O’Shea: Leinster have had ‘nice’ layoff

Conor O’Shea says the fact Leinster’s internationals have an extra week to prepare for Sunday’s European Rugby Champions Cup clash gives them an advantage over his Harlequins side.

But O’Shea insists his men are ready for battle and is not concerned the Harlequins scrum will be targeted by the visiting pack.

Ireland’s perfect Autumn campaign finished with victory over Australia on November 23 and Matt O’Connor was able to rest the likes of Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney for Leinster’s victory over Ospreys on Saturday. But, on the same day, Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown, Joe Marler and Marland Yarde were turning out for England in their fourth game of the Autumn Series, beating Australia after narrow defeats to New Zealand and South Africa, and a brutal win over Samoa.