O’Brien out for final as Schmidt takes issue with Gatland
Warren Gatland ruled the Carlow man out of contention for this game and the Lions outings against the Barbarians and Western Force earlier this week and in doing so raised the ire of Leinster who claimed no decision had been made on their man.
“Again, as of Saturday evening, he’s no longer our player,” said Schmidt yesterday. “So it’s not for me to say. I think it’s unfortunate when people do say about players who aren’t theirs and so it’s not something I’d like to comment on.”
O’Brien’s bruised knee has deprived Leinster of a key cog this evening but Schmidt has opted for a further five voluntary changes, with Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Leo Cullen, Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings and Ian Madigan drafted in.
Schmidt rails against the phrase ‘first-choice team’ but that is clearly what it is and he will hope his mixing and matching pays off against an Ulster side that hasn’t played since their semi-final defeat of Scarlets 15 days ago.
It was hardly a shock then to see coach Mark Anscombe make just one change to his 23 from that day, with John Afoa recovering from a hamstring strain. His return sees Declan Fitzpatrick switch to the bench and Rocky Lutton relegated to a watching brief.
As a derby and a final to boot, this is unlikely to be adorned with endless free-flowing rugby although both sides will be expected to show more ambition than, say, Toulon who overcame Clermont last week with a by-the-numbers game plan.
“This is a massive match that everyone at Ulster is looking forward to,” said Anscombe. “In recent seasons Ulster have been the bridesmaids too often. We have done our learning – it’s now time to step up and to prove that we are good enough.”
Cardiff and Scarlets can attest to Ulster’s strength here having been dismantled in recent weeks and it says everything about the province’s strengths in this department that they continued to perform at seemingly peak powers even at those times when tighthead John Afoa was back in New Zealand. 4.5/5
Beasted by Ulster in Ravenhill before Christmas, Leinster fans will be thankful that there is no Michael Bent for Tom Court to shove around this time. Perhaps not one of the absolute top scrummaging units around but one that rarely finds itself in serious trouble nevertheless. Some serious reserves to call on, too. 4/5
Went badly awry at times in the latter stages of their thwarted European campaign — it was a botched lineout deep in opposition territory that finally ended their hopes against Saracens in the quarter-final — but back up to speed lately with inspirational captain Johann Muller calling the shots as always. 4/5
Leo Cullen returns in place of Quinn Roux and will, like Muller, call the plays and the presence of 6’11” Devin Toner alongside him this week gives Leinster an almost guaranteed supply of possession from the throw-in and offers the opportunity to pilfer if Rory Best is not dead-on accurate. 4/5
Joe Schmidt has pinpointed the scavenging abilities of men like Rory Best and Chris Henry this week and Ulster will be confident they can give another ferocious display in this regard. Front-foot ball has been the mantra in Belfast this week while frustrating Leinster again will be critical. 4.5/5
Drafting Shane Jennings back into the first XV should aid Leinster here as there have been games recently — against Ulster in late March and Glasgow in the Pro12 semi-final — when they have come off second-best. Expect this to be every bit as attritional as the Clermont-Toulon Heineken decider down the road in the Aviva last weekend. 4/5
Ruan Pienaar (inset) will continue to direct Ulster from the scrum-half slot. The South African is by some distance the senior partner alongside the evolving Paddy Jackson and his clever tactical kicking will be allied to his duties taking pots on goal. Cool as ice. 4/5
Jonathan Sexton can be prone to the odd shank but, by and large, his place-kicking is sublime and his tactical abilities with the boot seem to be improving all the time as the years roll by. Cross kicks have been a particular feature of his arsenal this season with a handful of tries coming from just such a tactic. 4.5 /5
Joe Schmidt has also suggested that the respective back threes could be the ultimate difference. Ulster’s Irish wings, Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble, need little introduction and Jared Payne brings class, direction and leadership too. Stuart Olding, at inside-centre, is set to be a star. A dangerous unit. 4/5
Gordon D’Arcy’s piston legs and ability to demand two or three tacklers will be missed but the presence of Ian Madigan gives Leinster an extra playmaker option in midfield and their movement and handling out wide has been sublime at times in recent weeks with Rob Kearney beginning to sparkle again with ball in hand. 4.5/5
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