Jennings always eager to be in final mix

The Leinster flanker typically refuses to shy away from chasing his ambition of playing in the province's bigger games, writes JOHNNY WATTERSON

THE IRFU player-welfare system. It has a lot to answer for. Shane Jennings gives the impression it’s not an exact science. In some instances it’s saving the players from themselves and in others saving the players from their clubs.

The Leinster flanker doesn’t know how many games a season he is supposed to play. A round figure would be 25, modest compared to English and French players, who can exceed 30. And people ask why Brian O’Driscoll didn’t go for the big money in Toulouse or Stade Français. But Jennings is unsure. Not bothered either. “I don’t know what the number is but I think it’s something like that,” he says of the figure of 25 matches.

The IRFU guidelines determine who provincial coaches Joe Schmidt, Tony McGahan and Brian McLaughlin can pick.

In Treviso last week Leinster had a number of players under “welfare protection” and with Gordon D’Arcy lining out like a venerable patriarch the province unleashed a spry backline of Eoin O’Malley, Fionn Carr and Ian Madigan, who as Jennings says “were putting up their hands”.

But this season Schmidt has gotten used to the quaint Irish system and with Cardiff arriving at the RDS tomorrow night, nine days before the first of Leinster’s back-to-back Heineken Cup matches against Bath at The Rec, the province may be playing in the Pro 12 but they retain a keen eye towards Europe.

In essence, Leinster’s match at the RDS tomorrow night against a depleted Welsh side will give Schmidt an accurate picture, if he needs it, of who will line out the following week. As he has learned, the PRO 12 is about ticking over at the top and not madly chasing the title from the end of August. Come Heineken Cup time player welfare is shelved.

“I don’t think there is any rotation in Heineken Cup weeks. He picks his best team that he wants to play,” says Jennings candidly. “This year has been easier for Joe. Last year he came in and didn’t know the players, who might get value from a rest and who might not, who likes playing five games in a row and then have two weeks off. That’s all part of the learning curve and getting to know players. It’s something we know is there and have to deal with as best we can.”

Schmidt’s choice of number 13 this week will reignite the debate about that position. O’Malley’s display (and brilliantly-taken try) last week as partner to D’Arcy would be deemed a success.

And what of World Cup preference Fergus McFadden with Isa Nacewa, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney vying for places on the wings and fullback?

Jennings too will feel some heat, with Seán O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Kevin McLaughlin, Leo Auva’a and Rhys Ruddock lurking around the backrow.

“I’d like to be in that,” he says, typically putting his own hand up and refusing to shy away from chasing his ambition and often leading others as he goes.

“That comes down to if I can perform well enough and if he (Schmidt) feels I deserve a shot. Obviously, there is a balancing act that he is looking at, some of it is within his control and some of it is not, but that is what he has to do.

“Certainly there will be rotation, but for myself and the other guys it is up to us to make sure we put out hands up for the bigger games where there’s no rotation.”

The elephant in the room this week is that Cardiff will line out with a filleted team. The value of not losing against a side missing eight international players seems too obvious to highlight.

Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts and Lloyd Williams in the backs, and Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Bradley Davis and captain Sam Warburton in the pack – with Alex Cuthbert on the bench for the Wales match against Australia this weekend – adds up to a Cardiff side less than star-studded. Yet the regular Leinster captain shoots it down.

“The game has changed from years ago when you played a Welsh side or a Scottish side and it came on an international weekend and you’d actually think of it as an opportunity because they’re not as strong. That’s not the case anymore,” he says.

“Cardiff have a big squad, a lot of talent and are very, very dangerous. It’s a big test for us mentally because there isn’t the Warburtons. There isn’t these big names where you’d have a bit of fear maybe.

“From training today we were very, very sharp and in the preparation we’ve done so far maybe people do have that little bit of fear, do have that little bit of edge. They’re missing a few guys. (Maama) Molitika and these guys – (Xavier) Rush – We’ve played these guys for years. It’s a very good squad. They’re tough.”

Yes, so are Leinster. Jennings knows that.

Over the next three matches welfare could become a dirty word.