There was no room for anyone else on the bench; he was eating a pie at the time.

I mention this in passing because of what was written on his t-shirt, it said "pain is weakness leaving the body" . . . at least he had a sense of humour.

Over the last two months pro-rugby squads have experienced pain on an unrelenting basis. There hasn't been much weakness left to leave. Last Friday I went down to Donny-OsmondeBrook to see how Leinster and indeed London Irish were shaping up. I was reminded of that song by Groove Armada which Renault use on their ads: "I see you baby . . . shaking that ass, shaking that ass." I have never seen 30 (60) players in such prime condition strutting their stuff. The body shapes are just vastly impressive . . . lean, angular, honed, sleek, rippling . . . take your pick of the adjectives.

You have dreams of playing rugby in these situations. The pitch was lush, gilded with a number three blade, it was 20 degrees, the opposition were skilful and competitive and there was a soupcon of encouragement from the Algarved audience . . . all you were missing in this dream sequence was a compliant and submissive, bronzed Brazilian ladies beach volleyball XV.

Back down to reality . . . what did I see that impressed me. Before I answer that question let me remind you that after two early season matches I said David Holwell was a crap player . . . not going to make that mistake again.

What did I see from Leinster? How will they do in Europe this season? I can't see Leinster as currently constituted laying waste to anyone. It is conceivable that they could top the group . . . Edinburgh, Gloucester and Agen are one of the easier groups.

Leinster's acquisitions in the close season will require watching. David Campese for the last five years was urging the Australian management to drop George Gregan for Chris Whitaker . . . that's Campo for you . . . the former Waratah isn't that good but his addition sees Leinster boast as good a half back pairing in the competition as there is. Remember the winning teams have always had the best halves . . . Stringer/O'Gara, Elisalde/Michalak, Howley/King etc.

Trick is to have something inside that you can rely on.

Leinster's front five is still straight out of a Brown Thomas display window. When Will Green is your most impressive tight forward, then you are fooling no one.

What Leinster had to have this season was someone who could throw the ball into the line-out under pressure. Brian Blaney and his understudy Bernard Jackman couldn't throw confetti at a wedding. Harry Vermaas, last Friday, couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat.

Needs must, if you have no options then take a retrogressive step.

Shane Byrne . . .

despite the mess in the Lions first test in Christchurch . . .

will deliver the ball reliably into the lineout, solidify the scrum and get his strike, mop up in the loose and control driving mauls. He is having a laugh at the moment playing 12 games a season at Sarries . . . even just to get through the season he would have done the job.

Second row is equally perilous. The great intangible is Malcolm O'Kelly . . . nobody knows except himself what he can do this season. In the meantime Leinster are in awful trouble here.

Where is the answer? Well it was one metre across the line on the same pitch. Bob Casey is an awesome physical specimen. I don't need to be told that he was chosen in the premiership team of championship . . . it doesn't hold much currency with me. I use my own eyes and see that when he plays for London Irish in the Heineken Cup he will embarrass Matt McCullagh when they play Ulster.

Casey should never have been allowed to leave Leinster nor should Leo Cullen for that matter. If they were still in Leinster there would be no issue, you would almost fancy them. That is of course if you have a loose head prop!

I'll reserve judgment on the two Munster boys. They both probably had to hold back from saying "c'mon Munster" or could have been bemused by the long periods of quietness coming from the stand as opposed to the crackle of Thomond static from where they came. Keogh in particular will have to understand where the strength of this team lies . . .

merely taking the ball on isn't really going to cut it because Leinster forwards don't arrive in numbers or at the volition that Munster players do. If he was looking for an example . . . Jamie Heaslip (left) might be the guy to look at. The Leinster number eight was sensational last season, he had a very strong Churchill Cup and on Friday was the best player on the pitch. His play out of the tackle is outstanding, often manoeuvring his body mid-fall to orchestrate a pass in behind an opposition player. Leinster's reserve . . . effectively the team that will compete for the Magners League . . . some of them might as well have taken their tackle bags out onto the field with them, because that is what they will be doing for most of the season.

Once again, a lack of equilibrium.

Electric backs, but a static pack will cost Leinster dearly this season.