THEY’RE AFTER OUR SCALP

Cronin says brilliant Blues must get used to being hunted

SEAN CRONIN insists Leinster must adapt quickly to having a big target on their backs.

Saturday’s loss to Munster was their third defeat of the season after going down in the opening PRO14 game to the Scarlets and losing at Toulouse in a stirring Champions Cup encounter in October.

The Blues were also fortunate to beat Connacht before Christmas.

But, ahead of their first home game since then – Saturday’s RDS clash with Ulster – Cronin believes it is time for Leinster to react.

As double champions last term, they are the big scalp everyone wants and the hooker believes a mental adjustment is still required.

“After you have a season like we did, there’s a massive target on your back,” he said. “Take the Toulouse game, the reaction of their fans and coaching staff after beating us – we definitely have to be better at coping with that.

“The season before that we lost to Clermont and at home to Scarlets in the semi-final – we were hunting those guys the following year. We’re playing the hunted now. The big emphasis is on trying to get one over on us but I do think there are aspects of our game that we can get better at.

“Even though we started quite well on Saturday, we didn’t start well in Toulouse or against Connacht, games that we struggled in. That’s a big focus for us.”

Cronin sat out the first loss to Munster years under the IRFU’S management programme.

The game was a frustrating watch – and not just because he hails from Limerick with his family “split down the middle” in their allegiances. “I can tell my aunt and my uncle are chatting behind my back when I’m not there,” he joked.

But as with every position, the No.2 shirt is extremely competitive at the start of this World Cup year.

The 32-year-old is back in Joe Schmidt’s good books, having got game time in the November wins over Argentina and in two player the All Blacks. So he is raring to go this weekend, especially with the prospect of facing Rory Best or Rob Herring in a head-to-head battle.

“I hope they name a strong team,” said Cronin, who has 65 Test caps. “It would be a good opportunity to go up against two good players.

“You want to test yourself against the best but mainly we need to put in a good performance this week, start well, get our discipline right, play the game we want to play.

“Hopefully it’ll be another packed house and another good interpro.”

He added: “There’s going to be competition – we’re going into a big, big year for Irish rugby. For the provinces, everyone still in contention for Europe and you’ve got the Six Nations and the World Cup.

“There’s a lot of competition for places and these games are going to fall into that.”