Leinster have the muscle to win it

Match preview

Leinster may not be quite the team that bestrode Europe as champions for three out of four years, but Harlequins would appear to be a paler version of the side that claimed a first Premiership title only two years ago.

Matt O’Connor has dismissed talk of Quins’ domestic form, but then it suits him to given Conor O’Shea’s side lie ninth in the Premiership. The Leinster coach has been more vocal on their European results after their defeats of Castres and Wasps.

For the record, Castres lie bottom of the Top 14. Wasps, whom Harlequins have been beaten domestically as well, lie seventh in the English top flight and that is the highest-ranked side Quins have overcome this year.

O’Shea has called his England lads back in and, in players like Chris Robshaw, Joe Marler, Danny Care and Mike Brown, the hosts have some calibre to call on even if the quantity of quality player hardly bears comparison to Leinster.

Neither side boasts a bench of game-changing proportions, but O’Connor has the superior starting 15 at The Stoop tomorrow.

Ian Madigan starts at centre again, while Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald (fingers crossed), Mike McCarthy and Kane Douglas have all recovered from problems to be named in the 15 or, in the latter’s case, the 23.

O’Connor all but admitted Leinster will look to overcome Quins in an arm wrestle given the qualities of the packs and doing so would negate the English side’s liking for a free-flowing, less predictable game. It’s three seasons since Leinster last conquered Europe, but they still have the muscle memory to get this type of job done.