Interview / Shane Jennings: Gavin Cummiskey finds the Leicester backrow following in the footsteps, and thriving on the tutelage, of  Neil Back

When last we visited Shane Jennings he was only finding his bearings at Leicester. Rooming with another Leinster expatriate, Leo Cullen, he was still just another number on a training field of established pros - following a career path previously charted by Keith Wood, Geordan Murphy and more recently Johnny O'Connor, Jennings's rival for international honours.

Here's an update on his status in the non-stop world of English rugby.

The former St Mary's College tearaway plays his first European Cup quarter-final just after midday tomorrow against Bath at a packed Walkers Stadium. Live on Sky Sports. Exactly where he wants to be.

He was overlooked at this stage of the competition last season when Leinster restored a fit-again Keith Gleeson - before succumbing to the Tigers. The story had just broken about Jennings's imminent departure. Neil Back ran amok that day at Lansdowne Road in one of his last professional outings. Word has it Back handpicked Jennings to inherit his openside throne at Welford Road.

Back now heads the Leicester Academy and is the club's defensive coach, so Jennings has an ideal mentor in the art of number-seven play.

"We have him (Back) for defensive sessions during the week," says Jennings. "After games if I want a bit of clarity with what I'm doing or I need a couple of hints or if I should do things differently, I just give him my video and he'll give me some guidelines."

Jennings has staved off several challenges to the regular backrow slot alongside England captain Martin Corry and Lewis Moody. He shares the grafting duties with Moody but regularly wears six on his back.

"I'm picked as a seven each week but we kind of swap roles. Like in lineouts I work defensively as a six and Moody goes off the back. We work well together. We kind of do each other's jobs a bit."

With Gleeson, O'Connor and the current incumbent at number seven, David Wallace, involved in, or close to, the Ireland Six Nations squad, Jennings's position in the pecking order was finally recognised this season by A caps, against France and England.

An insight into the 25-year-old's character and intent can be gleaned from what he took from the games in Limoges and Gloucester.

"It was obviously great to be involved but down in France we didn't do ourselves justice at all. We played pretty crap. A lot of us were very annoyed because it was a good scalp if we had of got it.

"The main thing that was said when we were in the Ireland A camp is it makes such a difference when you win as it puts a bit of pressure on. We did nothing really that weekend in France.

"But then in England we knew what we wanted to do. Obviously playing against England, you relish those opportunities. Plus fellas want to stake a claim for the summer and the Churchill Cup or maybe go on the senior tour. It was a nice feeling to beat them alright."

The question pops up if he ribbed Leicester's English contingent after the Triple Crown clincher at Twickenham.

"I had nothing to do with Twickenham so it was none of my business to say anything. Ah no, I think everyone was just keen to get back. We hadn't been going well during the league so everyone is focusing on us getting back up that table again. When they are back in Leicester it becomes the main priority."

Having already broken even (at least) against O'Connor when Leicester played Wasps this season, Jennings gets another chance tomorrow to press his improved credentials for full international honours.

"It's obviously very frustrating when you want to be somewhere but it's just up to you to impress when opportunities arise like Ireland A or getting called into camps, because you don't get that many chances. Hopefully they realise I might have played well, or not, but it's up to me to keep knocking at the door.

"People around European rugby realise Leicester is a good club. I'm sure the Irish management are happy we are coming through at a big club because obviously we are learning a lot."

Such is the intensity of competition at Leicester that Cullen - no longer a flatmate but still a neighbour of Jennings - is struggling to dislodge Louis Deacon and Ben Kay from the engine room. He is on the bench against Bath.

Two other Irish squad members, Ian Humphreys and Johnny Murphy, are also struggling to make headway. The former Leinster hooker Gavin Hickie will make six Irish Tigers this summer.

"You are obviously out of your comfort zone over here," says Jennings. "You have to prove yourself every day in training and every week until you get the respect of the group and can ease off a bit. I wouldn't consider myself well known over here at all. If I get picked I've got to prove myself."

The first season of what seems destined to be a fruitful Tigers career is drawing to a close. His contract only runs another year but unlike those who hold the purse strings in Ireland, the English giants know when they have landed a valuable commodity.

It will prove extremely difficult to entice him home. Unless of course it is to run out at Croke Park.