny Sexton now has the ideal mix of talent and experience to take Europe by storm once again.

The four-time British and Irish Lions head coach is now in charge of Bath and his side are likely to pose the strongest challenge to the holders , who are also in Pool 3 alongside Glasgow and Montpellier.

But the 65-year-old says Joe Schmidt’s side are the best in Europe and believes the quantity of natural leaders they have set Leinster apart.

“Leinster are the team to beat, they’re the current champions and have won the Heineken Cup twice in three years,” he said.

“They are a good, well managed team and have experience throughout.

“That means that in key moments and under pressure they can deliver.

“They are the favourites in our group, there is no doubt about that, and we are going to have to be on our top game when we play them home and away in December.”

And McGeechan has hailed Sexton while admitting he is delighted to be welcoming his own superstar fly-half to the Rec in the form of Stephen Donald, who kicked the winning points for New Zealand in the World Cup Final.

He added: “Sexton is a talented player, and I think he has been able to come through because of the experience around him.

“He has taken that responsibility on himself — look at the way he led Leinster in the second-half of last season’s final.

“When you have that combination of talent and experience — and he has a lot of experience now — it is an almost ideal mix.

“And as for Stephen, we are really looking forward to having him involved. It has worked out fantastically well for him — from fourth choice to kicking the winning penalty in the Final, it’s Boys Own stuff.

“He has had a good few weeks and we are looking to have him involved — it’s great to have a World Cup winner in your ranks.”

And after moving to a fine new training ground and bringing in players such as Donald, Lewis Moody, Kyle Eastmond and Dan Hipkiss, McGeechan believes Bath can cause a shock in the competition.

“We know we are still coming together as a group — players, coaches and as a club — but we are excited about the prospects.