THE HANGOVER FROM the Six Nations has worn off as focus fully returns to provincial concerns this weekend, starting with Leinster and Ulster tonight.
Matt O’Connor’s side welcome Zebre to the RDS this evening [KO 7.15pm], approaching the game with confidence after a superb recent run of results.
While the front-line players have been away with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, Leinster have secured convincing wins over Zebre [away], the Dragons, Cardiff and Glasgow. O’Connor has been delighted with his fringe players.
“The guys who have been with us through the Six Nations block have been outstanding. We have taken 19 points out of a possible 20, we have had some very good wins and by and large everyone has been performing really well.
There will be some tough decisions made and this is another opportunity for those guys in the shirt to press their claims for the big games in the back end of the season.”
Fergus McFadden, Ian Madigan and Jordi Murphy are back in the Leinster XV having been involved in Paris last weekend, while Eoin Reddan and Martin Moore are on the bench.
However, O’Connor has not been able to call on internationals Sean Cronin and Jack McGrath, despite their lack of starts for Ireland recently.
“They came back a little bit bruised and beaten up from the Six Nations, so the thinking was they would be best served with what is around the corner.
“With a couple of days off with the short week this week, it was thought those two would be better served with a week off.”
The depth in the Leinster squad at present is encouraging for the Australian head coach, and the likes of the exciting Wexford-bred prop Tadhg Furlong and hard-working wing Darragh Fanning are given further opportunity to impress against Zebre.
With just six regular season Pro12 games remaining and a trip to Toulon in the Heineken Cup to come next month, O’Connor says the league leaders are ready.
“Everyone is excited. At the start of the season you look at it and it’s a very lengthy schedule. The focus is really clear now. There are not many games to go and everyone in the squad wants to be part of those big occasions.
“That in itself creates focus and creates competition in the squad.”
Leinster: Zane Kirchner; Darragh Fanning, Fergus McFadden, Noel Reid, Luke Fitzgerald; Ian Madigan, Isaac Boss; Michael Bent, Richardt Strauss, Tadhg Furlong; Leo Cullen (capt.), Mike McCarthy; Kevin McLaughlin, Dominic Ryan, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: Aaron Dundon, Jack O’Connell, Martin Moore, Tom Denton, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Jimmy Gopperth, Brendan Macken.
Zebre: David Odiete; Giulio Toniolatti, Giovanbattista Venditti, Kameli Ratuvou, Dion Berryman; Tommaso Iannone, Brendon Leonard; Salvatore Perugini, Tommaso D’Apice, Dave Ryan; George Biagi, Marco Bortolami (capt.); Filippo Ferrarini, Andries Van Schalkwyk, Samuela Vunisa.Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Andrea De Marchi, Dario Chistolini, Michael Van Vuren, Guglielmo Palazzani, Alberto Chillon, Emiliano Caffini, Filippo Cristiano.
- Quotes courtesy of Cillian O’Conchuir.
