Opportunity knocks again for greatest of Rabo rivals

Few rugby players are more vociferous in their support of the RaboDirect PRO12 than Leinster’s Eoin Reddan.

The Limerick native has been championing the provinces’ ‘bread and butter’ tournament ever since his return from exile with London Wasps five years ago and his exasperation with the constant focus on the Heineken Cup on these shores is to be admired.

On media duties earlier this week, Reddan raised the point yet again when he faced numerous questions on the future prospects of the Heineken Cup when the Ospreys — Leinster’s nemesis time and again in recent times — were due in town today.

The rivalry between the two clubs has mushroomed to such an extent in recent times that, for Leinster, it is routinely the undoubted highlight of their entire Rabo campaign outside of the provincial derbies.

But maybe not this time.

Much of the bite in this fixture emanated from the ability of the Welsh region to deny Leinster two league titles in the space of three years in the end-of-season death match and yet even that pill has been easier to swallow since last May.

“Succeeding last year in the final made that hurt that little bit less but it’s a new season, a new coach for us and a new emphasis for us,” said Leinster assistant coach Jono Gibbes.

We have become accustomed to watching these two battle it out at the season’s end, both buttressed by a full complement of stars, yet this round two encounter at the RDS this evening will lack the fire (and star) power of late.

The clubs boast 10 of the victorious 2013 British and Irish Lions squad between them — evenly split five and five — yet only three will feature this evening with Ian Evans starting at lock for the visitors while Adam Jones and Richard Hibbard beginning on the bench.

Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric have been afforded a longer lead-in before returning to competitive action while all five of Leinster’s Lions — Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney — are still smothered in cotton wool.

In that light, and with Luke Fitzgerald recovering from the groin problem that forced his early withdrawal in Wales, it was no surprise to see Matt O’Connor name the same backline as started away to Scarlets last week.

That means another run out for Jimmy Gopperth at 10, even if the sight of Ian Madigan on the replacement’s bench suggests the new out-half will hardly see the 80th minute, while injury to Fergus McFadden allows young Brendan Macken to continue at 13 for now.

O’Connor has chosen to up the ante up front, however, with Kevin McLaughlin, Richardt Strauss, Mike McCarthy and Mike Ross all drafted into the pack. For McCarthy, it will be his first start and first outing at the RDS as a Leinster player since joining from Connacht.

Not too shabby, then, if not nearly full-strength.

“Leinster away is always tough and we wouldn’t expect it to be any different this weekend,” said Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy, who is also having to make do without former Wales captain Ryan Jones who suffered a shoulder injury in Italy last weekend.

“They’ve got strength in depth and whatever team they pick we know that, as a team, we are going to have to be at our best to be able to build on the win in Treviso and keep the momentum going.”

Still plenty to play for, then.