Easterby defends search for tighthead

LEINSTER MANAGER Guy Easterby has defended the continued search for an established tighthead prop ahead of their Heineken Cup opener against Racing Metro on October 9th.

Mike Ross earned several compliments from fellow forwards after dismantling an inexperienced Cardiff scrum last weekend, and is expected to recover from a calf strain to feature against Benetton Treviso on Saturday, but in the wake of Stan Wright’s season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon the Leinster management continue to trawl the Southern Hemisphere in search of respectable cover despite the arrival of Simon Shawe and progress of Jack McGrath and Stewart Maguire.

“We are still very keen to get someone in to bolster our resources,” said Easterby. “I guess there has been a bit of press that we are not promoting from within. There are lads in a development process, especially frontrow players, that we need to look after and make sure we don’t use them too soon because if we do that causes problems further down the line. Our resources are really stressed in that area so we want (to sign) another prop before the ERC kicks off.”

Leinster’s new consultant scrum coach Greg Feek’s current presence in New Zealand, and his association with Wellington in the Super 14, ensures the right candidate can be found as the NPC and Currie Cup, in South Africa, reach their conclusion.

The pre-season work is now completed by the international contingent so Gordon D’Arcy, Rob Kearney and Rhys Ruddock are expected to feature in Italy but other front-line players may be rested as the World Cup preparations remain a priority this season.

Easterby was able to utilise the knowledge gained by his brother Simon as the Scarlets (where he is now a player-coach) were beaten by Treviso 34-28 on September 4th. “I spoke to my brother about it and he said Llanelli were ahead but there were 5,000 really passionate supporters there who really got behind them when they got back into it. This year, particularly at home, Treviso are trying to make a name for themselves. They are a big, physical side.”

Elsewhere, Ulster’s new scrumhalf/outhalf signing Ruan Pienaar arrived in Belfast yesterday on a two-year deal. The Springbok will not feature in tomorrow’s match against Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

Munster’s Lifeimi Mafi makes his competitive return tomorrow when Munster A face Ulster at Nenagh RFC, kick-off 4.30pm.

MUNSTER A:S Scanlon; D Hurley, I Dineen, L Mafi, S Zebo; S Deasy, C Murray; D Ryan, S Henry, S Archer; D Foley (capt), I Nagle; D O'Callaghan, B O'Hara, J Coughlan. Replacements: G Burke, D Kilcoyne, D Hurley, K Essex, P Butler, D Williams, E Maloney, R O'Mahony.