Leinster coach Michael Cheika has paid tribute to Heineken Cup heroes Johnny Sexton and Chris Whitaker.
Young No.10 and veteran scrum-half earn cup plaudits
Leinster head coach Michael Cheika has paid tribute to Heineken Cup heroes Johnny Sexton and Chris Whitaker.
The pair are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their playing careers, with 23-year-old fly-half Sexton booting 11 points on Saturday as Cheika's side became European champions for the first time.
Former Australia international Whitaker, 34, lifted the Heineken Cup alongside captain Leo Cullen following the 19-16 triumph over Leicester at Murrayfield.
Acclaim
Cheika has hailed the pair accordingly, describing youngster Sexton as the epitome of everything he is trying to achieve at Leinster.
"He's almost the first generation coming out of the academy since I got here," Cheika said. "I suppose it epitomises the club a little bit, the way that fellow's come through.
"He's going to have down days again after this and it's just a matter of him understanding what it takes to be a better player every time."
Those sentiments were echoed by captain Cullen, who said: "I think he shows real maturity. He puts a lot of work into his game and he's hungry for it.
"He's had to bide his time maybe a little bit longer that he would have liked.
"Any time he's come into the fold, his level of commitment and his will to win for the team is second to none.
"He really bosses a team and that's what you want in a 10."
Influence
But Cheika also singled out veteran No.9 Whitaker for special praise.
"Whitaker has been an integral part of the culture that we want to build: lots of humility, lots of hard work, lots of effort, and the ability to bounce back from adversity," he added.
"He was getting very heavily criticised. Those things are a bit like the flu: once one person starts, everyone gets it.
"He really felt it and I can't pay enough accolade to that player for the way he stood by himself, believed in himself.
"No one in that team would have begrudged him being up there lifting the trophy because they know how much of a team player he is."
