PRO12 LEAGUE Leinster v Scarlets:RETAINING KEVIN McLaughlin as captain indicates a shift in the core leadership group at Leinster.
However, the club values remain the same. The second-stringers’ 42-8 trouncing of Treviso last weekend proved as much.
“We’re trying to build a culture here. No matter what team goes out we try to play the same brand of rugby,” says McLaughlin, even sounding like absent leaders Leo Cullen, Shane Horgan and Brian O’Driscoll.
“The guys who played (last) weekend that hadn’t been playing many games this season would have been sitting in on all our video sessions, where Joe (Schmidt) is constantly hammering home all the lessons that we try and learn from games.”
The release by Ireland of centre pair Eoin O’Malley and Fergus McFadden, along with scrumhalf Eoin Reddan, gives Schmidt enough scope to rotate the forwards. Jack McGrath, Seán Cronin and Jamie Hagan make up an all-Irish frontrow, while Rhys Ruddock gets an opportunity to shine from number eight.
Ruddock has turned down the increased exposure that would immediately follow by switching allegiance to Munster, opting to try and muscle his way into the Leinster backrow. That tells you all you need to know about the mentality of the individual and the club in general.
If Ian Madigan was place-kicking instead of Isa Nacewa, he would be a live threat to Jonathan Sexton by now. Much like Dave Kearney’s rise to prominence has him sitting on an Irish bench before commanding regular game time at provincial level, while Brendan Macken’s performance last week earns him a bench spot.
With Brad Thorn’s imminent arrival, the secondrow has become competitive again. Devin Toner can only benefit from this development.
“They play a direct and attacking style of rugby with a lot of speed and movement in their game,” said Schmidt of tonight’s opposition. “Nigel Davies has the team playing in a really positive manner after a tough start to the season and they now sit just outside the semi-final spots – further motivation for them to come to the RDS looking to add a further four points to get closer to play-off contention.”
Despite the absence of Welsh starters like George North and Rhys Priestland, Warren Gatland has freed up a number of players as the Scarlets seek to squeeze into a play-off spot.
Stephen Jones returns at out half, with Liam Williams on the wing and Scott Williams and Gareth Maule in the centre. Rhodri Jones is the only forward released from the Wales camp.
“We know we have a lot of work to do from here on in,” said Nigel Davies.“We’ve dropped off the standard a little bit and we’ve been disappointed in the last two performances, against Sale and Glasgow.”
And still, who would go against a Leinster group that doesn’t understand the word complacency?
Tonight is the annual “Ladies Night” at the RDS, with proceeds going to Action Breast Cancer. The Official Leinster Supporters Club will also be selling limited edition women’s Leinster T-shirts for €20, with all proceeds going directly to the charity.
LEINSTER: I Nacewa; D Kearney, E O'Malley, F McFadden, F Carr; I Madigan, E Reddan; J McGrath, S Cronin, J Hagan; D Browne, D Toner; K McLaughlin (capt), S Jennings, R Ruddock. Replacements: R Strauss, H van der Merwe, N White, L Auva'a, D Ryan, I Boss, N Reid, B Macken.
SCARLETS: D Newton; L Williams, G Maule (capt), S Williams, A Fenby; S Jones, G Davies; R Jones, E Phillips, D Manu; S Timani, D Day; J Turnbull, J Edwards, K Murphy. Replacements: C Hawkins, P John, P Edwards, D Welch, B Morgan, L Davies, A Warren, V Iongi.
Referee: N Owens(WRU).
Verdict: Leinster win.
