How quickly the majesty of last season's league win can lose its lustre after one match. Two defeats in a row could be classed as a problem around Leinster but the names on Matt O'Connor's team sheet this week suggest he's not about to test Dublin 4 loyalty.
Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney and Devin Toner step up for their first outings, while the pack is laced with quality. But at this time of the season the issue is to get them firing, developing continuity and giving the sort of team performance to also allow individuals promote their own ability.
There’s no quibbling about Leinster’s blue blooded line up but after last weekend in Glasgow, where Stuart Hogg turned it with his last kick, there’s a bigger hankering to get things going.
Leinster were losing 19-0 at one stage and while Glasgow are proven contenders, Leinster can convince themselves of having the craft to get back into the match from that hole or beat themselves up about coughing up three tries in the first place. The latter probably.
Falling off tackles
Llanelli are not Glasgow and the RDS is not Scotstoun Stadium but then again Leinster weren’t Leinster last week with players falling off tackles, Glasgow inviting them back and then Leinster unable to take the gift, handing it right back to Gregor Townsend’s side.
Those early season kinks have a habit or ironing out and while there were typical over the top reactions on social media about “pure dirt” etc, Leinster have enough wit and pride to ensure the sum of the parts approximate their true worth. Sooner rather than later.
Ian Madigan is at inside centre for the second week after Noel Reid’s early exit and the news there is his ankle is not as bad as first thought.
Scarlets arrive having scored four tries against Ulster. They also have Liam Williams, who was yellow carded twice before taking the walk of shame. But hindsight says he was wronged by the referee and he’s in at fullback.
Work in progress
New coach Wayne Pivac has made just three changes from the Ulster game and he comes to Dublin, he says, as a work in progress.
“There are lots of improvements to come in this team and we have plenty to build on,” he said. “Really for us, this time of the year there’s a lot of work to do on your own game especially coming in as a new coach.”
That sort of look warm conviction should prompt caution in a beware the wounded golfer sort of way. In that respect it’s a timely return for captain Heaslip and not just for his carries and athleticism around the pitch. The captain can also knock shape into a side and set down and demand levels of performance.
Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings and Heaslip form a backrow of varying ages and stages in their careers and with Jordi Murphy out there's a little more elbow room for players to map themselves. It's a match for Leinster to lose. They know it. The fans know it and maybe, just maybe, Llanelli know it too.
