SEÁN CRONIN was always going to leave Connacht to progress his international career, so returning to the Sportsground on New Year’s Day as a Leinster player is not going to bother him unduly.

Still, he knows that former team-mates will be looking out for him.

“Yeah, it is tough. I played against them with Ireland when we had a warm-up game during the summer. You get that feeling that they are trying to get you a small bit, singling you out, but there was a good bit of banter afterwards.

“I know they are on a bit of a losing streak at the minute but form goes out of the window in these derby games. They will be targeting this game as a way to get their season back on track. From being in the Connacht changing room I know how hungry they are going to be.”

Swapping Galway for Dublin at this juncture in the 25-year-old’s career is a calculated risk, yet seemingly constant injury to Jerry Flannery leaves him well placed as Ireland’s back-up hooker behind Rory Best.

So long as he gets to play on a regular basis.

At the start of this season it appeared Richardt Strauss would remain ahead of him off the back of an electric 2010/11 showing in blue.

Considering Strauss qualifies for Ireland via residency next October, Cronin needed to show something.

It happened in Montpellier last month. With Leinster struggling against a gargantuan French pack, Joe Schmidt unleashed all five forward replacements. Cronin rumbled over for a fine individual try that helped his new team to a vital draw. It immediately proved he had an important role within the group.

The decision to move east should make him a better player for two reasons: competition with Strauss and the access to a greater coaching resources, namely two former All Blacks in Greg Feek and Jonno Gibbs.

Feek, a former prop, works on all aspects of a hooker’s play.

“Yeah, it is excellent, especially when he came on board with the Irish squad,” said Cronin. “It has been great to have a full-time scrum coach.

“I have learned a lot of things from him and tried to implement them. Even different areas around the pitch, he has been helping me with my throwing and breakdown work.

“My throwing has come on and I am happy with that. There is always stuff to be working on, especially with the coaching staff here under Joe.

“He is always looking for you to excel and be the best player you can be. There is no resting on your laurels.”

In what is more a debriefing session than preparation for the Six Nations, up to 25 members of Ireland’s World Cup squad gathered in Carton House in Kildare last night.

They will train and hold meetings today before breaking up tomorrow lunch time.

Only players involved in the World Cup squad who are not injured were called up, so Luke Fitzgerald, for example, is not involved despite a recent return to form.

An Ireland spokesman stated the gathering was not an indicator of the Six Nations squad, which will be announced after round five of the Heineken Cup on January 16th. That squad will gather on the Sunday night after round six, January 22nd.

Brian O’Driscoll is not involved as he is recuperating from shoulder/neck surgery.

The same applies to the Munster quartet of David Wallace, Jerry Flannery, Felix Jones and Denis Leamy, along with Ulster’s Paddy Wallace.