Rugby

Uncertainty surrounds Leinster’s trip to Montpellier due to Covid cases

More cases detected on Tuesday as Cullen says squad preparing for match to go ahead

Thomas Clarkson catches a pass from Andrew Porter during Leinster training ahead of the Champions Cup clash with Montpellier. Photo: Ben Brady/Inpho

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Johnny Watterson
Wed Dec 15 2021 - 05:00

Leinster coach Leo Cullen is unable to say what will happen today, never mind the days leading to Thursday when his team are set to fly to France for their second Champions Cup match against Montpellier.

After an undisclosed number of Leinster players tested positive for Covid-19, the squad was allowed to train on Tuesday and is continuing to prepare as if the match will proceed. Montpellier also added another name to their list with five from the French team struck down.

If the game cannot be played due to Covid-19, the team who are unable to play is forced to concede the match, with a 28-0 bonus point victory for the side who were able to fulfil the fixture.

Last week Scarlets forfeited their Champions Cup pool game against Bristol at Ashton Gate. The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) subsequently confirmed a 28-0 scoreline in Bristol’s favour and an award of five match points to the Premiership club.

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If neither club can fulfil the fixture, with agreement with the EPCR they will receive two match points each.

“We’ll leave it to the medics and relevant authorities at the moment and we can talk about that maybe later,” said the Leinster coach. “At the moment, today, we’ve just been trying to get on with the game we have, training today because a couple of people who have tested positive got pulled out naturally and a few of the close contacts as well, so we’ll see how that all plays out.”

From Leinster and Cullen’s viewpoint, it has all become an almost normal backing track to a season where disruption is constantly factored into the week’s preparation.

On a six-day turnaround the plan was to train Monday and Tuesday. But the squad didn’t do the Monday, so there’s a knock-on effect with a flight on Thursday, all of it contingent on testing.

Leinster are probably one of the bigger clubs in terms of playing numbers with Cullen lucky to have “60 odd” names to choose from including the academy players if they have to dip that deep.

“I don’t know what information is coming back from the Montpellier side, so I’ll leave it in their hands,” added Cullen. “We’ll see how that plays out over the next 48 hours.

“We’re due to travel on Thursday and at the moment we’ve got clearance to travel, so that’s the plan at the minute. Again, I don’t know enough from their end. I saw their statement and it’s reasonably vague as well.

“I’m not a medical expert. Obviously what we’re trying to do is get busy, get ready for the challenge of Montpellier which is a huge challenge in itself.”

An understrength Montpellier were roundly beaten 42-6 at Exeter last week. Playing at home is a different matter and the French team will not wish to be defeated twice in their opening two matches. Cullen is alive to them needing a big performance, whatever the construct of their team.

‘Heavily resourced’

Last season Montpellier were uninspiring until the arrival of Philippe Saint-Andre, who led them to a Challenge Cup win over a strong Leicester Tigers side.

“They’ve a heavily resourced team. We’ve talked about that in the past, and they’ve caused us problems in the past,” said Cullen.

“You look through the list of players that they have, really top end stars, a lot of guys who have had French involvement, but also with some of the South African guys that they have involved.”

Even if Leinster travel with a thinned out squad, Munster have set the standard with their makeshift side beating Wasps last weekend. More than ever it is how unsung players are going to stand up under pressure.

“Yeah, we’d have a lot of confidence, similar to what Munster had,” said Cullen. “It was great to see some of those guys go so well, a lot of those guys we would have seen at underage level.

“Scott Buckley, I met when he was much younger down in Kinsale with his grandfather. It was amazing to see him go in. I remember watching a game down just outside Kinsale there, I know that’s where they live. We were down holidaying there.

“It’s great to see some of those young guys going so well because it’s so special for the families and all the rest to have had that opportunity. That’s one of the things that excites me most about doing the job that we do - seeing the young players come in and make their debuts in Europe.”