Winning the Heineken Cup is one thing. Retaining European rugby’s greatest prize is another. That was the message from Leinster skipper Leo Cullen today as his side prepare to launch their defence.

History weighs heavily against back-to-back winners. Since the tournament’s inception, only Leicester have managed the feat (in 2001 and 2002). It’s a fact not lost on Cullen.

“It was tough enough winning the Heineken Cup last season but I guess it is going to be even tougher defending it,” Cullen said this afternoon. “We certainly won’t have any element of surprise on our side this time.

“The squad is desperately hungry to move on and build on the success of last season but the standard of teams simply gets better every year and the French teams in particular have recruited very heavily and will be a massive challenge.”

Having finally made the breakthrough last season, the reigning champions welcome London Irish to the RDS on Friday night.

The English premiership high-flyers have beaten Leinster already this season and will present Michael Cheika’s side with the toughest of European curtain raisers.

“London Irish are a very strong physical side with a number of powerful runners,” added Cullen. “They will be a real handful and a huge challenge but, as we also like to play a brand of attacking rugby it should be some match.”

The visitors will be missing Peter Richards who was banned for one week today following his dismissal for elbowing Sale Sharks’ Neil Briggs at Edgeley Park last Friday.

Munster captain Paul O’Connell today insisted last weekend’s crushing defeat by Leinster will spur his team.

The men in red were beaten 30-0 on Saturday in a match which saw John Hayes sent off after appearing to stamp on the face of opposing prop Cian Healy.

O’Connell said the team’s thrashing would encourage them to fight harder when they take on Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

“Everything needs to improve from last weekend. I think if it does, we have a good chance at the weekend,” he said. “I think it will be a big motivation for us having had such a disappointing performance last Saturday.

“We did none of our basics well and that’s the most important thing you do.”

At the Dublin launch of the Heineken Cup’s 15th season, the Lions skipper admitted Munster had a difficult challenge ahead against fellow Pool One teams Perpignan, Treviso and Northampton.

“Going away to Northampton and going away to Perpignan are going to be incredibly tough games, so we’re going to be concentrating on getting out of our group first and foremost,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ulster captain Paddy Wallace said his side did not feel overlooked in comparison to Ireland’s two Heineken Cup heavyweights.

“I think you can sit back and admire the success of Munster and Leinster over the years in the Heineken Cup, and it motivates you to be able to match the standards that they’re setting,” he said.

But Wallace, whose team face Bath on Friday, admitted the two teams’ successes had given them enviable budgets to lure top players.

“We’d love to be able to attract bigger names but at the moment we have to do the best with what we have and I think we’re doing that,” he added.