Leinster correct shortcomings with tough training

MAGNERS LEAGUE NEWS: LEINSTER WELCOME back Leo Cullen, Cian Healy, Shane Horgan and Eoin Reddan to the extended squad for Saturday's Magners League game at the RDS in Dublin.

The quartet was not involved in last weekend’s 16-14 defeat against Ulster at Ravenhill. There is one other new face with promising young backrow Dominic Ryan included.

The manner of the defeat rather than losing rankled and Leinster addressed several shortcomings in training this weekend. Forwards’ coach Jonno Gibbes pointed out: “There are a couple of key areas that we came up short in at Ulster. If you take the conditions out of it they are kind of non-negotiables and we failed in those areas: well not so much failed but we didn’t deliver in those areas and that’s been the focus this week, to rectify that.

“Attitude-wise we’re very up for it, very aware of the team we are going to play and what they are going to challenge us on this week.”

He elaborated on what he considered the specific, basic constituents of Leinster’s game that didn’t pass muster.

“I think body height, aggression in the collision, whether you’ve got the ball or you haven’t and perhaps some urgency off the ball: players working for their team-mates to support them. (They’re) just a few things that we’ve actually been really good at this year but for some reason or another we weren’t up to scratch in that particular game. It’s something we’ve focused on again this week.”

Gibbes was keen to emphasise that he didn’t want to detract in any way from Ulster’s victory and that the home side were much more physical, with and without the ball. He didn’t put much truck in the suggestion that Leinster, given their status as European champions, were buckling a little under any additional pressure.

“I think the pressure or urgency comes from the fact we didn’t deliver it in the game and we had been doing it up until the Ulster game. The Irish performance at the RDS wasn’t up to scratch and the third thing is we’re playing a pretty physical Cardiff team.

“(Xavier Rush) Rushy, who I played with in New Zealand, guys like that have got a really physical presence with or without the ball and if we don’t front up with our collisions it’s going to be a pretty tough day at the office. So those are sort of the three factors that really have driven that focus and urgency this week.”

One player who would relish the opportunity is former Gonzaga schoolboy Dominic Ryan, an underage international and a player of huge promise. He’d dearly love to emulate Kevin McLaughlin’s impact this season. It’s not an unrealistic expectation according to Gibbes.

“My impression of Dominic is that he is athletically very gifted. He’s physically built for a young guy, he’s got the skill, the evasion, he’s an athlete and he’s in a good place for his age. What I’ve been pleased about is that he just put his head down and trains. He fronts up, doesn’t take a backward step to anyone at training; he’s been pretty combative. We’ve have some pretty full-on contact sessions and he’s conducted himself very well.

“It’s a good opportunity to bring a young guy into the environment in preparation for his first game, and with Shane (Jennings) suspension we needed to have some kind of plan for our loose forwards so I think Dominic’s relishing his time in the squad and he’s conducted himself well. He’s a pretty exciting talent and at the moment he has potential but the best thing is that he’s got a good attitude.

“We’re sort of using him as a seven in the squad, he actually reminds me of Liam Messam back home, very athletic sort of player. Liam came into the Waikato team when he was barely 19 and he reminds me of him, he’s got the same sort of skill and approach and evasion and stuff like that and a bit of an edge. He can stick up for himself so the signs are positive and we’re looking for him to push on with his potential.”

Meanwhile Ulster coach Bryan McLaughlin has named a 26-man squad ahead of his side’s trip to Thomond Park at the weekend. The new league leaders will be hoping to follow up on last Saturday night’s great win over Leinster and also emulate their thumping victory in Limerick last season.

New Irish squad member and Ulster backrow forward Chris Henry cautioned: “Heading into the last game before the break, Ulster’s Chris Henry said: “We all know we must keep our feet on the ground now. Munster away is another massive challenge for us. We get a break after that so we want to finish this segment on a high and still on top of the table.”

Munster coach Tony McGahan makes one change to last week’s squad with Barry Murphy named in place of Doug Howlett. The latter did take part in training yesterday but is expected to return to action after the international break.