Depleted Leinster still strong enough

Connacht v Leinster:LEINSTER BLEW this fixture last season against a 14-man Connacht. Well, Ian Keatley kicked all his goals, in fairness, and, after being shorn of most of their best players against Munster last week, this latest meeting has taken on a cup final feel for Connacht.

Forget it being third against last in the Magners League, this is a local affair. As expected, Leinster’s line-up is seriously under-cooked, but such is their strength- in-depth, on paper at least, they still look the better team.

But Connacht players have a habit of growing a few inches and finding new reserves of strength when hosting their fat-cat cousins. There are so many genuine reasons to be bitter.

That old Band of Brothers mentality makes for good rugby viewing too. Some big hits early on or a sneaky try and the freezing Sportsground will come alive.

Troy Nathan will operate at fullback after injury to Gavin Duffy, while the pace of Fionn Carr is welcomed back on the wing, as is Keatley’s return at outhalf. Both Leinster Academy boys, they, more than most, must relish the opportunity to showcase what Michael Cheika opted not to re-sign.

Taking John Muldoon and Seán Cronin out of the Connacht pack against Munster, in accordance with IRFU stipulations on international players, proved highly damaging, but they return now on the blindside flank and at hooker respectively.

“We know what to expect against Connacht because they are formidable opponents in the Sportsground and they have been in impressive form at home and away over the last few weeks,” said Fergus McFadden, a direct replacement for Brian O’Driscoll who may be entrusted with place-kicking duties should Shaun Berne’s radar malfunction again.

“I would know a few of their players, like Fionn (Carr), Jamie (Hagan) and Keats (Ian Keatley) who were involved in the Leinster Academy before, but we’re expecting a really tough game up front first and foremost and we will have to gain dominance there to lay the platform.

“You never get an easy game in interpro’ derbies and we’re under no illusions as to what kind of a challenge awaits us. . . .”

This is nothing like the team that will be facing Brive and London Irish in a few weeks. The backline has a similar look, with Girvan Dempsey equally proficient as Rob Kearney in the technical arts of fullback, McFadden regularly does a decent impression of O’Driscoll and Berne runs the three quarters with ease.

The pack, however, is unrecognisable with three secondrows starting as Nathan Hines is named at six. Trevor Hogan appears to be ahead of Devon Toner in the lock pecking order, while Stephen Keogh starts at number eight. Mike Ross gets a welcome run out at tighthead prop.

It’s difficult to see this Leinster eight wrestling clean and regular ball off the ravenous home unit. However, they should gather enough possession to avoid a repeat of last season’s result.