We always knew that it was going to be extremely difficult to retain our Heineken Cup this season as being the Champions we are the team that every one wants to beat and take our scalp. That applies not only to Heineken Cup matches but also to the Magners League games. In fact since the tournament started in the 1995-96 season Leicester have been the only side that have managed to win it back to back. Having just qualified from our group as group winners last weekend we have taken the first step towards making the final in Paris in May.

In doing so we managed to finish as the 4th seed and thus guaranteed ourselves a home quarter final against the 5th seed who are ASM Clermont Auvergne. This is one of the toughest draws possible as Clermont are the current leaders of the French League and they managed to qualify out of an incredibly difficult group which included the Leicester Tigers and the Ospreys. Another interesting aspect to this game is that Clermont's current backs coach.

Joe Schmidt is taking over at Leinster as Head Coach next year! The statistics show that home advantage is huge in this competition but having won away at harlequins in the quarter final stages last season we wont be taking anything for granted. At least our loyal fans wont have to shell out for an away trip and as one fan said to me in the airport after saturdays London Irish match that Johnny Sextons late drop goal which drew the match was a 500 euro gift to all the fans as that is how much on average it would have cost them all to have to travel to an away game.

We always set out each year with the target of getting out of our group and this year was no different. We suffered a major setback by losing our first match at home to London Irish which really put us behind the 8th ball. We had to draw on all the experience that we have gained in this competition over the last few seasons not to panic and just go out and fight for every point that was achievable and then do whatever was needed in the last game against Irish to get through. We were probably fortunate that Irish slipped up twice against the Scarlets while we managed to get maximum points from out 2 encounters with them. This meant that we had already enough points to be sure of qualifying before the last game. In fact the Scarlets ended up qualifying 2nd in our group and now progress into the last 8th of the Parker Pen competition.

The French really seem to be targeting this years competition and with the Final being played in Paris this season Stade, Biaritz Toulouse and Clermont all made it through with Munster Ospreys and Northampton all genuine contenders too.The bookies now have Toulouse favourites to win the competition and we are 3rd favourites at 5-1. This is probably down to the fact that the draw for the semi finals has already been made and if we overcome Clermont we must travel to play the winner of Toulouse and Stade Francais in France.

With the break now for the 6 nations its very hard to predict what kind of form teams will be in come april when the next round is played with the pitches and weather improving and how players return from international camps both mentally and physically going to be very important. Last season we were strugling at this time of year but by April and May we were full of confidence and had momentum. Our coaching staff will be looking to replicate that no doubt and freshness will play a huge role in our preparations.

People question whether we will have the same motivation to go and win another Heineken Cup but I believe that this Leinster squad wants to build a legacy that will stand to the province for years to come and I also feel that the pleasure that we gained from winning the cup last season has given us a taste for success which is a briliant fuel to drive us to improve everyday.

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