Cheika pleased with newfound aggression

Adding a few strings to their bow, while not forfeiting traditional virtues, seems to be something exercising the mind of Leinster at the moment. Early days yet, but in the opening defeat to Edinburgh last season's Magners League runners-up fronted up physically, especially in defence, but were unusually wayward with the ball

On reflection, Michael Cheika was happy with areas he admitted wouldn't normally be perceived as Leinster strengths.

"I thought we were very physical. There was a good hard edge to us around the fringes of ruck and maul. They had a lot of ball which we spoilt, and in defence we had a lot more impact in our tackling.

"We did a fair bit of scrambling and I think we were a lot more aggressive in our rucking, in our counter-rucking. I was quite happy with that part of our game," said Cheika, who also praised an improved scrum.

Against that, he admitted, "We kicked the ball away too much and I can't put my finger on why."

In the third quarter especially, Cheika reflected, his team were unusually wasteful: "We had a lot of start-of-play set-ups, which we didn't transfer into phase or territory, and we ended up in negative territory. And they're the things that we've got to get better - getting control of those start-of-play situations, so that we must make a positive finish, whether its through metres or ball retention."

It would be simplistic to describe it as more of a Munsteresque approach, arising in part from the arrival of Stephen Keogh and Trevor Horgan.

Rejecting the notion the Shannon and former Munster backrower had experienced something of a culture shock, Keogh maintained he didn't see any notable difference in the cultures, albeit with the good-natured rider: "The attitude of the players is just the same. Dublin is obviously a bit different from Limerick, with traffic, and maybe the culture of going for coffee after training is a small bit different."

At least he resisted the temptation to say cappuccinos or lattes.

"I don't see many differences in the training; the competitive edge is just the same."

As regards style, Keogh conceded: "Leinster probably like to play maybe a more expansive game, which we have to get a mix between the two really, between playing the game direct and playing the game wide when we get our opportunities.

"But definitely some of the Leinster players are undoubtedly as physical as the Munster players. But I suppose (with) different coaches, and different teams, there's always going to be a small bit of difference."

Alas, Hogan is ruled out this week after going over on an ankle, though this is partially offset by the availability of two of Leinster's Ireland contingent, who have had extended off-seasons and pre-seasons, Keith Gleeson and Denis Hickie.

Cheika resisted invitations to query the unavailability until this week of the pair: "They're the rules. We knew it was like that beforehand. Other teams have been affected by it; Munster's been affected by it heavily and Ulster have been affected by it. So that's the way it was, that's the way we've had to plan."

There are also places for fit-again prop Reggie Corrigan and development locks Devin Toner and Old Belvedere's Richie Leyden. The team will be named tomorrow lunchtime.

Looking ahead to the Cardiff game, Cheika attributed the Welsh's team growth in stature largely to the arrival of Xavier Rush and said Leinster's failure to accurately defend the sniping breaks of scrumhalf Mike Phillips "probably cost us the Celtic League title last year because he slipped through and scored the try which cost us a win".

For the second game running the Scarlets have made five changes to the previous starting line-up, captain Simon Easterby moving to the openside to allow James Bater start on the blindside. Scrumhalf Dwayne Peel is rested as Clive Stuart-Smith gets a run.

LEINSTER SQUAD (v Cardiff Blue, Saturday, Donnybrook 7.30): Forwards (14): Johnny Wickham, Reggie Corrigan, Will Green, Ronan McCormack, Bernard Jackman, Harry Vermaas, Adam Byrnes, Owen Finegan, Devin Toner, Keith Gleeson, Richie Leyden, Jamie Heaslip, Stephen Keogh, Niall Ronan. Backs (11): Guy Easterby, Chris Whitaker, Felipe Contepomi, Christian Warner, Gary Brown, Luke Fitzgerald, Denis Hickie, Rob Kearney, Ross McCarron, Michael Berne, Kieran Lewis

LLANELLI SCARLETS (v Connacht, the Sportsground, Friday 6.30): C Thomas; D James, M Watkins, G Evans, D Daniel; S Jones, C Stuart-Smith; P John, M Rees, D Manu; A Jones, S Macleod; J Bater, S Easterby (capt), N Thomas. Replacements: I Thomas, K Owens, I Afeaki, A Popham, D Peel, M Jones, R King.