36 LEO FRESHENS IT UP FOR OSPREYS
LEINSTER are clearly investing in the URC chase having picked a strong side to host Ospreys at the RDS.
There are five changes from the team that started the Champions Cup game against Northampton Saints last week, with Jimmy O’Brien,
Luke McGrath, Rónan Kelleher, Jason Jenkins and Will Connors coming in.
It is part reminder, says Cullen, that he hasn’t any fixed idea on what the team and the bench will be for the Champions Cup final against Toulouse.
Unfair
“It would be unfair for me to even have a fixed view on the team for the final because things will happen tomorrow that will have to be judged on what is taking place,” says Cullen.
“The form of how guys are training, there are always different little bits going on in the background, body management and loads.
“It all feeds in and you want to have an open mind for guys so they have a genuine window, a genuine opportunity.
“Clearly some level of opinion has been formed over time for us, yeah, but when guys go out there, you want to reward the guys who are in form and playing well based on not too far historically, because it is based on who is going to deliver in the here and now.”
Compete
Says Ospreys boss Toby Booth: “Leinster are a very good team and effectively the juggernaut of the BKT URC.
“You don’t put in a performance like they did against La Rochelle by accident.
“We’ve competed there before though, and we’re going to compete there again.”
LEINSTER: C Frawley; J Larmour, J Osborne, R Henshaw, J O’Brien; R Byrne, L McGrath; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong, R Molony, J Jenkins, R Baird, W Connors, C Doris (capt). Subs: D Sheehan, M Milne, T Clarkson, J Conan, J van der Flier, J Gibson-Park, C Ngatai, T O’Brien
OSPREYS: M Nagy; L Morgan, O Watkin, K Williams, K Giles; D Edwards. R Morgan-Williams, N Smith, D Lake, R Henry, J Ratti, H Sutton, H Deaves, J Tipuric (capt), M Morris. Subs: S Parry, G Thomas, T Botha, V Sekekete, J Morgan, L Davies, J Walsh, E Boshoff.
TIME TO SHINE: Will Connors and Jason Jenkins