Leinster a little World-weary

Johnny Watterson on how fixture congestion rather than the opposition has brought about the champions' demise in this year's Celtic League

A look at the Celtic League standings might suggest last year's champions, Leinster Lions, have been a little toothless this season. Third from the bottom, one win from five matches and conceding 24 points a game, the most exciting team of 2001 are now unlikely to make the quarter-finals of the competition.

There is one obvious reason for this: during Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign, Leinster were missing two thirds of their side.

That the Celtic League has no sponsor for the second year has been notable. In tandem with the champions' likely flunking out because of prior scheduling for another competition (World Cup), the critics could reasonably question union commitment to the competition. Next year, with the World Cup finals, the tournament will again suffer.

"No it is not diminished," says Leinster manager Ken Ging. "Obviously winning the Celtic League was our prime objective when we started out. Let's be clear, we find losing very unpalatable, Matt Williams finds it unpalatable, especially when you look at last year when we'd 15 straight wins. And we were very aware we would not have certain players when it began, but it is very difficult when you have that many missing. As far as we are concerned it has given us the opportunity to develop the remainder of the squad and that was of immense use to us.

"It was invaluable to know the worth of the players and if you look at our matches against Borders, Glasgow or Cardiff, we could have won two of those, and the crowds who came to watch were not diminished in any way. Tomorrow night in Donnybrook we'll have a sell-out crowd. Sure they love to see the Brian O'Driscolls and the Denis Hickies but "Club Leinster" is still hugely supported."

Whether the reasons for Leinster's reversal of fortune are valid from a commercial point of view, it remains to be seen what impact this will have next year when the organisers continue their search for a major sponsor. They, too, wish to have the O'Driscolls and Hickies plugging their product. But as Ging points out, Ireland's failure in the last World Cup is the reason for this year's fixture pile up.

"It is a congested season now. That's the reality. Everyone is suffering from Lens in the last World Cup and the knock-on effect that has had on Ireland. We know where the union is coming from. We know we'll have the international guys for the Heineken Cup and then it's back into the Six Nations. It's a congestion of fixtures."

Only five of the players who started against Borders last week will face Newport in Donnybrook tomorrow, Christian Warner, Shane Horgan, Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Meara and Victor Costello. Eric Miller has also recovered from gastroenteritis.

"The bigger picture is to play for Ireland and last year this competition was an enormous success. I'm surprised we haven't had a sponsor by now but I'd be confident it will happen. Last year the rugby played was exhilarating to watch, and the Irish inclusion made it so. Compared to a side like Munster, we've more young guys who are new. Imagine a 23-year-old like Niall Treston finding himself in Cardiff Arms Park. That is invaluable. And we can find out if these guys can perform. I've no doubt we will get a sponsor."

Whatever progress Leinster make, or, fail to make, more people will be watching the progress of Munster, Ulster and quarter-finalists Connacht. As Ging points out, there is a national dimension which is ultimately more important. If Connacht exceed expectations and triumph, arguably, there is little reason to gripe about anything.

"We have the final of the European Cup in Lansdowne Road this year for the first time since Ulster won it in 1999," says Ging. "We had the final of the Celtic League last year in Lansdowne Road. Ask TG4 if they think it was worth it and I know what they will say."