Big guns make return as Leinster get serious

RABO DIRECT PRO 12:

It is probably more a case of wishing they could start it again for both sides, given the less-than-satisfactory manner they have stuttered through the three opening weeks of the season.

Having won their first game, against Scarlets, Leinster have had to settle for a draw with Ospreys before slumping to defeat in Glasgow. Cardiff? Played three, lost two, including last week’s mortifying home loss to Zebre.

That some of the summer’s heroes from Australia have returned is something of a fillip then with Sam Warburton back in harness after injury weeks earlier than expected and joining fellow Oz tourists Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny in the XV.

In all, coach Phil Davies has made five changes from the side that earned the unenviable distinction of being the first to lose to the Italian franchise — at the 25th time of asking.

Leinster too have opted for freshness.

In for their season debuts come Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip while Rob Kearney and Cian Healy move up from the bench to starting slots. Fergus McFadden and lock Quinn Roux are in too, after recent injury-enforced absences.

Perhaps most noteworthy is the selection of Ian Madigan at 10 for the first time in this nascent campaign after two stints at full-back, and with Munster and the Heineken Cup round one fixture just around the corner.

The team sheet alone would suggest bigger and better things from Leinster, who were deeply unhappy with their performance in Scoutstown last weekend but, as Matt O’Connor admits, juggling such resources isn’t plain sailing.

“The guys coming back on that staggered return makes it difficult,” he said. “It means that you’re probably not playing the brand of rugby you want to as early as potentially otherwise but it’s a long season.

“It’s making sure that you pick up enough points along the way — a bit like (last) Friday night, (that) when you’re not at your best, you’re still good enough to be there or thereabouts, take the losing point away, come back, regroup at home and build from there.”

Leinster: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, N Reid, D Kearney; I Madigan, I Boss; C Healy, S Cronin, M Moore; D Toner, Q Roux; R Ruddock, D Ryan, J Heaslip.