LEINSTER WILL FACE a true test of their strength up front when they take on the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium in Saturday evening’s Heineken Cup clash.
The Pool 1 fixture will potentially see Jono Gibbes’ charges go up against five Lions in the hulking shape of Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Justin Tipuric and Ian Evans. With that in mind, Leinster will need all of their leading forwards at peak performance if they are to open their European campaign with a victory.
Sean O’Brien is chief among that category, and after making his first appearance of the season in the loss to Munster last weekend, the Tullow man is already raring to get back on the pitch. Despite the failure to extend Leinster’s winning streak against their rivals, O’Brien was happy to get his opening game out of the way.
It was good to get 60, 65 minutes under the belt. It has been a long time since I’ve played. I felt fairly rusty to be honest, but that was expected, coming back in and I just have to get minutes under my belt. I’m looking forward to this week.”
O’Brien will be expected to raise his performance level by several notches against the Ospreys, and he says he is feeling ready to do so. Having had the start of his season delayed due to being involved with the Lions during the summer, the 26-year-old says he is in great shape physically.
“This year I am in way better condition than I have been in previous years coming back in. I’ve had a good pre-season, I’m feeling quite fit. Maybe not match-fit but last weekend will stand to me, definitely, especially with the intensity of the game. I’m not sure how long it will take me to get fully sharp but hopefully not too long.”
Hopefully not, particularly with the Ospreys lying in wait this weekend. The Welsh region had shown good form up until Friday night’s 18-12 loss at home to Ulster, and their history against Leinster is a favourable one.
That history has seen the Ospreys beat Leinster in two Pro12 finals, but this will be the first time the sides have met in the Heineken Cup. Last season, Leinster failed to advance beyond the pool stages of the tournament, having lost home and away to Clermont.
O’Brien only managed to play in three of his side’s six pool games due to a hip injury, and says that not being part of the knock-out stages of a competition they have become synonymous with was difficult for Leinster to come to terms with.
“It was, there is no point saying anything different. Going out the way we did, and performing at times they way we did at crucial stages, it wasn’t pleasing.
The good thing about it is it’s a new year now and we can make up for what we didn’t do last year, hopefully. There is no point saying we aren’t going out to win the Heineken Cup. That is what every club wants to do and we are no different.”
A fourth trophy is in their sights after last season’s Amlin Challenge Cup win, but the focus is understandably on the short-term and getting over the first hurdle in the form of the Ospreys. Having been dominated by Munster at the breakdown last weekend, that will be a particular area of focus for Leinster this week.
Opposite O’Brien is likely to be fellow Lion Justin Tipuric, something of a menace at ruck time. The Welshman is a ‘classic’ openside in that he is quick over the ball and is always on the lookout for a turnover. However, O’Brien is confident that leading English referee Wayne Barnes will allow Leinster to compete fairly at the breakdown.
“I think he will manage the breakdown especially, a lot better than last week. It was a bit of a free for all [against Munster]. There was no guidance from the official [Romain Poite] and hopefully Wayne gets that part of the game right this week and hopefully it will be a cracking game.”
Whatever about the referee, Leinster fans must be hoping that O’Brien brings his most explosive, decisive form to bear this weekend and ensures it is the Ospreys’ defensive line that is cracking.
