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Jamie Heaslip leads his side around the Aviva Stadium yesterday. Billy Stickland/INPHO
MOC's Men

Leinster win over Quins will do, but all involved are demanding performance

Jamie Heaslip insists the only pressure on the province comes from within.

JAMIE HEASLIP CORRECTLY points out that Leinster have their European destiny in their own grip heading into this evening’s Champions Cup meeting with Harlequins [KO 19.45].

A week after defeat in London, though, it’s not simply all about winning. This is a results-based business, as any coach will point out, but sometimes the focus on winning can serve as an excuse for poor performance.

That doesn’t seem to be cutting the mustard with Leinster fans at present, and a crowd of more than 38,000 people will demand a stronger showing at Lansdowne Road this evening. The same goes for Matt O’Connor and his players; they are keen to start moving their performance levels up a notch.

Last weekend’s defeat at the Twickenham Stoop provided more frustration, but there were glimpses of increased ambition from Leinster at least. Out-half Jimmy Gopperth was flatter to the gainline, while the ball was shifted into wide channels more frequently.

Even though the execution and handling remained poor, O’Connor was encouraged.

“There was a lot of opportunities and that was the focus of our review, that we left a lot of opportunities out on the field. Some of it was our doing, some of it was as a result of how tenacious Quins were, meaning there was a breakdown in the process.

Matt O'Connor and Jamie Heaslip O'Connor and Heaslip face the media at UCD. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

“That’s been the focus. We need to be as good as we can be to make sure we control what happens to us. There was a lot of confidence gained out of the disappointment last weekend, because there was a lot of opportunities.

“The disappointment came from leaving those opportunities on the field. But we walked away from there with a point and we’ve given ourselves something to play for [in Dublin].”

Leinster are close to delivering an 80-minute performance to enthuse their supporters, an attacking blitz feels like a word caught on the tongue. That’s the feeling among the province’s players at least.

Whether their notions ignore what has been happening on the pitch is up for debate, but O’Connor’s men are expectant that passes will finally begin to stick, starter plays will begin to cut open the opposition and breakdowns will be smashed clear.

Away from those technical elements, captain Jamie Heaslip rejects the idea that defeat in London has added a mental burden for Leinster coming into tonight.

Dominic Ryan and Ian Madigan Dominic Ryan and Ian Madigan both start for Leinster. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

“Added pressure? Not particularly,” says Heaslip. “You kind of approach all European games in that they are big enough as it is and especially with the group games you have to approach them in a very periodic way.

“They got one up on us over there. We’ve had a tough week in terms of trying to fix what went wrong and trying to fix what went well for us. In terms of outside pressure, not really. It is more the internal pressure we place on ourselves to play to the standard that we hold.”

It’s the same standard to which everyone involved in Leinster holds the side, one which the province again failed to reach last weekend. Injuries, international call-ups and other factors have held Leinster back so far this season, but this European weekend is ideally set up for them to deliver.

Combinations have had a little more time to grow, understanding of the game plan will be more uniform across the team and motivation will most certainly not be an issue.

Shorn of two of their key leaders in Chris Robshaw and Nick Evans, Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins must be dispatched in convincing fashion. All involved in Leinster will be putting the pressure on to ensure that happens.

Leinster

15. Rob Kearney
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Luke Fitzgerald
12. Ian Madigan
11. Darragh Fanning
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Isaac Boss
1. Jack McGrath
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Kane Douglas
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Dominic Ryan
8. Jamie Heaslip (capt.)

Replacements:

16. Bryan Byrne
17. Michael Bent
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Mike McCarthy
20. Jack Conan
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Noel Reid
23. Mick McGrath

Harlequins

15. Mike Brown
14. Marland Yarde
13. Matt Hopper
12. George Lowe
11. Aseli Tikoirotuma
10. Tim Swiel
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler (capt.)
2. Dave Ward
3. Will Collier
4. Charlie Matthews
5. George Robson
6. Luke Wallace
7. Jack Clifford
8. Nick Easter

Replacements:

16. Joe Gray
17. Mark Lambert
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Sam Twomey
20. Joe Trayfoot
21. Karl Dickson
22. Tom Casson
23. Ross Chisholm

Referee: Romain Poite [FFR].

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O’Connor excited to see ‘incredibly dangerous’ Fitzgerald at 13 for Leinster

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