Leinster: top of the pile and still a work in progress
Seb Of By Photo Action Daly/sportsfile In Leinster Threat: Frawley Ciarán Munster Against
Four URC rounds gone and Leinster sit top of the pile with four wins and four try-scoring bonus points for a maximum haul of 20 points. Glasgow have actually scored more points and more tries, but the Irish province is clearly responding positively to the promptings of their new attack coach.
Interesting, then, to listen to Tyler Bleyendaal on a Monday afternoon, less than 48 hours after they claimed a comfortable win against Munster in front of almost 81,000 people at Croke Park, and come away with the impression of a project very much still in its infancy.
In fairness, the man has only been back in Ireland a wet week.
“We’re working out as a coaching staff how to really integrate with each other’s expertise and areas of the game, I guess. From how we kick, to how we counter, to defence, to getting the ball back, all that kind of cycle, then the setpiece and whatnot.
“So definitely a work in progress. We need to have patience. It’s not going to be immediate, but the players have been great, they’ve a good attitude. They’re challenging themselves. It’s not exactly status quo, comfort zone stuff. It’s been enjoyable.”
The former Munster out-half has been impressed by the diligence and curiosity in the building at Leinster’s UCD headquarters, and enjoyed the job of finding a wavelength that suits both him as attack coach and Jacques Nienaber on the defensive side of the house.
The South African only arrived in Dublin eleven months ago but quickly set his stall out by stating that it would take 14 weeks to embed his blitz system. Attack is a more complicated job of work. So how long does Bleyendaal see this installation phase continuing?
“The thing that might take time is changing or diverting away from what has been happening for a long time, a guy’s habits. Things went a certain way for a certain reason. If my view or our view is slightly different, and we’re trying to re-train that, it can take time.
“The structures and patterns are picked up quick. They’re excited about attacking with the ball in hand. We’re also kicking well to space. Getting them to see space and the balance between structured and unstructured play. Because if you play Munster, there isn’t a lot of structure.”
Bleyendaal and Leo Cullen have gone on record to say that they are still undecided as to the pecking order at No.10, but they had the unusual luxury of seeing all their candidates in the role bank game time in the course of the last week.
Sam Prendergast started at out-half for the third time on Emerging Ireland’s tour to South Africa, Ross and Harry Byrne came off the bench against Munster, and Ciaran Frawley got to start in the pivot position for that victory at GAA HQ.
“I thought he went well,” Bleyendaal said of Frawley’s display. “We had periods when we were under pressure, but we also scored points. I think Frawls is a good threat himself and it’s a real balance.
“You’ve got to be your own threat, you’ve got to make your own plays as a 10, but you’ve also got to make everyone around you better players. And he’s doing a good job at the moment; kicking, direction, ball in hand. So, he had a pretty good outing.”
Prendergast is back in Leinster blue as of this week and, according to Bleyendaal, in the mix for some role away to Connacht this Saturday but the Kiwi coach admits that this level of competition is one that can have its pros and cons.
“So it's a balancing act. It's tough. Like, there's four professionals with good intent and want to play in the big matches, and there's a lot of youth coming through and putting more pressure on, so it's really great.
“But at times it's probably not great for the players who are not playing, or it's challenging to keep the motivation or the energy levels high. But then when they get the chance they're also very professional and diligent, they want to get the job done.”
Their work in Galway in Saturday may be aided for the first time this season by Robbie Henshaw who is training again this week after an unspecified injury. That’s the good news. There are no shortage of knocks elsewhere.
Hooker Lee Barron may or may not be good to go after suffering ankle damage against Munster: not ideal with Dan Sheehan out, and on the back of news on Monday that Rónan Kelleher’s ankle issue required surgery. He will miss 4-6 weeks.
Ryan Baird is following graduated return to play protocols after a HIA at the weekend, Jordan Larmour will be further assessed during the week. Jack Conan and Joe McCarthy are both out with hamstring injuries.