JACKSON COLUMN: Heaslip and Leinster eyeing lucky number seven

The Irish Lion probably goes the distance more often than any other Test forward in the contemporary game, Richie McCaw included. While some have to make do the most of the last quarter as 'impact players,' Heaslip's impact is of the full-on variety, from start to finish.

Brian O'Driscoll and Leo Cullen may have cleared their lockers in the RDS dressing-room but their younger compatriot's elevation to the captaincy gives the champions a reassuring constancy, that in a sport of constant change, a few things do not change.

Heaslip has been a largely dominant presence in Leinster's grand total of nine Grand Finals since his converted try in the first of them, against Leicester at Murrayfield in the 2009 European decider, paved the way for Jonny Sexton's decisive late penalty.

In addition to their four European conquests, three in the Big One, the other in the Challenge Cup, they have appeared in all five PRO12 Grand Finals. Having cured themselves of a habit rapidly assuming chronic proportion, Leinster have responded to losing the first three by winning the last two.

Once again, therefore, they start the season in pursuit of a treble as yet beyond the reach of every other British and Irish team. Just as nobody other than Toulouse had won the European Cup three times until Leinster did so at Twickenham in May 2012, they are now on pole position for a hat-trick of GUINNESS PRO12 titles.

They start the new campaign against the team whom they subjected to a four-try beating at the end of the old one. Glasgow's Warriors, surging across the Irish Sea on a wave of nine straight wins, had real hopes of winning their first Grand Final only to end up ensuring that the farewell party for O'Driscoll and Cullen went with a swing.

The memory of their 34-12 defeat ought to provide all the information head coach Gregor Townsend, skipper Alastair Kellock and the squad require to make the play-offs again this season for the fifth time in six attempts.

The Warriors' consistency at home has turned Scotstoun into a formidable venue. Leinster lost there early last season as did Ulster and Munster during the closing weeks of the campaign.

With brand new sponsors in GUINNESS and a brand new broadcaster in Sky, the PRO12 kicks off this Friday evening on opposite sides of the Irish Sea - at Thomond Park in Limerick and the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

Munster, undone at Thomond last time out, by an under-strength Ulster last May, a week before losing their play-off semi-final in Glasgow by a single point, start anew under an all-Munster chain of coaching command.

Anthony Foley, promoted from forwards' coach to head honcho in succession to the New Zealander, Rob Penney, knows what it takes to win trophies. Captain when his native province claimed their first European title, against Biarritz at Cardiff in 2006, Foley's coaching team includes another from the triumphant pack on that unforgettable day at the Millennium Stadium - Jerry Flannery.

The former hooker is back in the fold with responsibility for the scrum along with another Munster veteran, Mick O'Driscoll as technical advisor. Foley's team of specialists also features former backs Ian Costello (defence) and Brian Walsh (attack).

Costello's coaching career began at 21 when injury put paid to his career as a fly half. Walsh, part of Munster's midfield when they famously beat the world-beating Wallabies at Musgrave Park in 1992, has to redesign the back division following the departures of James Downey and Casey Laulala.

A new outside centre, Andrew Smith from the Brumbies, is already in situ. Another reinforcement from the Antipodes, Tyler Bleyendaal from the Crusaders, is due in November.

While Munster will expect a winning start against Edinburgh, the same goes for the Ospreys against Treviso. The only Welsh team to have won the PRO12 twice in its various forms, the Swansea-based region pin their faith in youth having lost a trio of Grand Slam heavyweights over the summer -- Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard and Ian Evans.

Jones has resurfaced 40 miles east along the M4 at Cardiff where the Blues, under Kiwi head coach Mark Hammett, intend reuniting him with the rest of the 2009 Lions front row - Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins.

The Blues start in Italy against Zebre on Sunday, 24 hours after Connacht intend to defy the Dragons to win in Galway and the Scarlets hoping to do likewise to Ulster in Llanelli.

Leinster:
Head coach: Matt O'Connor.
Captain: Jamie Heaslip.
Average crowd last season: 20,558.
Last 5 seasons: Champions, Champions, Runners-up, Runners-up, Runners-up.

Glasgow Warriors:
Head coach: Gregor Townsend.
Captain: Alastair Kellock.
Average crowd: 5,568.
Last 5 seasons: Runners-up, Play offs, Play Offs, 11th, Play-offs.

Munster:
Head coach: Anthony Foley.
Captain: Peter O'Mahony.
Average crowd: 11,814.
Last 5 seasons: Play offs, 6th, Play offs, Champions, Play offs.

Ulster:
Head coach: Les Kiss.
Captain: Rory Best.
Average crowd: 13,347.
Last 5 seasons: Play offs, Runners-up, 6th, Play offs, 8th.

Ospreys:
Head coach: Steve Tandy,
Captain: Alun-Wyn Jones.
Average crowd: 7,936.
Last 5 seasons: 5th, 5th, Champions, Play offs, Champions.

Scarlets:
Head coach: Wayne Pivac.
Captain: Ken Owens.
Average crowd: 7,293.
Last 5 seasons: 6th, Play Offs, 5th, 5th, 9th.

Cardiff Blues:
Head coach: Mark Hammett.
Captain: Matthew Rees.
Average crowd: 7,979.
Last 5 seasons: 7th, 9th, 7th, 6th, 5th.

Edinburgh:
Head coach: Alan Solomons.
Captain: Matt Scott.
Average crowd: 4,373.

Last 5 seasons: 8th, 10th, 11th, 8th, 6th.

Newport Gwent Dragons:
Head coach: Lyn Jones.
Captain: Lee Byrne.
Average crowd: 6,774.
Last 5 seasons: 9th, 11th, 9th, 7th, 7th.

Connacht:
Head coach: Pat Lam.
Captain: John Muldoon.
Average crowd: 4,757.
Last 5 seasons: 10th, 8th, 8th, 9th, 10th.

Benetton Treviso:
Head coach:Umberto Casellato.
Captain: Antonion Pavanello.
Average crowd: 3,700.
Last 4 seasons: 11th, 7th, 10th, 10th.

Zebre:
Head coach: Andrea Cavinato.
Captain: Marco Bortolami.
Average crowd: 2,038.
Last 2 seasons: 12th, 12th.

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