Jennings: Ireland are in good shape

HEINEKEN CUP progress won’t necessarily equate to Six Nations success but Leinster’s Shane Jennings believes the performances of Leinster, Munster and Ulster in Europe this season will nonetheless fuel Ireland’s Test ambitions.

Should Ulster do enough to secure their passage to the last eight in Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, it will give Ireland three representatives in the knock-out stages for the first time.

“Its brilliant. If three teams are going to be in it that’s good for Irish rugby,” said Jennings. “There’s always going to be rivalry there. You’d be a fool not to think there isn’t, because when you go into camp you always want to be top dog.

“Same with the Munster lads. Same with the Ulster lads. It’s great. Competition is going to bring everyone on. Ulster played a great game on Friday night, Munster are as strong as ever. It’s going to be very exciting times in the coming weeks.”

With Leinster and Munster already assured of their places in the European end-games and Declan Kidney naming his Six Nations squad today, there is a natural temptation to look beyond this weekend’s offerings and towards the meeting with Wales in Dublin.

For the fans, that is. Not the players.

As with Munster, Leinster will be chasing a home venue when they run out for round six and Joe Schmidt’s posse is in rude health as they prepare for the visit of a Montpellier side with nothing but an Amlin Cup place to fight for at the RDS.

Jonathan Sexton is expected to be fit having rolled over on an ankle during the defeat of Glasgow Warriors in Firhill last Sunday while Luke Fitzgerald may also be available having missed the win in Scotland because of glute/neck injuries. Add to that the expected return from injury of forwards Kevin McLaughlin (neck), Richardt Strauss (facial) and Steven Sykes (hamstring) — all of whom should be in the selection mix — and Schmidt has real reason for cheer.

The European champions have now traversed four months unbeaten in a run that extends to 15 matches but they had their thunder stolen last weekend by Ulster’s destruction of Jennings’ old Leicester Tigers chums in Ravenhill. English clubs have now lost eight on the bounce in Ireland and Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins side may want to take heed of Jennings’ words prior to their crucial Pool 6 engagement at the Sportsground against Connacht on Friday night.

“English teams don’t fully understand how Ireland is — to go to places like Galway and up to Belfast. Obviously some of them have experience of going down to Limerick or Cork but they’re difficult venues to go to and when Ulster play well they’re a very good side.

“Maybe Leicester weren’t as strong (last Friday). They were missing a few key players and I don’t think that helped. They certainly got duffed up and they’re going to be hurting now but Ulster deserve all the credit.”