Schmidt waits on Healy and plays up Glasgow threat
Sean Lineen’s side claimed four points against Bath on the opening weekend thanks to an injury-time try under the posts by Richie Gray and that touchdown secured the side’s fifth win on the trot ahead of their trip to Dublin this Sunday.
“We know them well and they’ll travel to the RDS on Sunday with confidence, having defeated us here earlier this season in the PRO12,” said Schmidt. “They’ll take great heart from their rousing late victory over Bath, where they displayed great heart to fight back and get the win.
“They have a lot of international experience and have certainly benefited from the return of their World Cup players like Richie Gray, Alistair Kellock and Graeme Morrison. They also have a strong back-row unit, and with Rob Dewey and Troy Nathan, they would have a fair bit of insight regarding Leinster from their times with Ulster and Connacht, respectively. There is always a threat whenever you face teams from your own league so we’re expecting another big challenge.”
Leinster are hopeful Cian Healy will be available for selection having sat out last weekend’s trip to Montpellier after tweaking a glute muscle training earlier in the week and being replaced by Heinke van der Merwe in the XV.
The South African endured a difficult afternoon in the scrums opposite the Argentinian tighthead Maximiliano Bustos but, some dented pride apart, there are no other new injury concerns for Schmidt who will name his side on Friday lunchtime. The only other injury worry, aside from long-term absenctees Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Mat Berquist, is Dominic Ryan who damaged an ankle skippering Leinster A last week.
As with any draw, there were positives and negatives for both sides to extract from the game at the Stade de la Mosson, but Leinster may have reason to be the happier if only because it took a late, late Jonathan Sexton penalty to secure the share of the spoils.
The sight of the 6’ 6” lock Mickael Demarco punching the padding surrounding the posts after the crucial kick went over spoke volumes for the disappointment felt by the home team who led by 10 points entering the final quarter.
“It was a bittersweet mood in the dressing room afterwards because we feel as though we had opportunities to win,” said Schmidt. “But we weren’t as clinical as we needed to be. Credit to Montpellier who displayed real aggression and competed for everything.
“They were a real handful at the breakdown and scrambled very well in defence. They’re a good side who are likely to have a big say in the pool.”
Like Schmidt, who came to Leinster via Clermont Auvergne, Damian Browne knows the value of two points in France, having spent time there with Brive and it shouldn’t be forgotten Leinster came through their pool last year despite taking one point less in their coach’s old backyard.
Add in Leinster’s continuing attempts to reintegrate their internationals post-World Cup — as well as the likes of Browne who are newly-arrived at the club — and it translates into a more-than-satisfactory starting point in their bid to retain the trophy.
“Take it from my perspective,” said the Galway man. “I’ve only got to know some of the lads. I only got to meet them three weeks ago. It’s surreal that they were my teammates for three or four months and I’ve only got to meet them. It was my first time on Saturday playing with some so it’s going to take a while. We are aware we have to improve in quite a lot of areas. It is only November. The Heineken Cup can only be lost now, it can’t be won.”
And so to Glasgow.
It is only two months since they sacked the RDS in the PRO12. It was the Warriors’ first ever win in Dublin, at the 13th attempt and ended an unbeaten home record that had stretched to 28 games in all competitions.
“It’s very fresh in our minds,” said Browne who played that day.
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