European Cup:The Leinster coach knows that this year a province expects, writes Gerry Thornley
It is a measure of the extraordinary turnover and change in personnel at Leinster that there are only 11 players from the squad Michael Cheika inherited still with the province in this, his third season at the helm.
Though the core of the team remains, the head coach is sure the squad is stronger.
"There's no doubt about it," he says. "But just because you have a stronger squad doesn't mean you're going to play better; you've still got to perform."
Nonetheless, he welcomes the increased options - notably with the arrival of Ollie le Roux, Stephen Knoop (likely to be missing this weekend), Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings - in the three pods of his pack.
"We're a better, more mature squad all round," he adds.
Thus far he has used 34 players in six Magners Celtic League matches, and Felipe Contepomi will become the 35th on Saturday when Leinster host Leicester at the RDS in a game that already has a must-win feel to it.
In truth, the World Cup hasn't been especially disruptive to Leinster's forward play especially, the non-inclusion of Jamie Heaslip, Keith Gleeson and Luke Fitzgerald being a blessing in disguise, as might be the eagerness to atone for that disappointment among Malcolm O'Kelly, Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey.
"They were low in confidence but I found the issue of their coming back to be pretty seamless really," says Cheika. "These guys have matured as footballers and they understand it's about performance. It didn't go well for them but that's life. You can't cry about it."
And however low their confidence might have been, Contepomi's post-World Cup euphoria must make his enthusiasm more infectious than ever, albeit with the difficulties in reverting from inside centre to outhalf.
"In the first few days in training his performance level seemed to step up with each passing day, and the difference he makes to us in terms of the way he runs the game is huge," says Cheika.
"Obviously there may be a couple of teething problems early on, but the guy is full of talent and energy. I was originally planning on playing him in one of the (last two) weeks, but I think he's energised by spending a few days with his family for his brother's wedding. It was forced upon us but I think it was the best thing we could have done."
The form of Le Roux has been an unexpected boon too, Cheika admits:. "It's just his first two games and you've got to analyse this over the season but what he has done is bring a real confidence to our pack."
It's a confidence - in Leinster's ability to hold up their scrum, secure good setpiece ball and get on the front foot - that has not been there in some time.
Looking at the stars available to their pool rivals Leicester and Toulouse, both of whom could have a bench of internationals and a few more in the stands, Cheika notes, "We haven't a bad team ourselves. It's a balance of having a look at Leicester and seeing what they can do, but then look at ourselves and focus on what we can do and our own style."
He had Toulouse's handsome win over Stade Français last weekend in mind but, to a large degree, it doesn't pay to look too deeply into a group that includes the three-time French winners of the tournament, the two-time winners from Leicester, and Edinburgh, something of a bogey side for Leinster. Indeed, in 16 European Cup meetings with this threesome, Leinster have won six and lost nine, having an inferior record against all three.
Curiously, Leinster's formline this season is identical to Munster's: W, W, L, L, D, W. Cheika concedes his young side came off such a high from their 30-19 win away to Cardiff they underperformed in the slightly freakish 52-23 home thrashing by Llanelli.
"I blame myself a little bit for not keeping the mentality on for the week after," he says with characteristic honesty.
"Losing Whitaker for that game - who's an integral organiser of the team - was a big, big blow for us. They are a very good team, they play a good brand of footy, they got on top of us that day and we fell apart. Our discipline let us down and we got hammered, and it taught us a very big lesson, I can tell you now."
To put it in context, it is Leinster's only home defeat in 23 matches in all competitions, and considering their away form last season Cheika has been moderately encouraged by their form on the road this season. After that bonus-point win in Cardiff, they were denied wins in Glasgow (with a callow team) and Ulster only by last-ditch scores.
"We'd have liked a few more games together but the same is true of all sides," says Cheika. "Because we play a more patterned type of attacking play we've had to simplify our game in the first few weeks and cut out a few of the plays we normally do.
"But it's not looking for an excuse in advance. We've got to be prepared for one of the best teams in Europe coming down here. It's going to be awesome."
A re-enthused Contepomi and O'Driscoll have been instrumental in devising a game plan for Saturday, Cheika also detecting the 30-year-old Puma looks even stronger mentally for his World Cup experience.
"We're in a tough pool and no-one wants to qualify more than me," he says. "I'm not going to hide from saying that's what we want to do, because that's being a coward. In year one, we caught people on the hop and in year two people got a hold of us a bit, but this year it's about fulfilling our potential. We've got our plans for the future but we want to fulfil our potential this year, because then you're going to get your results."
