MAGNERS LEAGUE/Leinster v Connacht:AN INJURY may usher in a dark cloud for one player while representing a silver lining to a colleague. Stephen Keogh would understand. In the past couple of months he's seen Seán O'Brien suffer a broken leg and, more recently, Kevin McLaughlin sidelined with a shoulder problem.
From a point where there was something of a logjam to try to muscle into the starting backrow at Leinster, the province has become increasingly reliant on Keogh. He’s responded in exemplary fashion, producing a number of excellent displays.
Today at the RDS he’ll anchor the Leinster breakaway trio, flanked by Ireland Under-20 championship-winning captain Rhys Ruddock and Shane Jennings.
McLaughlin may be fit for the coming matches against Munster and Clermont Auvergne, and Jamie Heaslip will return after being rested today, but coach Michael Cheika will want Keogh to maintain that form.
Initially making a big impact when moving from Munster, the arrival of Rocky Elsom and the emergence of O’Brien and McLaughlin saw him slip down the pecking order. He’s worked hard on his game and a reward is the current opportunity he enjoys.
“I’ve had more games now and am a bit smarter around the field,” Keogh admitted. “I’m probably not running as much but am trying to run smarter lines and doing things like that. I’m more confident as well. When you get a bit older you just want to play rugby and take each day as it comes and each match as it comes and I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of games.
“I think when David Knox came here he made me stay on after training sessions and I was doing a lot of handling with him. That’s helped my game. You play cleverer and more heads-up rugby; you don’t just stick the head down and run into the first person you see.
“The lads who don’t get many games, who might only get one or two opportunities, maybe bitch in the dressingroom about not getting games: but when your time comes you have to step up to the plate and play well or there’s no one to blame only yourself.”
His remit this afternoon is to give Leinster the front-foot ball to release a backline that even in the absence of Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Shane Horgan still possesses plenty of ability. Fergus McFadden and Isa Nacewa are the only players to retain the positions in which they started the team’s most recent outing, a victory over the Glasgow Warriors.
Rob Kearney, Jonathan Sexton and Eoin Reddan return from Ireland duty, while Girvan Dempsey (right wing) and Shaun Berne (inside centre) shift positions to accommodate the internationals.
Cheika has rejigged the frontrow, with hooker John Fogarty fit again following injury, and Stan Wright starts at loosehead prop.
Leo Cullen is back to captain the side from the secondrow while Shane Jennings will provide that hard-nosed nous at openside. The inclusion of Ruddock is recognition for a talented young forward.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made eight changes from the side that beat the Dragons, several necessitated by injury. Brian Tuohy, Aidan Wynne, Miah Nikora and Frank Murphy are introduced behind the scrum, while Robbie Morris, Bernie Upton, Mike McComish and Johnny O’Connor beef up the pack.
Leading points scorer, outhalf Ian Keatley, and Ireland reserve hooker Seán Cronin start on the bench. Gavin Duffy will captain the side.
The teams may be separated by the breadth of the Magners League table, but Connacht rarely allow their hosts a comfortable passage, which Keogh knows well.
“Connacht always lift themselves for these games. They are a very physical side and a proud side as well. They have a few home-grown players now that really care about Connacht rugby and when they come to Leinster they might see themselves as underdogs and they lift themselves. We have to lift ourselves in the same way.”
The home side know the importance of winning their home games as a minimum requirement in securing a home semi-final in the end-of-season play-offs and, though under-strength this afternoon, it is not as if they are fielding a callow team. Connacht have been ornery visitors, and, while they could win, Leinster should.
LEINSTER: R Kearney; G Dempsey, F McFadden, S Berne, I Nacewa; J Sexton, E Reddan; S Wright, J Fogarty, M Ross; L Cullen (capt), M O’Kelly; R Ruddock, S Jennings, Stephen Keogh. Replacements: B Jackman, CJ van der Linde, D Toner, P Ryan, P O’Donohue, E O’Malley, Simon Keogh.
Connacht: G Duffy (capt); B Tuohy, A Wynne, K Matthews, F Carr; M Nikora, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M McCarthy; B Upton; M McComish, J O’Connor, G Naoupu. Replacements: S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, A Browne, C O’Loughlin, I Keatley, T Nathan.
Referee: J Garces (France)
Verdict: Leinster to win.
