Leinster pair thriving in their new environment

John O'Sullivantalks to Leinster's Stephen Keogh and Chris Keane, two cross-province recruits

Leinster's squad has become more cosmopolitan in recent seasons and is all the better for that transformation. The new arrivals have not been all southern hemisphere recruits as the cross-province pollination has been very much in evidence.

Two examples of that relocation exercise are Stephen Keogh and Chris Keane, who for different reasons, could have an integral part to play in Leinster's Heineken European Cup clash against Edinburgh at the RDS on Friday night.

Keogh arrived from Munster (54 appearances) last season and made an immediate impression, winning a starting place in the backrow. The 25-year-old has won 33 Leinster caps, scoring four tries, since making his debut against Friday's Scottish opponents in a Magners Celtic League game in September 2006.

He returned from injury to play an important role in last Friday night's victory over his former team-mates at Musgrave Park. Camouflaging any hint of smugness Keogh admitted: "It was a good win for the team as we have always targeted the inter-provincial matches.

"Those games are going to be tough and they don't come much tougher than going down to Munster and trying to win. We're delighted, but it's over. We have Heineken Cup this week and we are focusing on Edinburgh. Andy Robinson seems to be doing a very good job with them; they're a physical side and it's going to be a test for us at the weekend."

He wasn't about to get away that lightly with regard to the Munster match and was asked to comment about the wet/dry ball issue that grew legs in the aftermath of the game in Cork. There was a suggestion that Leinster hooker Bernard Jackman was handed a wet ball while his Munster counterpart Jerry Flannery was invariably presented with a dry one.

Keogh laughed: "(They've been) doing that for years. That happens everywhere. In fairness the referee gave Bernard Jackman time to dry the ball so it wasn't an issue in the game."

Any banter? "I hadn't seen the lads in a while so I was just having a good chat with them. Verbals happen in every match. In a high pressure game like Leinster-Munster, there's always going to be things going on.

"It was pleasing to go down and win against a good team; Munster are on top form. We have to forget about that, put it behind us and get another consistent performance against Edinburgh. We probably have improved since the start of the year as a pack. We did well against Leicester, suffered a setback against Toulouse but have done well since then.

"We need to be consistent. That's a big thing with us in having that consistency of performance. There is a lot of pressure on us to back up (that Munster performance) this week. If we don't then we deserve all the criticism we get."

Keogh is adamant that despite two defeats, Edinburgh will prove tricky opponents, recalling Leinster's defeat in the same tournament at Murrayfield last season and singling out their openside Ross Rennie as a player who has caused the Irish province several problems.

Skerries-born Keane made his professional representative bow with Connacht six seasons ago, winning 90 caps before deciding to take up an offer to join Leinster during the summer. The 29-year-old is battling with Cillian Willis for the starting scrumhalf berth in the absence of the injured Chris Whitaker.

He's enjoying his new environment. "It was a big challenge for me coming up here with the likes of Cillian Willis and Chris Whitaker, knowing they would be big opposition. I thought the change might do me a bit of good.

"There is not a whole lot of difference. The lads down there (in Connacht) are just as determined as the lads up here. The facilities here would be slightly better in my opinion. There are a lot more coaching staff up here but apart from that there is not a huge difference. The fact there are a lot more internationals (in Leinster) raises the standard."

Keane, who has yet to play in the European Cup, has benefited from the advice and encouragement received from former Australian international Whitaker, encapsulating the latter's impact thus: "His opinion is gold." All he craves now is a chance; much like the one given to Keogh.