EUROPEAN CUP INTERVIEW WITH ALAN GAFFNEY: John O'Sullivantalks to the former Munster coach who argues this fact is of no benefit to his Saracens side as they prepare for Sunday week's clash

ALAN GAFFNEY steers clear of the contrived sentimentality that his time as Munster coach will leave him ideally placed to plot their downfall when the Irish province play Saracens in Sunday week's Heineken Cup semi-final.

It doesn't preclude him from harbouring great affection for the Munster players, management and supporters but this is professional sport whose cold, narrow parameters of determining success don't allow for over-romanticising. There is no ambiguity to his ambition; his focus is on leading Saracens to European glory.

He's well aware of the neatly parcelled image that has been peddled in the media but rails against the perception. "People say I know the Munster players and set-up well but if you were to extend that argument you could point to the fact they know my methods as a coach. It's not that easy.

"We have both moved on since my time in charge at Munster. They have changed the way they play under Deccie (Declan Kidney) and to great effect. I, too, have changed certain things in terms of the way I coach. You have to because otherwise you would be dead in the water. I don't think there is any benefit."

The affable Australian has enough to preoccupy him at present, real concerns like rapidly dwindling playing resources and the vexed issue of addressing a poor performance in losing to Gloucester last Saturday ahead of this weekend's clash with Wasps.

He couldn't mask his frustration in the post-match interview at Gloucester and several days later the thoughts of the opening 40 minutes still rankle. It wasn't about losing but the manner of it - abandoning pre-match tactics, failing to employ a strong wind in securing field position, kicking indiscriminately and ultimately having ambition displaced under the sheer volume of turnovers.

Two late tries couldn't camouflage the disappointment. The defeat also reinforced what Gaffney has known all season; the Saracens squad is one of the smallest in the Premiership and right now it is down to the bare bones. He has just two fit hookers in Matt Cairns and Fabio Ongaro and last weekend had just seven fit backrow players from which to select, including one promoted from the club's academy.

It is a situation that magnifies the loss of All Black secondrow Chris Jack and Andy Farrell for the rest of the season: genuine leaders are in short supply, especially those who won't be fazed by pressure-laden encounters.

The open cheque-book days of Saracens are long gone but it's a perception the club is finding hard to shed. One particular television pundit suggested the London club has underachieved this season given the resources. It's an outdated argument based on finances and personnel.

Gaffney isn't looking for sympathy. It's an honest appraisal but he does cast the odd envious glance elsewhere. In the past five days Wasps have been able to change their entire backrow for two matches - replacing Lawrence Dallaglio, Joe Worsley and John Hart with Tom Rees, James Haskell and Dan Leo - and can mix and match when they face Saracens this weekend.

"We started the season with a small squad in comparison to some of the other teams and by the time the season ends we will have played 34 matches. It would be difficult to be competitive across three separate competitions if everyone was fit and well but when you get injuries, especially to important players, it's virtually impossible."

Gaffney's unembroidered observations shouldn't be mistaken for a resignation that Saracens can't win their upcoming semi-final. "The one thing we can't do is be satisfied to have reached this stage of the tournament. That'd be criminal. We'll pay Munster the utmost respect but we'll go out and play; we can't treat them as if we are in awe because of what they achieved over the past decade."

The Australian is well aware the Irish province won't dismiss them in the same arrogant vein the Ospreys did, an attitude that was noted way beyond Watford. It would be fair to say Saracens were popular winners.

Whatever happens over the closing weeks of the season, Gaffney knows that next season he'll swap north London for Dublin as he returns to Leinster. His exact role has been slightly misrepresented, a fact he's happy to clarify.

"I will be working with the backs and also overseeing a programme for promising young coaches. I am very happy with those roles. When Leinster approached me I pointed out that the only way I would take the position was if Michael Cheika stayed. I wouldn't have taken the job otherwise. We go back 20 years and I have a lot of respect for him.

"I think the hard work he has done at Leinster is beginning to reap rewards. I'm really looking forward to coming back and working again with Darce (Gordon D'Arcy), Drico (Brian O'Driscoll), Shaggy (Shane Horgan) and Chris Whitaker whose family I have known for about 20 years. I coached both Chris and his brother Ben who was an exceptional player.

"The development of talent among the young players has been striking and Cheiks (Michael Cheika) has given them an opportunity and they have responded. If you look at (Rob) Kearney and (Luke) Fitzgerald, they are already outstanding players and Michael tells me there are other excellent youngsters of whom he has high hopes."

And what about working with Felipe Contepomi? "I've spoken to him and met him a few times but never coached him. I've a feeling he might teach me a thing or two about back play," Gaffney laughs.

Speaking of clarifying issues, what is his position on the vacant Ireland national team job with which he has been linked? "I'm glad of the chance to state my position because it was my own fault I didn't make it clear where I stood in some previous interviews and things got a little garbled.

"I haven't talked to anyone about the Ireland job or anything to do with it. I'm committed to working with Leinster and that's my priority. If someone came to me and asked if I could help out with, say, the backs in the national set-up for half a day a week, then as long as it didn't compromise what I was doing with Leinster, I'd be happy to help out.

"I am a great believer in having a national coach from that country. I can understand the reasons behind, say, the appointment of Robbie Deans in Australia but all things being equal and in general terms, I'd favour the local man get it."

This weekend Gaffney will be hoping his Saracens team emerges injury-free from their game against Wasps and then next week turn his undivided attention to Munster and that European semi-final. He's pretty sure he'll get the man who succeeds him at Vicarage Road, Eddie Jones, to have an input in training next week now that the former Wallaby coach - Gaffney was his assistant with Australia - is back in England.

Gaffney knows what to expect on Sunday week but it doesn't make the assignment much easier. One suspects, though, it is not the coach but the Saracens players who need to better absorb next week's tutorials.