Heaslip calm on Leinster treble talk

A 34-12 victory over Glasgow Warriors at the RDS in May earned Leinster their second straight title in the competition and they embark on the new campaign aiming to become the first club to make it three.

Heaslip, who has inherited the captaincy from retired club legend Leo Cullen, has often been central to Leinster's recent success, which also includes a European Challenge Cup triumph in 2012.

However, as in years gone by, the Ireland No.8 will be sticking to the old cliché - and taking it one game at a time.

"You kind of start from scratch again," said Heaslip at the official GUINNESS PRO12 launch.

"We have had a bit of success over the last couple of years in both our domestic and European championships and every year we set out with the mindset that the competition is not ours.

"It is not ours to defend it is ours to go after and we focus on our everyday goals and our everyday values. Hopefully then we get the outcome at the end of the year."

Cullen and Brian O'Driscoll's dual retirement after the final has left the Leinster squad lacking some of its prior experience.

However, Heaslip is hoping to do his bit to fill void and live up to the standards set by Cullen during his tenure as skipper.

And the 30-year-old was quick to point out that leadership is not entirely new to him, after leading both club and country on more than one occasion last season.

"It's a great honour to take over the mantle from someone as iconic as Leo," he said. "He is someone who has really paved the way in terms of being a great influence on the club.

"Hopefully I will be able to mimic some of the things he has done for the club in terms of setting an example. At times I had the opportunity to do it last year but to be club captain is pretty cool.

"It is a great honour to represent such a great club and group of players and everything that goes on behind it. It was a pretty proud moment."

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