Matt O’Connor: Jamie Heaslip plays against Castres

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 his captain will return against Castres tomorrow.

The Naas No. 8 was forced off 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 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.