Six Nations:Michael Cheika yesterday kept on his poker face at Leinster's training gym at Riverview. The Australian coach is usually a knockabout guy and laces his weekly press conferences on the more serious isues of Leinster rugby with some humour. But the Irish squad selected by Eddie O'Sulivan for this season's starting Six Nations Championship match did not contain two players, Shane Jennings and Keith Gleeson, who Cheika believes have been playing some of the best rugby of their careers.
Jennings, who came back from Leicester over the summer, and Gleeson, who was O'Sulivan's openside flanker of choice prior to David Wallace, could both be forgiven for feeling acute disappointment at being overlooked, essentially for the also in-form Johnny O'Connor.
The two have been contesting the number seven jersey in Leinster week-in week-out, with Jennings ocasionally moving to the blind side to accommodate both and beside the burgeoning Jamie Heaslip, a constant at number eight.
Cheika might have taken a crumb of satisfaction from the news that winger and centre Shane Horgan and experienced South African prop Ollie Le Roux were both fit enough to have been named on the 27-man Leinster squad, although they will have a run out today to check the playing state of their injuries. The coach also expressed satisfaction that 12 Leinster players, including a raft of the young guns that did not make it to Bordeaux and Paris last September, are also in the Irish set-up.
But was he disappointed with the decision to leave Jennings and Gleeson out? "Definitely," remarked Cheika. "I'd be disappointed for them as well. I think that our backrow has performed brilliantly this year and also their ability to compete with each other is something I've had to deal with on a week-to-week basis and they have both been able to come back from non-selection to get included.
"I think that they are both very resilient players and I'll be pushing them very, very hard to get better and to keep showing so that they cannot be denied selection further down the track."
The two are likely to play against Leicester, although with Stephen Keogh back in harness after injury, and Cheika promising to play Cameron Jowitt in the back row to add his height dimension to the Leinster effort, little is certain. But Cheika knows that he is also on a mission to pick up the two players, not add to their immediate misery of being overlooked for national duty.
"I don't think it will be dificult to pick them up in the context of our team," said Cheika. "There will be disappointment today obviously . . . we'll have to get over that one as a team together. I know the others in the team have massive respect for both of them and we'll look after those players internally and make sure that come Saturday they'll be able to show. That's very important to do."
Given that Gleeson is now into his 30s, he may feel that he has been passed over for the final time. Always a positive individual and a player who had traditionally taken disappointment head on and with equanimity, he may also take comfort from what his Leinster coach has been saying - that the Six Nations season goes on for two months. A lot can happen in that time.
"I see they have picked a number seven in Johnny O'Connor, so they obviously see the need for a player like that there . . . I've made Jennings play at number six a few times. I hope that hasn't cost him at all," said Cheika reflectively. "But I think they (Jennings and Gleeson) will come back pretty strong. They're tough fellas and I think the team will gather around and say 'let's push on and not give in because there is a long way to go'. Our backrow has improved this year out of sight. It's only January and there are still plenty of opportunities."
None better than Welford Road.
France flanker Serge Betsen is set to announce his retirement from international rugby today. The 33-year-old has called a news conference "to officially announce his international retirement".
Betsen, who was born in Cameroon, honed his skills in Clichy-la-Garenne before moving on to Biarritz, his current club.
Betsen earned 63 caps and won the Six Nations three times, including two Grand Slams in 2002 and 2004. He played in two World Cup semi-finals in 2003 and 2007, losing both times to England.
Gerry Thornleyassesses the winners..... .....and the losers
JONATHAN SEXTON
Being carefully groomed and developed atLeinster as understudy to Felipe Contepomi, Sexton has improved significantly in attacking the line and his dsitrbituion, and, such is the dearth of viable outhalf cover to Ronan O'Gara, he has been quickly elevated to third in the pecking order.
LUKE FITZGERALD
Ought, arguably, to have made the World Cup as one unpredictable, unexpected weapon in reserve but in hindsight was perhaps better off staying at home. Needs to improve defence and awareness of those around him but has blindingly quick feet and can step both ways. A star of the future.
TOMMY BOWE
An unfortunate 31st man in the World Cup, he is still unproven at Test level but undoubtedly has been Ulster's lone stand-out player in a limp, struggling campaign for all around him this season.
JOHNNY O'CONNOR
The arch spoiler is fit again and benefiting from a steady run of games for the first time after years of injuries and is back to his irritating, sleeves-rolled-up best, a thorn in any side he plays against this season, if guilty of conceding too many penalties.
TONY BUCKLEY
Ever-improving tight-head who is certainly built for the job and showed eye-catching pace last Saturday in Clermont Auvergne, where he again made an impact as replacement for John Hayes. Of all the 11 called up yesterday, is probably best placed to actually see some action off the bench.
BERNARD JACKMAN
Still no Eric Bristow, if less the Eric Sykes of yore, he has benefitted from Leo Cullen's return and Leinster's improved lineout to greatly diminish the one question mark about his game and has looked fitter than last season with a sequence of typically barnstorming, ball-carrying displays.SHANE JENNINGS
Will feel he has suffered for Leinster's rotational policy (though Keith Gleeson hardly deserved to be dropped) and being occasionally switched to six, and with less prominent, high impact displays will not now be a happy bunny.
BRYAN YOUNG
The Ulster loose-head has suffered in the Ulster maelstrom this season and hasn't been helped by a switch to an ill-fitting tight-head role, but strictly on form, he cannot have too many complaints.
KEITH GLEESON
Either his face doesn't fit or else, at odds with many other selections, his age doesn't, for it certainly can't be form. Should have gone to the World Cup, his performance level has if anything improved since then and like Jennings, is used to linking with the battery of Leinster backs in the squad/team.
ISAAC BOSS
Despite no other scrumhalf being called into an expanded squad, Boss has been omitted, a damning verdict on his loss of confidence at Ulster, where he has even recently lost his starting place.
FRANKIE SHEAHAN
A suspension for Jerry Flannery may yet see the Munster warhorse recalled to the squad but has clearly gone down a step in the hooking pecking order, and despite some good cameos for Munster this season, hasn't really had the opportunity to stake his case in time.
BRIAN CARNEY
One wonders why he was included in the World Cup squad - albeit as a glorified spectator - after being talked up so. An intelligent, experienced rugby player not afraid to speak his mind, which may in part explain his subsequent exclusion here.
