O’BRIEN: I’LL GO IN STYLE

Leinster v Glasgow Warriors 3pm

SEAN O’BRIEN insists he is ready to hit the heights again for Leinster despite question marks about his form.

The Tullow Tank has struggled since his return from a broken arm that he suffered in November.

It was the latest in a series of injuries that recently prompted former Ireland international turned pundit Neil Francis to claim O’brien is finished at the top level.

But the back row, 32, skippers Leinster against Glasgow this afternoon and said: “There’s hopefully a lot more to come from me. I kind of felt that I was in good form in the last two games. I was busy.

“I wasn’t going in and out of games probably as much as I have been in a few games this year. I felt good afterwards, the body felt good as well. I was pleased with the cameos I had in the last two. This is another opportunity this weekend to get more minutes under the belt.”

The veteran flanker maintains he has not changed anything in his approach.

“It’s still the same for me,” he said. “I would probably like to get my hands on a bit more ball, starting today hopefully.

“But there have been other bits and pieces that I have been pretty happy with – my breakdown work, my defensive work. It’s just getting the whole package together now hopefully.”

This could, in fact, be O’briens last time leading the team out at the RDS as he moves to London

Irish after the World

Cup. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about so it is a little bit more special, firstly to lead out the lads and secondly that it could be potentially my last game in the RDS,”HE said. “It’s one I’m really looking forward to and it should be a cracker. I’ve been at peace with it for a while. There are seven or eight weeks in the season, that’s what I’m focusing on.

“We’re in the business end of the season and a lot of exciting games are coming up. That’s at the forefront of my mind.”

Blues boss Leo Cullen welcomes back Devin Toner and Robbie Henshaw - timely returns with the Champions Cup semi-final against Toulouse just eight days away.

“In many ways, it just feels like the season is starting now,” said Cullen.

“We’re waiting to kick into gear.

“It’s a great chance for guys this week with a semi-final next week.

“It’s just the start now. We’re getting going. If we’re not really on our game at this stage of the season then it just ends

like that.” R Kearney; J Larmour, J Tomane, R Henshaw, D Kearney; R Byrne, J

Gibson-park; E Byrne, J Tracy, M Bent; D Toner, J Dunne; J Murphy, S O’brien (capt), C Doris. S Cronin, C Healy, T Furlong, W Connors, M Deegan, H O’sullivan, C Frawley, A Byrne. S Hogg; T Seymour, K Steyn, S Johnson, N Matawalu; A Hastings, A Price; J Bhatti, F Brown, Z

Fagerson; S Cummings, J Gray; R Harley, C Fusaro (capt), M Fagerson.

G Stewart, A Allan, D Rae, B Flockhart, A Ashe, G Horne, P Horne, H Jones.