Celtic League: Passion. Munster a super-endowed irresistible force, Leinster positively anaemic in comparison is the hoary old chestnut that's thrust forward every time the latter come up short against their arch rivals.

Last Sunday in Cork, Leinster were thumped on the pitch and flogged off it for their failure to match, never mind douse, Munster's fire-and-brimstone approach. It is a theory that does a disservice to both teams.

When that seven-letter word was dangled before Leinster coach Michael Cheika he didn't try to mask his annoyance. "I think Munster played very well and beat us . . . They outplayed us. It sort of seems it's the impression (a lack of passion) everyone wants to have (of Leinster) and if they want to have it so be it. I know my team and I believe in my players. If everyone wants to think that about us (like that), let 'em. I don't really care. We'll do what we have to do.

"I'm not going to buy into that discussion. We're confident in the way we approach football. We are confident in our planning and where we want to go for this year and in the future. I have said to the players after the (Munster) match everyone is going to say that thing (about the lack of Leinster passion). Let 'em."

Team manager Paul McNaughton, on the same vexed topic, said: "This thing about passion comes up, always after a defeat. Last year the team went through six European games unbeaten and there was no talk about a lack of passion."

The response from the players has been unequivocal, manifest in a very competitive training session on Tuesday where lumps and bumps were dished out. There was also a frank exchange of views at a team meeting.

The process has now moved on with the province looking to Saturday's Celtic League clash with Cardiff at the RDS, Leinster's first game at a venue where they play their home matches in the Heineken European Cup. The team will train in the venue for the first time today.

Cheika admitted the last few days have been tough and offered this closure on the defeat. "My initial reflection on losing is that no one likes it and you don't get that opportunity again (to beat Munster away) this season. We just made too many mistakes . . . We gave away 20 points unnecessarily, through mistakes. Mistakes led to points, direct translation. They didn't even have to go through phases.

"You just can't do that against good outfits. When we go from a match we do reviews where we pick out the points we want to fix or repair from that match. From this (Munster) match our breakdown play was an area we need to get a handle on and be more effective. Our defensive line speed was a bit off at the weekend. We soaked up a bit too much of them running at us. Also our handling; we let the ball hit the ground far too many times.

"I thought their backrow was outstanding. They were probably the difference in the game. They controlled the park very well and that's a credit to them. My backrow know that."

Cheika spent Monday watching his A team beat Cambridge and singled out a couple of players for praise. "Gary Brown was outstanding. He took his opportunity. The young lad from the academy Kevin McLaughlin played very well. Cillian Willis, the young halfback also had a good game. We are always keeping our options open for the development of our players.

"One thing that's important to me is that we are not looking for stopgaps, we're looking at consistent development. We know the positions we have to work a bit harder on to be a bit better at and have a bit more depth."

Malcolm O'Kelly has been added to the Leinster squad for the first time this season but whether he'd make the match 22 at this stage of his rehabilitation is questionable. He needs to if he's to contend for a place against Bath in the province's opening European Cup tie the following weekend at the same venue.

It's one thing reacting positively in training, quite another to ramp it up on the pitch: that's what Leinster are charged with doing this weekend. New venue, new start.

LEINSTER SQUAD: B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, C Warner, F Contepomi, E Hickey, K Lewis, S Horgan, R Kearney, D Hickie, B Burke, G Brown, G D'Arcy, G Dempsey, R Corrigan, R McCormack, W Green, E Byrne, B Jackman, D Blaney, M O'Kelly, B Williams, B Gissing, D Dillon, S Crawford, C Potts, K Gleeson, N Ronan, E Miller, J Heaslip.