Leinster pack will lay foundations for explosive wide men

IT’S 13 seasons since Leinster last won their opening five matches in a pool campaign but they will achieve that feat with the victory over Glasgow today that will seal their quarter-final passage.

Leo Cullen was reticent on Friday of casting aspersions on the Warriors’ unfamiliarlooking selection, just two of its pack on duty when they went down fighting at Montpellier last time out in Europe. It was two years ago when Leinster, out of the qualification hunt in the same way Glasgow are now, tore up the script and gave a shoal of inexperienced youngsters a look in. Cullen described that build-up versus Bath as the most nervous he has ever been either as a player or a coach, so anxious was he for the new names to shine.

He had been pilloried in some quarters, accused he was demeaning the tournament in radically changing things up. But Leinster comfortably beat a star-studded Bath that night and those memories have him wary of taking an unheralded Glasgow XV too lightly.

The winless visitors have been Europe’s best offloading side, so they will look to have an early crack and see where it takes them against hosts who are giving two of their back three, Jordan Larmour (above) and James Lowe, first European starts. Things could get exciting then in the wider channels, but this contest will go the way of Leinster’s more established pack.

Backrow Adam Ashe is one of the more experienced members of the understrength side running out in Dublin and the six-times capped 24-year-old says Glasgow will not be afraid to have a cut and sees it as a valuable chance for younger players to develop against top quality opposition.

‘I’m like the old wise man in here and I’m only 24,’ said Ashe. ‘I am going to push young fellas on, telling them to express themselves. Part of my role this weekend is to make sure these boys are ready to go and rip into it against Leinster.’