When it comes to Leinster rugby, passions run high and everyone has an opinion. But Michael Cheika discovered yesterday that, at least on the first date, the Irish media are willing to hold fire.
The affable Australian - flanked by returning team manager Paul McNaughton and chief executive Mick Dawson - gave his introductory press conference yesterday in advance of tomorrow's pre-season friendly against Northampton Saints.
McNaughton and Dawson cleared up housekeeping matters like the RDS playing surface, which will be tested against Cardiff in the Celtic League the week before the first Heineken European Cup match against Bath on October 22nd.
McNaughton also stressed that players who left during the summer did so because, in the case of David Quinlan (returning tomorrow night with Northampton) and Aidan McCullen, they could not nail down a starting berth or the IRFU let them go.
"There are two or three different elements to this so-called exodus," explained McNaughton. "There was a positive decision by the previous coaches about freshening up the squad and there were five or six or seven players released from their contracts. That happens all the time in professional rugby.
"There were a couple of others which were not under the control of Leinster. Two players were well-known, Leo Cullen and Shane Byrne, and they are national players and all negotiations for national players are negotiated by the IRFU and national team management.
"We are not happy that we lost those players but we don't have much control over it. That is one of the downsides but there are plenty of upsides of centralised contracting.
"It's a bit ironic that those two players are lost to Leinster but actually not lost to Ireland because they will be brought back, or can be, to play for Ireland."
Dawson confirmed the four provincial CEOs would have a greater input in future contractual negotiations of international players. McNaughton added there was increased dialogue between the Irish and provincial managements regarding player availability during international pre-season to avoid the conflict that arose last year.
Cheika looked completely unperturbed during all this. He and his assistant, David Knox, are here to ensure Leinster play power rugby. Forget about structure - the new buzz word is awareness.
"We have to merge the style we bring to the table with what the players here have in their arsenal already. So, it's a combination and that's how the team finds its unique balance.
"We come from an attacking background of football. Okay? They say behind every good attacking game is a good kicking game so what we are looking at is to be totally comprehensive in our coverage. We have to react according to the teams we are playing.
"We got to be very, I suppose, schizophrenic sometimes, where we can play an attacking style of play when the scenario requires it. If you were to sum it up in one word it would be a power game."
No deals have been secured yet on signing new players but Cheika expects to have another two arrivals in the coming weeks. In the friendly against Parma last week the up-and-coming talent in the province got some early exposure, Jamie Heaslip and Robert Kearney being the two tipped to make the breakthrough this season.
Pre-season ends tomorrow night. The first competitive test comes next week with the opening Celtic League outing, against last season's champions, the Neath-Swansea Ospreys, away and without any Lions tourists, who don't come back for at least another month. In the case of Brian O'Driscoll any time before Christmas would be a bonus.
LEINSTER SQUAD: Forwards (20): E Byrne, W Green, R Corrigan, J Wickham, R McCormack, K Taite, D Blaney, B Blaney, B Jackman, C Geoghegan, A Byrnes, B Gissing, N Ronan, J Heaslip, E Miller, C Potts, K Gleeson, S Bradshaw, R Connolly, S Crawford. Backs (15): G Easterby, B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, C Warner, D McAllister, F Contepomi, E Hickey, J Norton, G Brown, B Burke, R Kearney, R McCarron, G Stafford, G Dempsey.
