They stood leaning on the perimeter fence at Donnybrook smiling like a pair of barracuda, at ease, allowing the good humour of the Leinster fans to wash over them as the crowds came down from the stand and headed for their preferred watering holes.

Mick Doyle and Eddie Thornton were in their element, exchanging quick fire banter with those who knew them and that was just about everyone who could see them. It was not, I thought, that they were basking in the reflected glory of Leinster's victory over the fancied English side Newcastle, as much as remembering the great days of the past and perhaps savouring the prospect of more to come.

This had, after all, been Leinster's ninth successive competitive win, there was good reason for the holiday atmosphere, after all Leinster had once again put a smile on Friday night. And, I'm sure nobody appreciated the quality of their rugby more than these two former managers of the "Blues."

Winning performances put everyone within hailing distance of the triumphant side in good humour and it rubs off. I have no doubt that every side in Leinster, at no matter what level, went out the following day with a spring in their steps whether they had watched the defeat of the Falcons live or on TG4.

Doyle who earned his spurs as an International player and coached Leinster for five seasons from October 1979 during which time the Blues lost only one game out of twenty-six played, a stunning record.

For the final two years of his reign, Thornton was his sidekick before taking over himself for eight games in 1984. He finished his short term in charge with a modest fifty per cent success record. But like Doyle, he loved his sides to play cavalier rugby, defending with abrasive determination but always anxious to attack the opposition with running, all action rugby.

They had their critics but like the current Leinster manager, their sides played rugby that had a smile on its face. Whether or not Leinster's rugby will be good enough to emulate Ulster and bring the Heineken European Cup back to Dublin remains to be seen and Munster will have a lot to say about that.

But there was a great buzz of optimism and self-belief around Donnybrook after Rob Andrews and his merry men had been sent home pointless. Coach Matt Dawson was chuffed but cautious, team manager Ken Ging ecstatic and Roly Meates, a smiling bundle of enthusiastic optimism.

The Old Belvedere clubhouse where several glasses of celebratory Heineken were raised was awash with positive vibes.

"I call Matt Williams Shylock," grinned the affable Ging. "He made four brilliant off season signings, has the complete confidence of his players and gets his pound of flesh from each of them.

"Nothing that happened out there to night happened by accident, there has been an awful lot of hard work and it's beginning to pay off" he added. "I know Matt will have some critical things to say at our next team talk but that is as it should be, this is a team with real ambition and I think, the ability to go right to the top."

Roly Meates, who has been a distinguished player, National coach and administrator, is not a man to get in a flap, a dentist with the perfect chair side manner.

Ging has described him as the World's foremost expert on the front row and who would argue with Ging in full flow.

Meates with the redoubtable Willie Anderson has created an efficient, mobile rock in the Leinster eight and accepted my congratulations on Leinster's behalf with typical self-effacement. But I was caught flat-footed by his reply when I asked his opinion about Leinster's chances of going on to win the European Cup. "Has this Leinster side the potential to win the Heineken European Cup ?" I asked. "If this team hasn't," Roly beamed, "which team does?"

Animated does not begin to describe his bubbling enthusiasm for Leinster's cause. The entire atmosphere of ambitious optimism was rather infectious and was perfectly reflected by both Brian O'Driscoll and Denis Hickie.

Winger Hickie has obviously thrived on the physical and mental regime which has transformed Leinster from being rather good to being positively menacing enthused about the ferocity of their stamina and focus which has hit so many of their opponents late in their games.

"Synergy is the word you are looking for," he grinned "it's the coming together of the various disparate components of our programme and it works."

Hickie may have been disappointed to have missed selection for the Lions but he relished the Polish training camp and has begun the season a better all round performer and a winger who carries real menace both for Leinster and Ireland.

He smiles at the thought of Leinster winning the European Cup but there is no doubting the self belief behind his rather disarming modesty. Without being brash or in the least overbearing, Brian O'Driscoll does not suffer from any false modesty.

He is as enthusiastic about Leinster's chances as he is when he gets the ball in his hands in full flight. There are no hidden agendas about him, he's "Action Man" on and off the field.

Can Leinster go all the way, I ask. "Sure they can " he grins in that disarming boyish way and there is no point in going any deeper.

One is left with the impression that if things don't work out, Brian O'Driscoll will simply get up and get on with it all over again. Matt Williams and his backroom boys have notched a stunning nine successive wins so far this season.

But those managers who laid the foundations also played their parts. From 1968 they were :- Ronnie Dawson, Roly Meates, Mick Hipwell,, Kevin Flynn, Mick Doyle, Eddie Thornton, Gerry Murphy, Brian McLoughlin, Jim Glennon, "Willo" Murray, Donal Spring, Ciaran Callan and Mike Ruddock.

© Tom Keogh 2001

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