LEINSTER’S FRONT ROW returned to training a day early this week in an attempt to address the issues which saw their scrum capitulate in the face of Bath’s aggression at the weekend.
Bath’s dominance of the set-piece provided the platform for their Champions Cup victory at the Rec with 16 of their points, including a penalty try, stemming from the scrum.
Scrum coach John Fogarty yesterday admitted the eastern province were bullied and it simply wasn’t good enough but said every effort has been made to rectify the problem.
He revealed the players were upset and even angry at the manner of their implosion as Bath dictated proceedings from the off.
And Sean Cronin says the front row convened in Leinster HQ after arriving back in Dublin on Sunday to figure out what led to their downfall.
“We’ve had easier Sundays even,” he said. “A few of us came in on Sunday. The front row met to address some of the issues which went on at the weekend so it’s a tough week, a tough couple of weeks.
“The guys who were involved on Saturday came in to address what went on in terms of our front row and our application and what we need to do this week. To get a head start and make the improvement there.
“I was part and parcel of it. Things didn’t go well and the most disappointing area was we didn’t give the rest of our team-mates the platform to play off and 16 points we gave away at the scrum and that just isn’t good enough.
“People can harp on about internationals across the board, yeah we do have that, and we’re the first people to stick our hands up and say it wasn’t good enough.”
George Ford’s late penalty inflicted a second straight reversal on the three-time European champions, leaving Leo Cullen’s side facing the reality of an early elimination.
Leinster have left themselves with an uphill struggle to advance from Pool 5 but Cronin insists there is enough confidence in the squad to turn their fortunes around.
“We need to get our stuff together and that’s why we came in early on Sunday to address it,” he continued. “Going into this week, against an another quality scrum.
“There is a level of confidence there as we know the quality in the squad so fully focused on a massive derby game on Friday and the big games are coming thick and fast so we don’t have too much time to feel sorry for ourselves.
“It was a bad start and going forward from there we struggled, and we lacked a bit of confidence from that but we haven’t turned into a bad scrum overnight. Problem solving on the pitch is another area we need to improve on. Keep on the side of the ref.”
Focus has already turned to Friday’s Pro12 clash against Ulster at the RDS and Cronin is fully aware the visitors will arrive smelling blood.
“They’re going to look to target us, we’re licking our wounds a small bit,” the Ireland international continued. “I’ve no doubt they’re going to come at us in that area.
“We met earlier in the week, sat down, gone through it and we’ve come up with something that hopefully will work on Friday night against a top quality scrum with Rory [Best] leading them.
“We have the confidence because we know we have the quality, we just have to refocus the minds now, we ‘ve had a tough block of European games and we just need to focus on the Pro12 and lads are bursting out of their skin to get back and try and play well again on Friday and these derby days bring out the best sometimes.”
“It’s going to be a big challenge, that’s what we’re in the business for.”
Sean Cronin was speaking at the launch of ‘Rugby Memories’, a new initiative with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, who are one of two charity partners to Leinster Rugby this season.
It’s no coincidence that among the standout players this season are players returning from the UK – Mandriou, Byrne and Parkhouse.
The league can continue to nurture and produce talent going forward. It’s not a flash in the pan.
It has its problems but talented young footballers is not one of them.
With all due respect the chap is a Northern Irish player … what is the relevance or point of the article. No disrespect to him but he isn’t ours he is an NI player.
@DB: I presume this is an all island app. It covers lots of stuff from across the border. He plays for Derry city which is situated across the border but plays in the league of Ireland. Don’t be getting too worried about it
@DB: because he plays in the LOI and is as Irish as you.
@Baz Harkin: while I don’t agree with the initial post, I don’t agree with your retort. He plays for Northern Ireland. He has the option to play for Ireland which he has not exercised. He is not as Irish as someone who would exercise that option if they had the opportunity.
@Baz Harkin: Not that I agree but the courts ruled recently that those born in the North of this country are indeed British citizens and not Irish.
@Padraig Corcoran: if you don’t agree then why post it? That decision is wrong and will be challenged. As it says inside the Irish passport and written and agreed on in the good Friday agreement anyone born on the island of Ireland is Irish.
@EnKy: he’s played for the north up to under 21 level same as James McClean and Shane Duffy does that mean they aren’t ‘Irish’ either? . So by your logic is Eoin Morgan Irish or English?
@EnKy: also look at our under 21 side it’s full of great attacking options he’s probably looked at that and decided he would stand a far better chance getting international experience playing for the north.
@Baz Harkin: Surely I can bring up something I might disagree with in principle but can still be used to make a point.
@Baz Harkin: What a way to exercise one’s patriotism…
@EnKy: what’s more patriotic than denying a young man his identity based solely on which under age football team he represents
@EnKy: What a mad post. Are you suggesting that playing for Northern Ireland means you don’t have the right to Irish identity? Is Irishness only afforded to those from the south? Or those from the north who are good enough at football to represent the south?
What’s his nationality then – is he British? Or northern Irish? Do you therefore call yourself southern Irish or just Irish?
What’s paddy McCourt’s nationality?
I’ve resigned myself to the post Celtic tiger generation knowing and caring little about the north, but to have to listen to people claim we’re not Irish because we might represent the jurisdiction created by you lot selling us down the river is hard to take
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: well said!!
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: offence was not meant. Northern Ireland is Ireland all 32 counties are Ireland . But anyone who thinks that NI football team represents or wants anything Irish has never been to Windsor park match day never seen the Para or paramilitary flags or never heard the anti Fenian chants. The football team play god save the queen as their anthem.This is their right but that’s all I meant Btw The james Mc Cleans of this world have put up with more abuse because of their Irish nationalism and I have nothing but admiration for them. Anton rogan Neil Lennon booed and death threats because of their religion is the history of IFA supporters
@DB: so would you regard Neil Lennon as Irish seeing as he played for NI
@Eamonn O Connell: yes 100% absolutely of course. But wish he had played for Republic.
Its a pity people can’t take the article for what it is without going all geo political on it, I hope the young lad does well at whatever level or whichever country he plays for