TINKERMEN Unlucky for some as Blues make changes but Girvan insists ‘Leinster have no choice’

Leinster v

RDS, 3.15pm Connacht

GIRVAN DEMPSEY claims Leinster have no choice but to make more wholesale changes for the visit of Connacht to the RDS today.

While the Blues make 13 switches from the side that impressively beat Munster at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day, Connacht make a much more modest three from the team that deservedly dismissed Ulster at the Sportsground.

That will give the westerners hope of ending their miserable run at the Ballsbridge venue – they’ve never won there though did win at Donnybrook back in 2002 against the Blues.

But as far as Dempsey is con- cerned, Leinster’s rotation policy is a necessity if the province is to go the full distance in 2018.

“It’s a great place to be,” said Leinster’s backs coach (right). “It’s such a tough selection decision and it’s a luxury to have.

“But the reality is, we have four big games - two derby games and two European games (in this period) - and I know that ultimately you don’t always have everyone on deck.

“You look at some of the guys who have just picked up injuries and niggles and they’re not available, and other guys have to step in.

“What you’re trying to do is make sure that everyone’s ready so that if you have to shuffle the deck, the guy who hasn’t had a game in a week or is just coming back from injury is up to speed and ready to slot in. In big games that you have that.

“You have to have a balance between youth and experience but we’ve shown over the last couple of years as a coaching group that we have backed youth in a lot of scenarios, and it’s served us well.”

The westerners are holding Niyi Adeolukun in reserve, an indication that they are in a stronger position than in the earlier part of the season as their injury situation improves.

Connacht head coach Kieran Keane insists that despite the 44-16 victory over Ulster, a performance he describes as a “flying start” to the interpro programme, Connacht are very much underdogs this afternoon. TV TIMES: Live on TG4, kick-off 3.15pm

But Dempsey warned: “I think the biggest thing for Connacht is that they were hit with a lot of injuries and it’s taken them a while to hit their stride.

“Now we can see that they’ve got guys back. Niyi Adeolukun is back, Matt Healy’s back in the fold and the back three looks extremely dangerous.

“But you saw over the last few weeks that they’re starting to get a lot more settled, there’s more clarity in how they want to play, so there’s not a massive change.”