Connacht reserve their best for derby days, warns Keogh

THE popularity of rugby in Ireland is such that a fixture between Leinster and Connacht in Dublin today (RDS, 4.30pm) has a guaranteed attendance of almost 14,000.

Indeed, with walk-up facilities in place, the crowd could swell close on the 18,500 capacity and that is a sign Irish rugby is in a pretty healthy position.

But Magners League table-toppers Leinster won’t be taking any chances against a Connacht side that has posed serious problems for all-comers this season. The men from the west might well be in the lower reaches of the table, but they will be treated as serious opposition by Michael Cheika’s Leinster.

The Australian coach is conscious how much Michael Bradley’s Connacht are capable of producing an upset, given the result in Galway last season, and he (Cheika) has had no hesitation in bringing captain Leo Cullen back into the fray after his contribution to Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.

Cullen joins fellow Ireland internationals Shane Jennings, Malcolm O’Kelly and Mike Ross in the pack, alongside Rhys Ruddock, who makes his second appearance for the province, and his home debut, after leading the Ireland U-20’s to the Six Nations title.

Eoin Reddan links up at half-back with Jonathan Sexton, with Shaun Berne shifting to inside centre. Girvan Dempsey, a try scorer in the 20-14 victory over the Glasgow Warriors last time out, starts on the right wing to accommodate the return of Rob Kearney.

Connacht make eight changes from the team that defeated Newport Gwent Dragons; coach Bradley has called up Brian Tuohy, Adrian Wynne, Miah Nikora and Frank Murphy to the back division, with Bernie Upton, Mike McComish and Johnny O’Connor recalled to the pack.

Gavin Duffy captains the side in the absence of John Muldoon — ruled out with a groin injury — while Ray Ofisa is another made unavailable through injury.

Leinster number eight Stephen Keogh has been to the forefront of the charge made by the province in recent weeks to strengthen a challenge for the title. With many of the players on international duty, Keogh appears to have prospered and made a big leap back into contention for a regular place in the back row.

Keogh has seen action with Munster as well as Leinster and is conscious Bradley’s Connacht won’t do his side any favours.

He said: “It’s going to be a hugely difficult game. Connacht aren’t far off making a big impact and they always seem to target and reserve their best for Irish opposition. They have had their ups and downs, but keep on bouncing back. I know they finished last the last couple of seasons, but I think, in many of the games we’ve seen, they’ve lost by less than seven or won them, so they’re always pretty close.”

Keogh hopes they won’t be that close today. He knows the match represents a huge opportunity for Leinster and for his own personal ambition to break back into the serious business of Heineken Cup rugby given he has had a run of matches in the last two months.

“I’m loving it. I’ve got a good run now, starting with the British and Irish Cup and then moving in to the Magners League. I’ve really enjoyed it and it’s been going pretty ok, so hopefully we’ll push on to the rest of the season.”

For a Munster man, that would include a possible appearance at Thomond Park on Good Friday and he would relish that chance, albeit “with reservations”.