Focus on LeinsterIn Ravenhill last Friday night the Leinster forwards demonstrated that they will no longer accept being viewed as an underachieving appendage to a celebrated back line.

As a pack they dominated most facets of the Magners Celtic League game against Ulster, and what will have greatly pleased coach Michael Cheika were the inroads made in carrying ball and the set-piece solidity.

Given the rain and greasy surface it was an intelligent game plan but one that in the past they might have struggled to put into effect.

The match result, a 16-16 draw, was, however, less satisfying than the performance, and that still rankles with Shane Jennings, as he explained.

"We're very frustrated and annoyed with the way we have been playing recently," said the openside flanker.

"It's been pretty appalling really. As a group of players we know we didn't want to have a repeat of Glasgow or a repeat of Llanelli; that's very embarrassing to be a part of and we're certainly not happy with the way things went in Ulster. We felt we deserved more than we got but it shows that you can't play for just 50 minutes.

"We took our foot off the pedal. Ulster are a quality side and play with a lot of pride at home, and they lifted their game to get the draw. The group of players realise the way we played against Glasgow, Llanelli and the last 20 against Ulster isn't good enough. If we do that again against Connacht this week then we will get our noses put in it again.

"It's just a matter of us growing up as a team and copping on. It's not Checks (Cheika) or Mike Brewer or David Knox that can sort it out; it's the players."

Brian Blaney sounded a more philosophical noted. "I suppose if you look at it in the context of the two draws that we have had at Ravenhill in our last two visits there, it highlights different feelings," said the hooker.

"Last year we were delighted with the 6-6 result because we produced one of our best performances in the second half and it was one of my favourite games of the season. This time we were 13-nil up and (David) Humphreys comes on.

"In the first half Leinster played the best rugby they've managed this season with pick-and-go; the forward pack was unbelievable, especially Ollie (le Roux). Humphreys had obviously been watching the game very closely and knew exactly what to do. All credit to him but we should have won the game on the basis of the first half."

While the result was frustrating Blaney does concede the progress from last season is appreciable.

"I think it's down to experience, people getting older. We've been doing a lot of work with Mike Brewer and Michael Cheika, concentrating on . . . scrum, lineout, rucking and picking and going . . . which is obviously paying dividends."

On Friday night Leinster face Connacht, who have proved notoriously troublesome in the past.

Blaney is conscious that with 15,000 match tickets sold, Leinster need to regain a little credit with their supporters after a heavy defeat by Llanelli in their last game at the RDS.

"We owe the fans one. It was very disappointing, one of those games that went pear-shaped. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. We had two sinbins . . . leaving us with seven players in the scrum and that meant us losing our own ball. The support has been excellent and we're aware of the fact we let them down."

On a personal level he accepts that only a loss of form or injury will see him supplant the consistently excellent Bernard Jackman any time soon. But it is a new arrival that has captured Blaney's attention.

"Ollie (le Roux) has made a big difference, particularly in the scrum. Against Brian Young he taught him manners, you could say. It's his whole technique. If you watch how he goes into a scrum and shifts his whole body and uses his hips - obviously 130 kilos is going to help but he knows exactly how to use it.

"You put your weight on him to strike the ball, so to have a dominant loosehead is a huge help for the hooker. It's great to have him in that position because it makes it easier to strike so you can get quicker, cleaner ball to the number eight. It has a knock-on effect in that it guarantees quicker ball for the backs."

The report card is improving.