Neath-Swansea expect tough clash with Leinster

NEATH-SWANSEA Ospreys don’t quite know what to expect when they take on Leinster at Donnybrook this evening in the Celtic Cup quarter-final.

Not that Welsh coach Lyn Jones should be so confused given Leinster’s recent performances in the Celtic League, losing their opening games to Munster and the Celtic Warriors.

“We’re not quite sure of what to expect, to be honest, but we do anticipate a very tough game. Leinster, we’re told, are to be without several of their leading players, but we won’t take much of that into consideration because Irish rugby is very strong at the moment.

“We have had our problems and we fully realise that, unlike the league, we get just one chance in this game.”

Form to date favours the visitors on the basis that they have won one and lost one of their two league encounters. Leinster were dealt a cruel blow last week when a late try saw them lose out by seven points to the Warriors. Coach Gary Ella is determined that this game is an opportunity to set the record straight.

“We lost at home to Munster and really could have done with something better in Wales. Instead, we have to be happy with the bonus points we picked up along the way. Hopefully, we can go one better in this.”

Meanwhile, the Connacht rugby team will hold an open training session in Portumna next Tuesday. The session will take place in Portumna Community School. Pupils at the school have been invited to attend, along with pupils from the adjacent St Brendan’s National School.

The training session will get underway at 12.15 and free tickets will be handed out to all pupils from the two schools for Connacht’s Celtic League clash with The Borders at the Sportsground on October 11. Players will be available after the training session to meet young fans.

The session is open to the public and rugby coaches in the area are especially invited to drop in.

The Portumna session follows successful visits to Sligo and Ballina last month as the Connacht team spread the game throughout the province.

LEINSTER: G. D’Arcy, J. McWeeney, K. Lewis, C. Warner, B. Burke, M. Leek, B. O’Riordan, J. Lyne, G. Hickie, E. Byrne, A. Kearney, B. Gissing, A. McCullen (captain), D. Dillon, S. Jennings. Replacements: P. Coyle, D. Blaney, N. Breslin, N. Ronan, B. O’Meara, D. Quinlan, G. Brown.