RUGBY: JOHNNY WATTERSONhears from the experienced Leinster wing how Joe Schmidt's squad is fully intent on reaching another Heineken Cup final

A HALF-sliding-off-his-chair Shane Horgan can’t quite remember his first Heineken Cup game but he graciously thanks the gathering at Riverview for reminding him. It was 85 European matches back since the 32-year-old winger began a Leinster career that has flowered again this season.

The team will be announced today but Horgan has been keeping the ambitious Fergus McFadden from the starting line -up for almost the entire campaign. The right wing did not start in Leinster’s first Pool win against Racing Metro last October but he has been an ever-present figure on the flank in all of the subsequent Heineken Cup matches including Leinster’s quarter-final win over Leicester. The irony is that McFadden’s pushing has probably had a hand in Horgan’s blossoming.

“I think it may have been Scarlets,” says the right wing defensively about his first Heineken Cup match. But as everything with this Leinster team the personal ebbing and flowing remain unimportant. Horgan’s value is how he is playing now and not about what experience he may or may not bring to Leinster’s cause on Saturday. Players like himself, Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy are the first to understand the misty days of a decade ago have little relevance to what they need against Guy Noves’ Toulouse team.

“From a back point of view there has been a lot of innovation this year,” he says about coach Joe Schmidt’s fresh input. Totally compromised as Schmidt is sitting right beside him, Horgan’s answer, given the way the team has been performing, has a ring of truth.

“I think that he’s certainly put a lot of pressure on everyone whether you are a young player coming in or an established guy who has been there for a few years. There are high expectations on everyone.

“A couple of things have made the difference. One is the hunger and work rate. The idea of always being ready to attack and to take on your opposite number is there. That coupled with animation when you are not actually on the ball . . . I think that’s something I found this year, that there has been an emphasis on making a contribution if you are not actually on the ball. You can contribute to the team by the work you do off the ball, maybe to make space.”

Horgan has also been keeping his strike rate high and, as much as he pushes the line of feeding off the creative work of others in the team, his 37 tries in 85 Heineken Cup games makes him good for at least a try for every three outings. His career scoring is also in that league with 70 tries in 203 matches, although he has just one Heineken Cup try in this campaign so far.

“The ethos of the team is to really get out and get scores and as a winger I think you tend to be on the end of it,” he says. “You get the benefit of that ethos. There is a very strong focus in trying to get the try and when you are a winger you tend to get the end of a lot of those moves. I’m certainly very lucky in that regard.”

Small margins was the go-to phrase yesterday. The key to success is to win the margins. Toulouse know Leinster, Leinster know Toulouse. Their rivalry at the top of European rugby over the years has made them respectful adversaries. But they know how each other play. Under Schmidt new dynamics and different attitudes have been encouraged. These things Toulouse may not know as intimately as the broad style of the team and the players

“When you taste success you want to replicate it and you can really sense the same sense of desire this year that was around for our Heineken Cup-winning year. The guys are willing to do anything to achieve that, especially having a trophy-less season last year – that really hurt.

“We were in the same position last year as we are now and ended up with no trophies and that’s something that is in the back of everyone’s mind as well. The season has gone quite well so far but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do it at the business end and that is everyone’s focus now.”

The feeling is that the wind may be behind them. But Horgan has been here before and cautious optimism is the guiding light.

“Games turn on one or two moments,” he says. “They are bringing a new challenge and we are a different side from last year.”

“We were in the same position last year as we are now and ended up with no trophies and that’s something that is in the back of everyone’s mind as well. The season has gone quite well so far but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do it at the business end and that is everyone’s focus now