Strauss returns to give Leinster further boost

Sean O’Brien’s signature may have dominated the news agenda yesterday but a memorable morning for Leinster was capped just hours later when news of Richardt Strauss’s return to action was confirmed.

It is less than three months since the Ireland international underwent surgery for a heart problem yet he starts tonight’s Heineken Cup clash against Ospreys at the RDS from the bench, three months ahead of the expected schedule.

O’Brien — whose shoulder injury will keep him sidelined for a number of months — aside, Leinster are in fine fettle with Cian Healy starting after his own return from the casualty ward in Castres last week as a second-half replacement.

The prop replaces Jack McGrath and is one of four changes Matt O’Connor has made to the pack after that win in France. Another allows Mike Ross a rare chance to put his feet up on the bench as Martin Moore starts at tighthead.

The back row sees Shane Jennings and Rhys Ruddock slip in for Kevin McLaughlin and Jordi Murphy but the second row and back line remain unchanged against side missing a dozen players through injury.

That said, Ospreys can call on all six of their British and Irish Lions in the pack while Dan Biggar will look to pull the strings for a back division which is far from the stellar version the Ospreys could call on just a few years ago.

The visitors have nothing to play for beyond pride, and they arrive in the capital with the sounds of war between the WRU and the regions ringing in their ears, but coach Steve Tandy has talked up their motivations regardless.

Both sides have had to contend with the shortcomings of a five-day turnaround and, though Leinster need no more than a point to guarantee their progression to the quarter-finals ahead of Northampton, there is unlikely to be any hint of complacency.

Ospreys boast a record in Dublin that should see to that alone and the pool leaders also have the benefit of the lesson learned last month when a reduction in intensity after the win in Franklin’s Gardens saw them fall to the Saints a week later at home.

“We’ve got to make sure that we are more accurate and are more physical,” said head coach O‘Connor. “The thing that probably let us down the most that night was the start, giving Northampton the ability to dictate terms because they were in front on the scoreboard.

“We’ll be looking for a big start, we’ll be making sure that we don’t give them cheap opportunities for Biggar to get them into the game and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.”