THE SMART MONEY isn’t being staked on them this weekend, but Leinster are attempting to leave no stone unturned in search of an unlikely upset in Toulon.
You won’t find anybody in the province’s UCD base who is not willing to face the fact that losing in the south of France will leave them with three dead rubbers in hand and a shattered European season.
The coaching ticket may be inexperienced, but they have sought out the opinions of Grenoble coach Bernard Jackman and Clermont’s Jono Gibbes – familiar trusted opinions who get a more regular close-up view of the back-to-back-to-back European champions.
However, perhaps what will be even more instructive is their own experience earlier this year. While Matt O’Connor was head coach, it was Leo Cullen’s pack that helped give Leinster a half-time lead in last season’s Champions Cup semi-final in Marseille, and the Top 14 giants were forced to wait until an intercept try in extra-time before securing victory.
“We’ve taken some good things out of it,” says defence coach Kurt McQuilkin about the review of the April meeting between the sides.
“It’s definitely a point where we’ve started from and we’re hoping to prove that even more this weekend.”
As McQuilkin was not part of the setup last season, he doesn’t attempt to lay claim to the performance, instantly switching to ‘they’ when talking about his club in the past tense.
They took away their time and space, got off the line defensively and put them under pressure on their home track. They got a foothold early on, which makes a difference, and didn’t let them get out of sight.”
Ben Te’o certainly was involved that day, and he succinctly echoed his coach’s view that a solid start was essential if the Blues are to still hold out hope of having a European interest by the time Toulon come to Dublin
“That would be my opinion,” says Te’o, “focus on ourselves, get our game in order and go down there and have a great start.
“It’s all about team-work (in defence), we’ve got to make our tackles, be aggressive and physical. Just work together, it’s going to be a great atmosphere and we’ve got to feed off that.
“Every game is a big game for us, but in the context of this one, it’s do or die. We have to win this game or we’re out.”
Standing 6′ 2″ and a lean 106kg, Te’o obviously isn’t short on his own brand of physicality. Yet there is good reason for him to focus on the collective. When you break down the individuals, Toulon have enough star names to make anyone quake a little in their boots. For starters there’s Te’o's midfield opponents: Messrs Bastareaud and Nonu.
The pack is a whole other story:
“When you think of the likes of (Steffon) Armitage, (Mamuka) Gorgodze, (Samu) Manoa… they’ve got some pretty big men that they can use effectively. It’s a hell of a big ask, but one we’re looking forward to,” says McQuilkin with the smile of a man with his work cut out.
“If you can match that physicality, you’ve got a chance. If you don’t, if you sit back and let them come at you, it’s going to be a long day at the office.
“There are different areas where you have to get into to put a match to them, but first and foremost you have to match the physicality.
“You have to match them at the very least and then bring the skill side of the game into it and obviously a touch a fitness too.”
It’s a tall ask, but Leinster are talking a good game. And, here, wouldn’t it be a bit Irish if a side were to beat the unbeatable after losing their two opening outings?
“That can drag a performance out of a side,” says a wide-eyed McQuilkin.
“Especially when you’re under the cosh and people don’t rate your chances, I think that brings out the best in all Irish provinces across the board.”
