Bath clash gives players opportunity to impress Schmidt

While Leinster believe there is an onus on them to compete in this week's dead rubber against Bath for league momentum, Joe Schmidt will keep a wary eye on proceedings.

With Cian Healy recovering from a knee "clean out" and the hamstring of Mike Ross making him unavailable until "around" Six Nations time, Schmidt could be without two thirds of a possible first-choice frontrow for Ireland's home game against Wales on February 7th.

Healy and Ross are just two of a batch of Leinster players in recovery mode with Jamie Heaslip undergoing return-to-play protocols and Luke Fitzgerald being treated for a stinger as Leinster strive to arrest an unprecedented five pool defeats in succession.

"Mike Ross (hamstring) won't be back until around the Six Nations," said Leinster manager Guy Easterby.

“When Cian was banned he had elective surgery. It made sense to have that done when he wasn’t able to be selected. He’ll be touch and go for Six Nations. Jamie did the first phase of the return-to-play protocols yesterday without any issues.”

Longer-term injuries are Jack Conan, Hayden Triggs and Mick Kearney.

‘Strongest team possible’

While the weekend is a dead rubber in terms of Leinster’s qualification, assistant coach Kurt McQuilkin believes in sending out the strongest team possible. The defence coach said Leinster will not use the match as a grooming exercise.

“We are going to put out the best side we feel we can,” said McQuilkin. “There’s no intention of putting out any second rate side. We are going to put out the best team we think can do a job for us.

‘Dead rubber’

“Even though this is a dead rubber you cherish these matches, these quality teams coming and playing in your back yard . . .”

Dead rubber it may be but with players like Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier and Luke McGrath hoping for Schmidt's attention, the fag end of a lousy pool phase is freighted with a different type of baggage.

The team are also looking for momentum to face Dragons at the end of January just before Ireland heads into the Six Nations phase. As it was during the World Cup, players again have to step up. "We want to keep that momentum up," said McQuilkin. "We know exactly what they [Bath] are going to bring so it will be another rugged, physical encounter. We're obviously going to have to be aware of their pace out in the wider channels."

The temptation is to throw younger players in. But there’s a reasoned view that policy can be as destructive as it is beneficial.

“Those young guys are very talented footballers and very capable footballers,” said McQuilkin. “We had meetings during the week with Leo, the coaching group, whether we think the time’s right to put them out there. There’s a few things to be weighed up.”

Perhaps more than a few.