SET THE TONE!
Blues seeking a positive start with understudies aiming to gain attention
FOLLOW that. When you have just enjoyed a double, you get a taste for them and Leinster open their 2018-19 campaign this evening carrying the same Pro14 and European Champions Cup aspirations they realised so impressively last season, a seminal one for Irish rugby.
With an astute direction from Leo Cullen and his chief lieutenant Stuart Lancaster, and an internal production line of talent that sets Leinster apart from every other side in Europe, they have realistic ambitions in both competitions once again and will look to start the Pro14 on a winning note in Cardiff tonight.
However, with the World Cup just over a year away and Ireland harbouring lofty aspirations for Japan 2019 on the back of claiming the Grand Slam and rising to second in the world rankings, the landscape has altered significantly.
Ireland’s chief assets will be managed carefully, as they should be, which will affect all the provinces but none more than Leinster, given their status as bulk suppliers to Joe Schmidt’s ever-improving national side.
The positives are that the province has the depth to cope and that Leinster are set to benefit from heavy-hitters like Sean O’Brien and Josh van der Flier returning from long-term injury.
Furthermore, the understudies who take to the field when Ireland front-liners like Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong are unavailable will do so with the considerable incentive to prove themselves worthy of World Cup squad inclusion.
Those individual auditions provide an intriguing backdrop to the usual collective ambitions and tonight’s assignment in the Arms Park is a good example.
While pre-match attention has focused on 17-times capped Wallaby Joe Tomane making his debut in the centre, the more relevant focus will be on the performances of the likes of half-backs Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne, Tomane’s midfield partner Rory O’Loughlin, the back three of Dave Kearney, Adam Byrne and Barry Daly, not to mention team captain Rhys Ruddock on the flank.
All of the above could conceivably feature for Ireland and with the impending World Cup concentrating minds, monitoring the progress of the various candidates for Japan will be a fascinating exercise through the season.
In terms of tonight’s contest, the visitors have selected an exciting backline but look a little light in the forwards, with Ruddock and veteran Aussie second row Scott Fardy providing the most imposing presence.
It will also be interesting to see if there has been a change in philosophy over the off season, with Felipe Contepomi brought onto the backroom team as replacement for departed backs coach Girvan Dempsey, now with Bath.
Contepomi is remembered fondly in Leinster as an unpredictable, and entertaining, out-half and whether he can introduce an extra dimension to backline play that proved so successful last season will be worth keeping an eye on.
The Argentinian noted during the week that this opener is a clash of champions. Cardiff annexed the Challenge Cup last season, and the Welsh outfit are far from a soft touch these days, particularly on their artificially surfaced home patch.
‘We need a fast start,’ said Contepomi. ‘The preparation has been very good, there is a great buzz in the squad but it’s a tough first game and tough place to play. They are also European champions, having won the Challenge Cup.’
Cardiff are energised by the opportunity to measure themselves against the premier side in Europe — a motivation for every opponent Leinster face this season — and are confident they can claim a notable scalp first time out.
‘It’s a great way to kick off the season,’ said Cardiff head coach John Mulvihill. ‘The European Challenge Cup champions against the Pro14 and Champions Cup winners. It promises to be an awesome occa-sion and we cannot wait to get started.’
Australian Mulvihill, aged 51, is Cardiff’s eighth coach in seven years and it is fair to say Danny Wilson’s replacement is something of an unknown quantity.
Cardiff confidence notwithstanding, Leinster have by far the greater pedigree, even allowing for this understudy selection, and have the capacity to get their new campaign off to a positive start — with some notable impact on the bench from the likes of Andrew Porter, Max Deegan and Fergus McFadden.
It should make for some entertaining, and informative, viewing — very much the theme of this World Cup season.