Michael Cheika speaks ahead of Ulster Clash

CHALLENGE OF ULSTER: "I think that they've had issues for themselves but when it comes to Leinster versus Ulster, it's not going to be any different to any other Interprovincial match. It's going to be a very difficult game for us, especially as it's coming on the back of a bad defeat.

"Any time you suffer a bad defeat it's the same. You've just got to kick on, do the correct analysis of the game we've just had, bring that into what we need to improve for the game that we've got ahead of us and take that game on.

"We've got a few extra days to prepare which is handy as well."

MOOD IN THE SQUAD: "It was like a morgue the next day after it (Edinburgh). In the analysis of the game we went through what we did technically wrong and also where we were mentally.

"But, in saying that, you've gotta play every week and we're still very motivated. I know that there may have been a culture here before that the Heineken Cup is important, which it is, but we've still got a lot to do in this season. So motivation is not difficult to find.

"Our away form has been as good as it has been since I got here. I think that we just performed poorly. Our individual and unit technique let us down at pivotal times and our mentality wasn't right for such an important game.

"It's about showing the desire and the motivation week in, week out. It happens to every footie team. All in all, we have been good this season but we didn't show it enough at the weekend."

INJURY UPDATE: "Shane Horgan has a rib problem. It isn't a fracture, which is good, but sometimes cartilage damage - if that is the final diagnosis - that can just be the same distance in time. So we'll be looking to re-assess him in a few weeks."