Cheika aims to leave on a high

RUGBY:THE END of an era is nigh, although the departing Michael Cheika contends it is merely the start of a new one. Either way, Leinster have at least ensured themselves of a fitting finale to the season; a near 20,000 sell-out for the Magners League final on their home ground against Tommy Bowe and the talent-rich Ospreys this Saturday, and with it the opportunity of a major trophy for the third season in a row.

End-of-season farewells are commonplace nowadays and yesterday the normally redoubtable Bernard Jackman explained how injuries have forced him to concentrate fully on coaching with Clontarf from next season onwards. Leinster also confirmed in addition to Cheika, defensive coach Kurt McQuilkin, consultant coach Alan Gaffney, the retiring Girvan Dempsey, Malcolm O’Kelly and Jackman, Chris Keane is also retiring while CJ van der Linde is returning home.

Despite all this, typical of Cheika’s ultra professional and highly- rewarding five-year reign, sentiment will play little or no part in the build-up to this final. “I think we’ve been divorced from it. There was certainly no sentiment at the end of training when there were a few errors made. If we fall off against the Ospreys even for a couple of minutes we’ll pay. We can’t train like that at all; this game is about winning a final more than anything else. I don’t want it to be any other way and I don’t think anybody else wants to be any other way,” said Cheika.

Keeping emotions in check does not appear difficult for the departing coach. “This is what we’re doing it for. It’s not about me, it’s about the club. It’s not about any individual it’s about making the club better. It’s always been about that. And if we can play well enough to win this weekend it will make the club better again, that’s how we contribute and that’s how we’ll look back at the contribution we made, whether as coaches or players. We’ll have plenty of time to say goodbye afterwards.”

Cheika went through the formalities of naming a 24-man squad yesterday without, unsurprisingly, captain Leo Cullen, who is undergoing surgery this week on the shoulder injury which has ruled him out of the summer tour. Seán O’Brien was also ruled out yesterday morning.

O’Kelly’s performance in the semi-final and evident desire to perhaps prove to a few people he was worth a more persuasive new contract, ought to compensate for Cullen’s absence. And as Cheika noted, Shane Jennings has warmed to the leadership role, perhaps in his desire to right the wrongs of his unfairly lengthy mid-season ban.

Cheika has tended to rotate his frontrowers this season, and admits he’s also weighing up his bench options. The likelihood remains Cian Healy will retain his starting place ahead of Van der Linde, with Mike Ross missing out. Stephen Keogh should return to the bench in place of O’Brien, while there’s also the option of restoring Shaun Beirne to the 22.

Leinster have won all but one of 14 games at the RDS this season and have won 11 in succession since that sole defeat to London Irish last October. “Yeah, going to the last week of any tournament, you’ve got to be proud of yourselves, especially after a long season,” said Cheika. “I think it’s the same for the Ospreys, they’ll be ecstatic they have a final to play in. The fact it’s here (the RDS) is good for us, it’s nice, we like playing at home and in front of our supporters that’s a good bonus.”

Whereas Rob Kearney regarded victory as imperative in defining their season, Cheika regards it as a successful one regardless of the outcome, primarily thanks to the progress of Kevin McLaughlin, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Fergus McFadden and Eoin O’Malley, not to mention Jamie Heaslip moving on to “a different level”.

As well as achieving consistency in the wake of losing Felipe Contepomi, Rocky Elsom and Chris Whitaker, thanks to the manner Nathan Hines and Berne have been assimilated, “I think probably the biggest thing for me is that team spirit is as good as it’s ever been,” said Cheika. “As much as technique and strategy, that’s something that we’ve worked hard to drill as a playing group.”

So it is therefore, Cheika maintains “it’s very much the start (of an era) actually. There’s a good foundation laid.”

LEINSTER SQUAD (v Ospreys, RDS, kick-off 6.30pm): Forwards: J Fogarty, C Healy, J Heaslip, N Hines, T Hogan, S Jennings, S Keogh, K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, M O’Kelly, M Ross, R Strauss, CJ van der Linde, S Wright. Backs: S Berne, G D’Arcy, G Dempsey, S Horgan, R Kearney, F McFadden, I Nacewa, P O’Donohoe, B O’Driscoll, E Reddan, J Sexton.

Referee: Chris White (RFU).