Highs and lows for Cheika

The Heineken Cup has given new Stade Francais boss Michael Cheika his greatest moment in the game but has also supplied arguably his lowest ebb.

Cheika moved to Paris this summer having tasted European glory with Irish-side Leinster in 2009.

The Australian led the Dubliners to their first-ever Heineken Cup crown - a feat his new side are still waiting to achieve - but success didn't come immediately during his time in Ireland.

Victory in the continent's most-competitive tournament did appear to be a real possibility just a year into his reign in Dublin as Leinster produced one of the greatest results in European history, but it wasn't to be.

A stunning 41-35 win in Toulouse in the 2006 quarter-final saw Leinster surge into the last four for the very first time just 11 months after Cheika had made the journey from his native Randwick.

That historic triumph set up a mouth-watering clash with perennial rivals Munster in Leinster's home city as expectations began to rise to levels never previously seen at Donnybrook or the RDS.

But Leinster's Heineken Cup hopes came crashing down in spectacular style as Munster ran out comprehensive winners at Landsdowne Road on their way to their first European crown.

Cheika, who will be coaching in the Amlin Challenge Cup this season, admits that the 30 points to 6 defeat was hard to take.

"The hardest bits were probably the first semi-final against Munster in the Heineken Cup, which was tough," Cheika told the Irish Independent.

"It was a great win in Toulouse, but we were probably doing it off adrenalin.

"We needed to get the substance there that was going to make it happen every week. We were too inconsistent.

"But when we won that match in Toulouse, I definitely thought we could win the Heineken that year. And that was probably my innocence and naivety as a professional coach.

"So, why did we come up short in the semi-final? Hell, we weren't ready for that at all. The team wasn't ready to go that many quality games in a row. We didn't have the belief and substance to make that next step."

Leinster might have lacked the self-confidence in 2006 but it was a different matter entirely 15 months ago.

Cheika's men again faced Munster in the last four in the Irish capital but this time they went into the game as substantial underdogs.

Reigning Heineken Cup winners Munster arrived in Dublin on the back of a 40-point quarter-final hammering of the Ospreys while Leinster had scraped past Harlequins having already lost twice in the group stages.

Leinster went on to produce a truly heroic performance to shock the tournament favourites and secure a finals place against Leicester Tigers at Murrayfield, a match they would win 19-16 to claim the ultimate club prize.

For Cheika, the difference between those two Heineken Cup campaigns was a mental one. His team may have played some sublime rugby in 2006 but in 2009 they were convinced they had exactly what was needed to make it their year.

"The difference was shown in the dressing-room when we got beaten in that semi-final and then the semi-final against the same team three years later," added Cheika.

"It was chalk and cheese the way we prepared for the two games.

"In the 2008/09 Heineken Cup, there was much more understanding that we were going to win at all costs in the second Munster semi-final (they won 25-6). Whereas in the first one, we hoped we were going to win. That was the difference."