LEINSTER FORWARDS COACH Jono Gibbes has refused to be drawn on whether Jonny Sexton or Ian Madigan will start in this weekend’s Amlin Challenge Cup game against Biarritz, saying: “I’m just glad it’s not my department.”
There is much debate over whether Leinster should opt for the in-form Madigan or the more established Sexton, and Gibbes admits it is a difficult decision.
“I think the trade-off for the team itself is that you’ve got two hungry guys in a key position,” he said.
“Jonny’s performance on Sunday was really good, really positive, so whoever plays in that position is going to have a big influence and I think the spin off for that is the other guy’s contribution, whichever role it is, will be massively beneficial for the team.”
As regards Leinster’s opponents, he feels they will prove to be a considerable challenge.
“I think they had a slow start to the year,” he said. “They didn’t quite get it together and I think that culminated in an away loss to Connacht, which proved to be the final straw for the coaching staff. They got cleaned out and I think after [in] the second half of the season, they have played a lot better rugby and not necessarily getting the result all the time but particularly playing a lot better.“If you look at the Bordeaux game. They lost 16-0 but actually played a hell of a lot better than that scoreline suggests. I think their table position is also a problem for us because beating us is their way back into the Heineken Cup next year.”
He also believes the fact that they rested players for their most recent league game proves that they are taking the match extremely seriously.
“I think you have to look at who they actually started in that game [against Bordeaux]. They left out a number of guys – keeping a few guys back for this week is their best strategy and even though it may have been a league game they targeted, the fact that they have rested guys shows that they are coming to the RDS this weekend all guns blazing.”
He also spoke about new signing, Zane Kirchner, and emphasised the qualities that he will bring to the side.
“I think adding a little bit more depth to our backs when we are affected by international duties. I think a guy that has played test football for South Africa will help and influence and support some of the other guys that are emerging. I think it’s a positive and I think his experience will complement some of the younger guys’ development and help when we have some of the international guys away and he is a big game player. I think that is a real positive for us.”
The coach consequently dismissed concerns that Kirchner was not quite the star name that people were expecting.“I think people are entitled to speculate and have an opinion. There is a lot of people that are very interested in Leinster, so it is a good thing that they are sitting around in their bar stools saying who is this guy and what is he up to. I think that is really good. I just think the research that has gone on into the recruiting… It is just not done flippantly. There is a lot of research and a lot of time going over available players and for us, Zane was a good fit.”
In addition, Gibbes also played down speculation that Leinster coach Joe Schmidt would be in some way distracted, given the talk of late about him possibly becoming the next Ireland coach.
“The situation is that he is the coach of Leinster right now. So that is his job – to have a big influence on who is coming in, and I don’t see that changing.”
