All eyes on Ireland trio as Toulouse clash looms
AS is usually the case with Leinster’s exploits on the domestic front, there are greater forces at work here.
Leo Cullen’s side have had a home semi-final in the Pro14 guaranteed for weeks. They have put out the party line all week, but the focus is very much on next Sunday’s visit of Toulouse to the capital.
Understandably, the likes of James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath and Garry Ringrose have been given the weekend off to rest up for that European Champions Cup semi final at Lansdowne Road. The first-choice front-row of Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong are all on bench duty.
Speaking of frontliners, the return of Robbie Henshaw and Devin Toner to competitive action is timely. Neither has been seen for the best part of three months. Toner rolled his action during that galling loss to England in the Six Nations while Henshaw suffered a ‘complex’ dead leg in the days that followed.
Joe Schmidt sorely missed both as a turbulent Six Nations campaign began to unravel. Toner’s lineout acumen makes him a shoo-in for selection when fit. He will be one of the first names on the teamsheet in Japan if he remains fit.
Likewise, Henshaw. Bundee Aki has displayed remarkable durability and defensive prowess at inside centre, but Henshaw offers a completely different attacking dimension in midfield. Schmidt will be watching proceedings at the RDS with interest.
Ireland’s head coach will also be keeping a close eye on Sean O’Brien. The Leinster flanker is nearing the end of his time with the province. It’s been a quiet season by the Tullow Tank’s high standards. It’s been suggested that years of injury and absorbing collisions on the frontlines has finally caught up with his 32-yearold frame.
He certainly looked a yard short of a gallop throughout the Six Nations, culminating in his early second-half removal during the debacle in Cardiff. Having signed a lucrative three-year deal with London Irish next season, O’Brien’s chances of making that 31-man squad for the World Cup was getting dicier with every passing week.
That was until Josh van der Flier and Dan Leavy suffered seasonending injuries in recent months. Van der Flier should be back in the reckoning ahead of the World Cup warm-ups in August, but Leavy is facing a long and arduous road back.
It would be a major boost for club and country if O’Brien went up a gear at the RDS today. Cullen has made him skipper today.
It could very well be his last appearance at Leinster HQ before he heads across the water next season.
Fresh from a break in Dubai last week, O’Brien should be primed for a big display. Cullen and Schmidt will be hoping to see the version of O’Brien which terrorised the All Blacks on the Lions tour in 2017. As is always the case at Leinster, there are already a plethora of young tyros ready to step in when O’Brien heads abroad. Two such characters will pack down in the backrow alongside the veteran openside this afternoon. Josh Murphy and Caelan Doris have been catching the eye all season while Jack Dunne is another bright spark in the pack.
The 20-year-old lock will get his first start in the forwards today. Dunne accumulated 625 points in the Leaving Cert and is currently juggling a degree in theoretical physics with his Leinster commitments.
He looks like a serious proposition on the field as well.
The presence of Rob Kearney at full-back and Ross Byrne at No10 should bring some structure and leadership.
That will be key. Glasgow are no mugs and arrive in Dublin with all hands on deck.
Dave Rennie’s men are in a dog fight with Munster for top spot in Conference A and they can take a big step towards a coveted home semi-final with a win today.
Greater challenges lie ahead for Leinster.