The hope persists that somehow Leinster can re-invoke the spirit of Donnybrook two seasons ago, when the province probably had their finest hour in beating Leicester. A measure of the European Cup task ahead is that with only the best two of six group runners-up advancing, tonight's televised game is almost a must-win game if progress to the knock-out stages is to be made.
A fresh challenge brings with it fresh hope that Leinster can leave their uninspiring interpro form behind. That their own infusion of seven internationals can rise to the occasion against Leicester's galaxy of stars, and that with an improved scrum, Leinster can at last unveil some of their undoubted attacking weaponry in their youthful back-line.
Alas, there is of course a flip side to all of this: forewarned will surely be a case of forearmed for Leicester. Inspired as the Kurt McQuilkin-led Leinster were that night, Leicester played into home hands, and especially McQuilkin's where the Kiwi rolled back the years with a vintage defensive performance.
"I watched it on tape a couple of days ago and thought how did we lose this game?" admitted Leicester legend and coach Dean Richards.
"A lot of sides come over to Ireland with all the stars but at the end of the day we couldn't match the Leinster boys for the intensity and passion they played with. Unless we match them for intensity and passion, we'll struggle."
Aside from the more pragmatic Richards replacing Bob Dwyer, another difference between now and then is that Leinster have simply not been in good form. Unsuccessful ventures into the transfer market, individuals being off-colour and injuries have disrupted an unsettled and unproven side. Taking into account the latter stages of last season, Leinster have won only four of their last 13 games, two of which were against Connacht and, last Friday, against an under-strength Ulster.
Nor is Donnybrook a citadel akin to Ravenhill or Thomond Park. In their last nine outings at Donnybrook, Leinster have lost six of them. By contrast, predictions of Leicester's domestic demise in light of the World Cupdemands proved exaggerated, and with just one defeat in seven games. Their internationals are now back in harness, and Graham Rowntree replacing Darren Garforth is the only change from the side which beat Wasps 28-9, keeping their number of starting internationals at ten.
Then again, as Martin Johnson recalls, Leicester had been warned before, with a flattering 27-10 win at Lansdowne Road three seasons ago. "Even when we won in '96, it was a game we could easily have lost. We've got no illusions about how good Leinster are. It's going to be a very tough game for us."
A little ominously, they sound like men on a mission, and aware of the pitfalls. Another source of concern is that so much of Leinster's initial spadework revolves around Victor Costello. Here again, one recalls how England read Ireland like a book and stopped Big Vic at source last season.
LEINSTER'S POOL A CLASHES: Fri Nov 19th v Leicester, Donnybrook, 7.30. Fri Nov 26th v Glasgow Caledonians, Glasgow, 7.30. Sun Dec 12th v Stade Francais, Paris, 3.0. Fri Dec 17th v Stade Francais, Donnybrook, 5.30. Fri Jan 7th v Glasgow Caledonians, Donnybrook, 6.30. Sat Jan 15th v Leicester, Welford Road, 3.0.
The Teams
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, P McKenna; M McHugh, D Hegarty; E Byrne, S Byrne, G Halpin, R Casey, M O'Kelly, D O'Brien, V Costello, L Toland (capt). Replacements - R Corrigan, P Smyth, T Brennan, L Cullen, S Forster, G D'Arcy, E Farrell.
LEICESTER: T Stimpson; G Murphy, W Greenwood, P Howard, D Lougheed; A Goode, J Grindal; D Jelley, D West, G Rowntree, M Johnson (capt), J Welborn, P Gustard, M Corry, N Back. Replacements - C Joiner, J Hamilton, A Balding, B Kay, P Freshwater, W Johnson, K Fourie.
Referee: J Jutge (France).
Previous meetings: (1996-97) Leinster 10 Leicester 27. (1997-98) Leinster 16 Leicester 9; Leicester 47 Leinster 22.
Betting: (Handicap Leinster +8pts) 5/6 Leinster, 16/1 Draw, 5/6 Leicester.
