AFTER WELCOMING SEVERAL star names back to dramatic effect against Treviso on Saturday, Leinster coach Joe Schmidt looks set to complete the rejuvenation of his squad on Saturday.
Brian O’Driscoll and Jonathan Sexton provided the crucial scores in Italy, while Jamie Heaslip Kevin McLaughlin, Mike Ross, Cian Healy and Eoin Reddan also made welcome returns.
“The Treviso game was a real test – as we knew it would be.” Schmidt said, “We were sluggish in the first half which could be a result of the hot weather conditions and the fact that we were integrating players back into the panel for the first time. But I was pleased that we managed to get the result.
“The players stuck to their task and ground out a good win against a combative and well-coached Treviso side.”
The eastern province cancelled their regular training session today as a mark of respect for the late Nevin Spence, who died tragically on Saturday. They will resume tomorrow ahead of Edinburgh’s trip to the RDS this weekend.
Richardt Strauss is the only new injury concern, but there will be no shortage of experience available to Schmidt as Gordon D’Arcy and European player of the year, Rob Kearney, are expected to start against the Heineken Cup semi-finalists. The return of that duo is likely to convince the head coach to put O’Driscoll and Sexton back in cold storage.
“We saw last year, in their fine run to the semi finals of the Heineken Cup, how good a side Edinburgh are becoming.” Schmidt enthused, “And this year they seem to have improved further with greater strength in depth across the park. Tim Visser has six tries in just three games and Greg Laidlaw controls the game for them astutely.”
The Kiwi also noted that the Scottish club have already hit a vein of form, having narrowly lost out to Munster before recording a win in Cardiff and at home to Zebre:
“They will travel to Dublin this weekend with confidence and we’re well aware of their many threats. It’ll be another big challenge for us and we’ll need to be more co-ordinated than last weekend.”
