RUGBY:AS EXPECTED, Michael Cheika has recalled 16 players involved in last month's international window who were rested against the Dragons last Sunday for this Saturday's first of pivotal, back-to-back meetings with Heineken Cup pool six leaders the Scarlets.
Ultimately, it’s possible only CJ van der Linde will retain his place from the starting line-up at Rodney Parade.
Included in the squad is Stanley Wright, absent since early October, and Girvan Dempsey, who remains doubtful with the ankle injury he sustained in training last week. With Luke Fitzgerald sidelined, the expectation must be that Rob Kearney will start at fullback with Isa Nacewa and Shane Horgan on the wings, as Cheika effectively confirmed that Shaun Berne will deputise for the injured Jonathan Sexton at outhalf.
Given Leinster’s increased contribution to Ireland, Cheika always feared that the November window would leave the European champions with a casualty or two, and he was phlegmatic about the loss of Sexton and Fitzgerald.
“Johnny has got a lot of influence on the team but we have a lot of confidence in Shaun Berne. He will be doing the job this weekend and will be doing it very well, I am sure.”
Cheika admitted Leinster had explored the possibility of signing Matt Giteau on a short contract. But the IRFU’s Player Advisory Group had stipulated that any deal could only be until December 25th – a Santa clause, you could say – which deterred both Leinster and the Australian Rugby Union.
“A lot of people would say you have to have confidence in the players on your team, but we have 100 per cent confidence in everyone. The first person I would have told about us having looked there would have been Shaun (Berne). But it’s not just a matter of this week. There are other weeks after this, and if we take another injury in the back line that is a chunk of your back line.”
Nacewa is back in training after being given time off to be with his wife Simone after their twins, Mia Rose and Ellie Milika, were born eight weeks early.
The Leinster coach accepts that this is win-or-bust time for the champions. “It’s now a situation that the teams in this group are pretty much staring each other down and it’s going to be who blinks first. It’s an interesting set of circumstances. Irish will have to go to Scarlets; Scarlets have to come here; Brive have to come here; we have to go to Irish. It’s pretty complicated. It’s going to go down to the last day. But, for us, our only possible outlook can be on going down to Llanelli and winning the match on the weekend.”
Describing the Scarlets as “pretty carefree”, Cheika added: “They’re playing running rugby, they’ve got some great attack and they’ve got a really good 8-9-10 axis. (David) Lyons has played better football in Europe than he ever played in Australia. Martin Roberts has really come on, played for Wales a bit in the autumn, and Stephen Jones is a class operator. So they’re very well managed there.”
Meanwhile, Paul O’Connell has revealed he aggravated cramp in Munster training last Friday but, like the recalled Jerry Flannery, David Wallace and Denis Leamy, is “feeling good” ahead of Friday’s meeting at home to Perpignan.
Admitting that Munster’s form is “probably a bit of a concern”, he added: “I don’t think the guys underestimate this game. The Ulster game was a great game for us to get going with – back home against Ulster who were flying high. Same again this weekend now against Perpignan, who are a very strong side and French champions. It’s a great game for us to get back on the horse.”
LEINSTER (squad v Scarlets, Sat, 6pm): Forwards: C Healy, L Cullen, J Fogarty, J Heaslip, N Hines, B Jackman, R McCormack, S Keogh, K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, M O’Kelly, M Ross, D Toner, CJ van der Linde, S Wright. Backs: S Berne, G D’Arcy, G Dempsey, S Horgan, C Keane, R Kearney, S Keogh, F McFadden, I Nacewa, P O’Donohoe, B O’Driscoll, E Reddan.
