FRIDAY EVENING’S PRO14 clash with Edinburgh doesn’t exactly have the same billing as some of the big games coming up on Leinster’s schedule, but there’s a feeling around the RDS that this is the start of the serious business.
Three wins from their opening four games of the campaign amounts to a decent first month for the eastern province but a return to home comforts and seasonal re-appearances for four of their Lions means this fixture is seen as a significant marker in the calendar.
A week out from the Aviva showdown with Munster, Leo Cullen has been able to name a strong side for the visit of Richard Cockerill’s men and that’s reflected in strong ticket sales for the game, with Leinster expecting close to 15,000 for their second home outing of the season.
Johnny Sexton, Sean O’Brien, Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong are all included on a Leinster teamsheet for the first time since the semi-final defeat to Scarlets at this venue back in May and certainly the province are returning to something resembling full strength following a disjointed opening few weeks in terms of team selection and player availability.
“It’s good to be back here at the RDS after our trip away,” Cullen said. “It’s nice to have a number of guys back in the mix and it feels like we’re at the start of the season now where we have closer to the full squad available to us.
“A good experience away the last number of weeks but it’s nice to be back at the RDS which leads into Munster and Europe. A really big block of games for us.”
There are sterner tests ahead in the shape of Munster, Montpellier, Glasgow and Ulster but that only serves to heighten the importance of a game Leinster are expected to come away with five points from.
Not only will the hosts be boosted by the presence of four players who played a key role for Warren Gatland’s side in New Zealand but their powerful XV is stacked with international experience all over the pitch.
Joey Carbery will start at fullback for the third game in a row while Dave Kearney and Fergus McFadden, on the occasion of his first start of the campaign, make up the back three.
Luke McGrath has recovered from an arm injury that kept him out of the defeat to the Cheetahs to partner Sexton — captain on the night — in the halfbacks, with Cullen making 11 changes in total.
It will be Jordi Murphy’s first appearance back at the RDS in a year following his comeback from the knee injury which kept him out for most of last season.
“I’ve been waiting a long time, trying to rehab and get myself back in the frame,” he said at today’s pre-match press conference. “It’s kind of one of those things, a long time waiting but felt great to get a run out in the last two games. Obviously disappointing last weekend but hoping to rectify it this weekend.
“I haven’t played out here in maybe 11 months to a year now so really excited, looking forward to getting that buzz going out in the tunnel and seeing the crowd and the energy they can bring the team.
“I knew it was going to be a long road back but just put the head down as I knew I couldn’t really be complaining about it. Spent 100% of my time ensuring I got back fully fit, I just got behind the boys. It’s the great thing about our squad, it’s a big squad and if you’re not selected there’s a big input from everyone else to get behind the 23 guys on the day.”
On tomorrow’s game and the lessons learned from South Africa, Cullen added: “We’ve had short prep this week, a lot of guys didn’t get back to Monday. Full squad back together on Wednesday but some of the prep began last week but always a challenge coming into your first game of the season against a team that has been together for five/six weeks so that’s going to be a challenge.
“We need to be a bit more ruthless in our preparation is one of the big things. We were off the back of three very positive results but maybe the overall results hid a few things in our performance and then we came unstuck against the Cheetahs at the weekend so need a bit more ruthlessness in how we prepare for games and that’s the message.”
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