OPENING DEFEATS on the first weekend of the League, or being left red-faced by the Scarlets, are not new experiences for Leinster, but that doesn’t make last Saturday’s humbling any easier to take.
With the internationals, as is now the norm, wrapped in cotton wool, last Saturday’s 45-20 beating was the European champions’ fourth round one loss in succession and both their record defeat (51-20 away in April 2004) and heaviest home defeat (52-23 during the 2007 World Cup) were also against the Scarlets.
But for Ian Madigan’s late converted try though, Saturday’s losing margin would have eclipsed those two. Hence, the sense of self-recrimination as they began their week’s preparations at a sun-kissed Belfield yesterday was palpable, and with it the need for redemption against the Dragons at the RDS this Saturday.
“Apart from the obvious lack of physicality I just think we were slightly naive in the collision area and the breakdown area,” ventured forwards coach Jonno Gibbes. “They had a bit of experience, Test experience, and their ability to position themselves early or manipulate situations – I just think there’s an experience factor there. There’s no hiding away from the fact that we weren’t tough enough.”
And it was this which clearly irked Gibbes and the Leinster coaching staff, not to mention the players themselves. “That’s not an experience thing. That’s why I’m saying. That’s got nothing to do with experience or Test caps, or anything like that. I just think we weren’t prepared to meet the physical challenge and to impose ourselves and I think that’s one of the real disappointing aspects of the game and as I say, there’s no way to solve that by beating each other up at training. You can only do that by bringing something to the RDS this Saturday.”
“We have to look at a few things, deal with a few harsh realities. The younger guys will be better for the experience of having played against guys like that who are able to benefit from a bit of nous and that’s going to hold us in good stead because I think the Dragons are going to be in good confidence after their performance.
“They’ve got (Dan) Lydiate and (Toby) Faletau in the pack so hopefully we’ve taken on a few harsh realities and we can bring that because it’ll be bloody important this week.”
It’s tough on a fairly callow Leinster selection who were missing all their Ireland front-liners and a few other long-term casualties that were pitted against a pumped-up Scarlets line-up operating pretty much at full tilt in their first outing of the season and under new head coach Simon Easterby.
Little allowance is being made for that however, while there is unlikely to be too much scope for change this week against a Dragons side who recorded a bonus point win at home to Zebre and will be seeking their first win over Leinster in Dublin. Indeed, Dominic Ryan and Isaac Boss have joined Leinster’s lengthy casualty list, with Ryan’s damaged ankle a particular source of concern.
Ryan underwent a scan yesterday after seeing a consultant. The physical flanker put in some good hits but as Gibbes admitted, a run of games while Kevin McLaughlin and Jamie Heaslip were in cold storage (and Seán O’Brien on the long road back from a hip operation) would have done him the world of good.
“He just needed a little bit more time on the field to get into the rhythm of it. His carry and his tackle stuff is pretty well documented by you guys, I just think he can have more impact, better touches the more time he plays; he can get a bit of understanding where to place himself earlier and have a greater influence.”
Boss sat out training yesterday after hyper-extending his elbow during the first half in Llanelli and he will continue to be monitored by the medical team ahead of Friday’s midday team announcement.
The only one of Leinster’s 12-strong contingent of summer tourists liable to feature against the Dragons is Seán Cronin, given his game time in New Zealand amounted to nine minutes as a makeshift prop in uncontested scrums in the first Test, and 12 minutes as hooker in the third Test.
Against that, Tom Denton having made his competitive debut for the province in Llanelli, Leo Cullen and Quinn Roux are likely to be called up this weekend.
“We’re definitely looking at his involvement,” admitted Gibbes of Roux, the 21-year-old lock who this year broke into the Stormers Super 15 squad before signing a one-year deal with Leinster. Not so much a special project then, more a two-way scouting mission, with Leinster fervently hoping Roux turns out to be a better investment than Steven Sykes.
“I think he’s been there three odd weeks now and it was just about getting him orientated,” adds Gibbes of the imposing 6ft 6in, 120kg Roux. “It’s important that he fits into the environment, understands who he’s working with and understands the way we want to play. He definitely has some physical presence. He’s a good kid and I like him. He looks athletic, big and aggressive.”
Ticket sales for Saturday’s game have passed the 13,400 mark, while over 22,000 tickets have now been sold for the Leinster-Munster match at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 6th October.
