McLaughlin ready for tough mission
In a league which places high value on beef and physicality, it speaks volumes that Fabien Galthie’s men have earned a reputation as something akin to schoolboy bullies.
“It’s not a whole lot different to preparing for the Racing [Metro] game last season,” he said.
“I didn’t play in either but I remember the build-up was all about how in the French Top 14 they pick the biggest possible pack they can and try to bully you. We know we are going to have to be very physical, especially in their own backyard, and try to move them about.
“Try and play our high-tempo game. That is the way to play teams like that because if you try and take them on physically by playing a mauling, slow game there is only going to be one winner. In that respect, playing Munster last Friday was probably a good warm-up for it in that they are a reasonably similar team in grinding teams down.”
Two of McLaughlin’s three outings in France resulted in defeats to Toulouse but the third was an altogether more enriching experience.
Brive had won the Heineken Cup in 1998 but only returned to the competition 12 years later with McLaughlin touching down twice in their contest on their comeback.
“That was a big game for me because I got dropped for it,” he recalled.
“I remember Hinesy [Nathan Hines] went in at six and it was the first time that I had been dropped that season. I came on and played well. From then on I kept my place for the rest of the season so it would have significant memories for me.”
That Brive side had been compiled expensively and was a veritable League of Nations but Leinster exposed their lack of heart and guts. A repeat is not expected at the Stade de la Mosson.
“It is going to be a lot tougher this weekend. That Brive team weren’t exactly world-beaters and they had one eye on the domestic league that year.
“Montpellier are flying at the moment after getting to the final of the Top 14 last year.
“Their domestic form hasn’t been exactly brilliant this year but they have a couple of key guys who have come back now in [Fulgence] Ouedragao and [Francois] Trinh-Duc, guys that are really critical to the way they play.
“They have a huge pack as well and they are playing in a soccer stadium so it is a huge evening for them.”
McLaughlin’s versatility, he can play in the second or back rows, gives him options. Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings and Sean O’Brien are in situ in the back row while the field is less crowded at lock where the only other contestant to deputise for Leo Cullen and Devin Toner is Steven Sykes. With attrition a likely factor on Saturday, the odds are that McLaughlin will fit in somewhere at some point.
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