LEINSTER WILL BE without a host of frontline internationals for the biggest game of their season, but Leo Cullen has downplayed the significance of the province’s untimely injury crisis.
In a further setback ahead of Saturday’s visit of Toulouse, Rob Kearney and Dan Leavy both sustained injuries in training during the week, and join Johnny Sexton, Devin Toner and Robbie Henshaw on the absent list.
Cullen speaking at Friday’s press conference. Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO
The injuries have forced Cullen’s selection hand for the crucial Pool 1 encounter at the RDS, with the defending European champions stripped of key personnel and experience at such an important juncture in the season.
With Kearney sidelined with a quad injury, Jordan Larmour reverts to fullback and is joined in the back three by Adam Byrne and Dave Kearney, while Ross Byrne deputises for Sexton at out-half.
The unavailability of Toner and Leavy may not be as keenly felt given Scott Fardy and Josh van der Flier slot in as able replacements, but it all means Leinster are far from full strength, while their bench lacks its usual firepower.
Cullen, however, is not overly concerned ahead of what has effectively become a pool decider, with his entire starting XV boasting international credentials, while 20 of the matchday 23 are products of the Leinster system.
It will be the sternest test of Leinster’s unrivalled strength in depth as they look to inflict a first defeat of the campaign on Toulouse, who travel to Dublin with all of their big guns in tow.
“I’m not someone who is worried about what I don’t have,” Cullen said at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference.
“We have so much faith in the players and the experience and depth we’ve built over the past few seasons. It’s important, we want to have that competition and it’s very, very strong across the squad.
“It doesn’t particularly worry me. I think we’ve got a good group, there’s a lot of experience there if you look at the 1-15, they’re all internationals. There’s 20 of the 23 that have come through the Leinster academy system and they’ve got to get the experience at some stage.
“We’ve full confidence in the guys who are going to represent the group in what is a massive game for the club.”
Trailing Toulouse by two points heading into the final two rounds of pool action, Leinster go into Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off in the knowledge an 12th straight home win in Europe would put them in pole position for a home quarter-final.
Garry Ringrose and Adam Byrne start for Leinster. Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
But the loss of so many international players through injury heightens the task, with the French outfit playing some of the best attacking rugby in the competition this term.
The visitors have made five changes and a couple of positional switches for the round five clash from the side that beat Leinster by a single point back in October.