Jamie Heaslip returns to Leinster action following injury

Leinster’s recent upswing in form may have coincided with the rare absence of an injured Jamie Heaslip from the line-up, but Matt O’Connor clearly isn’t the superstitious type, given his declaration that his captain will return against Castres tomorrow.

The Naas No. 8 was forced off the field 28 minutes into the province’s Guinness Pro12 fixture at home to Ulster at the start of January and the team has since pushed on to deliver a much-improved second half against their northern neighbours and a four-try salvo away to Cardiff.

There was a line of thought that Heaslip would perhaps be given another week to recuperate his shoulder, given Castres are expected to arrive with a second-string side and a coaching staff whose minds may well remain in France, where they languish second-from-bottom in the Top 14.