 Leinster beat Leicester 16-19 to win the Heineken Cup on Saturday
By Bryn Palmer
BBC Sport at Murrayfield |
 Leinster coach Michael Cheika has backed Brian O'Driscoll to continue his phenomenal year by inspiring the Lions to victory in South Africa. The Ireland captain suffered a nerve problem in his shoulder 15 minutes from the end of Saturday's Heineken Cup final win over Leicester. But Cheika said: "He knows how to manage himself. He just needs to be primed for games. "Brian is a talismanic presence and I think he'll cause trouble down there." Cheika insisted there was no question of removing O'Driscoll from the fray at such a vital stage at Murrayfield, even though he had lost some power in his shoulder joint.  | 606: DEBATE |
O'Driscoll merely ushered Luke Fitzgerald into his outside centre role for the next five minutes while he stationed himself on the left wing. "He just knew he needed a few minutes on the sidelines but there was no way he was coming off in that game," Cheika added. "I would probably have got the (Cristiano) Ronaldo treatment if I had brought him off! He was always going to stay there until the end." The Manchester United winger engaged in a lengthy bout of head-shaking and posturing on the bench recently when Sir Alex Ferguson substituted him after an hour against Manchester City to keep him fresh for a midweek game at Wigan. While O'Driscoll admits he will have to monitor the state of his shoulder in South Africa, he and fellow squad members Rob Kearney, Fitzgerald, and Jamie Heaslip will join the Lions squad leaving later on Sunday in high spirits. "The three young guys - Jamie, Rob and Luke - have all had great seasons and it is a great opportunity for them," said Leinster captain Leo Cullen, who led the rest of his team back to Ireland on Sunday for a party at their Royal Dublin Showground home.  Leinster captain Leo Cullen is another admirer of O'Driscoll's talents |
"Brian is the talisman of our team and has been for so many years. I presume the Lions will look to him now in a similar role. He has such a presence about him. "He has been a phenomenal player for Leinster over the years and is getting the rewards for the standards he has set over such a long period of time." After three times failing at the semi-final stage, Leinster seized the opportunity of their first final to become the ninth different winners of the Heineken Cup in the 14th year of the competition. While Brive, Bath, Ulster and Northampton have also tasted European glory, Cheika believes his side will be motivated to join provincial rivals Munster (two-time champions), Toulouse (three), Leicester (two) and Wasps (two) as multiple winners. "That goal is definitely there," he added. "There is a big four in Europe of Munster, Leicester, Toulouse and Wasps. We have still got to earn a place in that group." Having shedded their nearly-men image and added the Heineken title to last year's Magners League crown, Cullen - who returned to Dublin last season after two years at Leicester - believes their Murrayfield triumph can be a springboard for more success. | BLOG |
"When I went to England four years ago I think Leinster were in a bit of disarray," he added. "But when 'Cheiks' came in, he installed a bit more of a work ethic and edge, and we have slowly built that over the last few years. "The organisation is on a different level to what it was before he came in, the level of performance has grown and hopefully this will be a stepping stone for us to go on and be successful for many years to come. "We want to have that level of consistency to perform on an annual basis. Leicester have done it for a number of years. "They have had a really tough season with 36 games and a phenomenal run lately but they are great competitors. They will be back again."
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