Fringe players' performances 'really uplifting'

Gerry Thornleygot the views of Leinster coach Michael Cheika and captain on the night Chris Whitaker after Saturday night's victory

TRAILING AT half-time despite playing about 90 per cent of the rugby, Leinster regrouped and underlined the virtues of patience while retaining confidence in what they were doing. In the circumstances, they could have been forgiven for losing their patience, but not the least encouraging aspect of this performance was that they kept their heads.

"I will say I was a little bit frustrated with that (the scoreboard) but not with the play, if you know what I mean," admitted coach Michael Cheika afterwards.

"I actually thought we played quite well, we had really good, quick ball. Maybe we could have run squared-up a little bit more and run straighter at the opposition because we were getting good yards. Our tries came from keep going at them and that's good for us because maybe in the past we wouldn't have had that type of patience, just keep the phases coming, because we maybe felt we had to score too quickly."

Chris Whitaker was captain for the night before the honour eventually fell to Malcolm O'Kelly, whose sole proviso was that when the moment came he had to be reminded. Good old Mal, although apparently he has found a kindred spirit in the equally forgetful Rocky Elsom. In any event, the tide had turned by the time O'Kelly instructed David Holwell to kick the 71st-minute penalty that put Leinster two scores ahead.

"It was a good squad effort," enthused Whitaker. "A lot of guys stepped up tonight, guys who had been on the edge, and really put their hands up."

"I think it means a lot when all the other boys are in the dressingroom after the game and all the other guys have done it on the field," added Cheika "and that's good for where we're going as a group. Forget about football, but just with regard to team unity, it gives you a good feeling in the dressingroom when your squad works like that together."

Missing nine players who might reasonably be called first-team squad members, Cheika was sufficiently buoyed by the performances of what might be deemed fringe first-teamers and the impact off their bench to describe the win as "really uplifting".

Cheika pointed out that Leinster finished the game with a back line of Chris Keane, David Holwell, Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden, Simon Keogh, Gary Brown and Girvan Dempsey; a combination that could never have been envisaged at the start of the season.

"They jumbled themselves up and somehow kept the fluidity of the game going. I thought our quick ball was really good from the ruck and we were able to keep attacking.

"We made some individual errors and misjudgments, but that's going to happen with quick ball, but we're going to have to keep working on that."

Of all the fringe contenders to put their hands up, the stand-out performer though was Seán O'Brien.

"In all his performances he has started to become a real contender and I thought Stephen Keogh really came back to good form as well tonight, and Trevor Hogan when he came on, and Devin Toner and Cian Healy played quite well. It's going to make for some tough calls this week."

The rested trio of Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Luke Fitzgerald will return next week, as should CJ van der Linde, and possibly also Shane Jennings, if passed fit. However, none too optimistic about the chances of Felipe Contepomi or Isa Nacewa for next Saturday's game at home to Castres, Cheika also confirmed Holwell has been registered as a Leinster player and that his name can be submitted as an additional player to the ERC by Wednesday.

"David understands exactly what his role is here. He'll cover Johnny (Sexton) if the other two are out and work with him, because he's so much to learn.

"It's another level up going into the Heineken Cup. That's something we'll decide later this week."

It seems inevitable that Holwell will be registered.