LEINSTER HAVE the chance to make history by becoming the first side to win three Heineken Cups in a row but less than a fortnight out from their defence of the trophy, Joe Schmidt yesterday admitted they looked in much better health prior to the last two successful European campaigns.
The European champions have often been struggling for form at this juncture of the season, but what makes their current performance levels so alarming is the enforced lack of continuity in selection and an horrendous injury list. They have used the most players (34) of any Irish province in their five league games and have conceded the most tries (18) in the league.
All of which prompted Schmidt to concede candidly: “I certainly feel more pressure than we’ve ever had in my three years. In the two previous years I kind of felt that we had a bit more of a run-in, we’d had a full team and we could at least build in a certain direction.
“I do feel that we’re a little bit more jumbled at the moment and that’s something we have to address and the players have to work really hard this week to make sure that they’re all very much in tune with how and what we’re trying to do.”
Schmidt has been forced to make a minimum of seven changes per week this season, and with Seán O’Brien, Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney, Eoin O’Malley, Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock already sidelined, more will be forced upon him against Munster given the return of front-liners. Furthermore, Rob Kearney, Gordon D’Arcy and Quinton Roux shipped knocks in the 34-6 defeat to Connacht.
“I’d say Exeter might be tight but Scarlets would be realistic,” forecast Schmidt regarding Kearney, while he is “hopeful but not confident” of D’Arcy playing on Saturday and Roux is probably out for a couple of weeks.
With a limited timeframe to find some continuity and form, Schmidt acknowledged the need to “at least put a good performance together this weekend against Munster, because that will form a basis for us to springboard into the Heineken Cup games that follow.”
Old rivals Clermont extended their unbeaten home run at Stade Marcel Michelin to 47 games after their 28-25 win over Stade Francais on Friday night.
“People have said a lot about Clermont being in our pool but that is absolutely irrelevant if we don’t get two good performances in these two Heineken Cup matches that are coming up,” he said, in reference to the home game against debutants Exeter and away to the Scarlets.
Speaking against the backdrop of the Aviva main pitch where Leinster will host Munster on Saturday night, and where this season’s Heineken Cup final will be played next May, Schmidt maintained “nothing could compare to (their pool draw) two years ago” when Leinster somehow secured a home quarter-final from “a bizarre pool” containing Clermont, then French champions, Racing Metro and Saracens, who became English champions.
Schmidt has been “impressed” with Exeter and their coach Rob Baxter, also citing the arrival of Wallabies and Waratahs lock Dean Mumm, and return of Argentinian winger Gonzalo Camacho. “They play a very expansive game, so for me Exeter are going to be very tough.”
“I think the Scarlets have got a super loose (forward) trio in (Josh) Turnbull, (Rob) McClusker and (Aaron) Shingler,” added Schmidt, adding with an awed chuckle that “Shingler ran away from a number of our players five weeks ago when we had backs chasing him down and you don’t have to talk too much about (George) North, (Jonathan) Davies, (Rhys) Priestland, (Scott) Williams, Travis Knoyle and Liam Williams was player of the day that day, so they’ve got a complete Welsh backline.
“So those two teams are going to be tough enough without even talking about the international quality of Clermont.”
