THE TWO MOST successful sides in the short history of the Pro12 meet in the RDS today (Sky Sports, 3pm), and, to different degrees, both sides are hoping to provide a spark to rekindle former glories.
Between them, Leinster and Ospreys have won eight of the 14 Celtic League seasons, their four titles apiece leaving them together at the top of the ‘domestic’ pile.
They’ve come face to face in dramatic fashion many times too, most notably in two Pro12 finals in the RDS when the Welsh club were able to dig deeper. And despite one of Isa Nacewa’s last games in his first stint at Leinster bringing a thumping 37 – 19 win over the overseas rival, it’s the bad days that linger longest:
“But look, they’re desperate. You look at the shape of the table and every point counts. They’re a bloody good squad.”
They are. But like most squads in the Pro12, the international window is thinning the ranks. Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric are of course, being held back for Wales’ potential Championship decider against England. But powerful backs like Josh Matavesi, Jeff Hassler and Dan Evans are still in the mix and in the returning Rhys Webb, they have an exceptionally talented scrum-half.
While Leinster look well-positioned to add to their tally of four league titles though, Ospreys are languishing 15 points further back in eighth.
“They’ve had a slower start to the season,” says Nacewa, “but they’ve hit their straps in the last few weeks in particular and have started to score tries. Sam Davies is running the show and he’s a pretty sharp operator, so defence is going to be key at the RDS.”
The snow hadn’t long ceased outside the window of Leinster HQ when Nacewa and Leo Cullen were speaking, so aspirations of throwing the ball around and attacking from deep had to be tempered.
“It won’t be helping the surface, but we’ve become reasonably used to playing in difficult conditions in recent weeks,” said Cullen of the cold inclement conditions outside.
“You just have to manage the conditions. Cardiff was particularly difficult a couple of weeks ago because there was a very strong wind and playing on that Astro pitch, it didn’t cut up obviously so that makes it a little easier.
“Last week in Zebre, they had the pitch covered for a couple of days, because there had been a lot of rain. And when they took the covers off, the water was just sitting on the surface so that kind of cut up the longer the game went on. It means it’s difficult, it favours the defensive team.”
To help bolster that defensive effort and put the home side on the front foot against their bogey team, Cullen has been able to call in six members of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad, including Cian Healy who will win his 15oth cap for his province.
Another little historical landmark for the finest overseas rivalry in the Pro12.
Leinster
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Ben Te’o
11. Isa Nacewa (Capt)
10. Ian Madigan
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Ross Molony
5. Mick Kearney
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jordi Murphy
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Peter Dooley
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Hayden Triggs
20. Dominic Ryan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Noel Reid
Ospreys
15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Josh Matavesi
12 Owen Watkin
11 Ben John
10 Sam Davies
9 Rhys Webb (Capt)
1 Nicky Smith
2 Sam Parry
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Tyler Ardron
5 Rory Thornton
6 James KIng
7 Olly Cracknell
8 Dan Baker
Replacements:
16 Scott Otten
17 Gareth Thomas
18 Ma’afu Fia
19 Adam Beard
20 Joe Bearman
21 Tom Habberfield
22 Jonathan Spratt
23 Tom Grabham
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
