IT REMAINS TO be seen if Will Skelton is back from his knee injury for La Rochelle when they name their team to face Leinster this afternoon.
They won’t be a bit surprised in Leinster camp if the totemic Australian international second row has indeed been passed fit.
Skelton was injured during La Rochelle’s win over Clermont on 21 December and has missed their two Top 14 games since, with uncertainty over his fitness this week.
However, French media have predicted that Skelton will be in La Rochelle’s starting XV for Sunday’s Champions Cup battle against Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
And that seemed to be Leinster’s sense of it earlier this week.
“He’s always fit for the Leinster game, no matter what,” said Leinster lock Joe McCarthy with a smile when he spoke to the media on Tuesday.
“You don’t even look at the injury reports or whatever!”
McCarthy was hopeful about getting another chance to lock horns with Skelton, who has done damage to Leinster in the past with his influential performances in La Rochelle’s two Champions Cup final wins over the Irish province in 2022 and 2023.
Skelton also hurt them during his time with Saracens but they’ve had happier experiences on the last two occasions, beating Skelton and La Rochelle twice last season.
“I’ve played against him a few times, it’s a good challenge, he’s a real good second row so we really relish it because he’s a big, physical second row and you kind of find out where you’re at playing against those kind of guys,” said McCarthy.
“We have a big, physical team ourselves at the moment so…”
Skelton enjoys getting stuck into opponents verbally as well as physically, something McCarthy welcomes even if he’s no expert in this area.
“Yeah, a lot of chirping,” said the Ireland international lock. “I think it’s good. I think it’s kinda funny to hear it and it brings a bit more into the game because if you’re chatting a bit of stuff in the game, you have to bring it.
“But I wouldn’t be as good as maybe chatting during the game, I focus more on my role, but I find it entertaining, it’s kinda funny hearing a bit of chat like that in the game. I like that in the game.”
These two clubs have become very familiar with each other in recent seasons and despite Leinster’s wins against La Rochelle last season, the scars of those final defeats and a semi-final loss in 2021 still exist.
McCarthy made no bones about the strength of feeling between the teams.
“It is a proper rivalry, that’s definitely how it feels. It’s almost like a Munster, similar to that,” he said.
“The training week always feels a bit different but you always try to hold yourself to that high standard. You’re trying to prepare yourself as well as you can because you know if you’re not at your best physically, scrum and maul, it’s going to be a tough day. So there’s definitely a bit of extra edge, mainly in any Champions Cup weeks but with our history against La Rochelle, it’s a bit more personal.”
The physical battle when they met at Stade Marcel Deflandre in the pool stages last season was of the highest intensity, with heavy rain ensuring even more trench warfare than might have been the case.
Leinster just about edged the physical battle in that 16-9 win before they knocked La Rochelle out in the Champions Cup quarter-finals with an impressive 40-13 win in Dublin.
McCarthy believes Leinster are a better team now than when they won in Stade Marcel Deflandre in December 2023 but he stressed that they must bring another level of physicality this weekend.
There has been lots of talk about Leinster’s playing style in recent weeks but McCarthy hopes there is good balance in their approach in La Rochelle.
“In the bigger games, being physical and coming out physically on top is extremely important,” said McCarthy.
“Usually, you come out the right side of the battle. If you have a nice fancy plan and no physicality, that rarely ever works in rugby.
“So we always want to be super physical, on the edge, pressuring teams. But we also want to keep an important part of the Leinster DNA which is attacking really well.
“That’s something we don’t want to come away from so that is something ‘Swifty’ [Tyler Bleyendaal] is very good at drilling into us.
“We want to be as hard and physical as we can but have that ability to play the space. We don’t want to be running into brick walls, we always want to play the space, and using our forwards too.”
For all the bluster from Murphy, Wilkins was right in saying Murphy didn’t put his best hand forward against Bulls, and had this match in mind. Definitely a stronger Ulster line up. Some interesting choices for Connacht – Carty had a good first half last week, but faded out before being subbed last week. Think he still offers a lot, but probably Forde is the better bench option. Aki/POC midfield hasn’t been tried before, so I’m curious to see how that goes. Josh Murphy mostly played at lock two seasons ago, so probably makes sense for him to return there, albeit I do think back row is his more natural position. Still, should be a good match. Ulster will be desperate for a win at home, and have picked a really strong side, so they’ll be a very stern test. Match of the weekend
@JoeVlogs: match of the weekend? 82.5k people beg to differ!!!
@Kevin: As in this match could go either way, and the recent history of the tie is that usually the home side win it, but only just. Looking at the Leinster v Munster sides, despite Leo insisting on selecting two tens on the bench, it is still Leinster’s to lose. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still want to attend it if I was in Dublin – Croke Park, world cup winners, internationals, etc. But as a contest goes, I expect a tighter, more exciting game from the later match.
@Kevin: well in fairness this game should be close and competitive. The other game has a strong likelihood of Leinster running out big winners. Hopefully not and it’s competitive too
@JoeVlogs: that’s fair enough alright. The game should be a cracker too.
@JoeVlogs: yeah Josh is an absolutely savage 6
Thought Cordero was very poor at full back against the Scarlets! For me he looks like an out and out winger! I’m surprised Mack isn’t the one being tried there as his style would be more suited, we could do with more options there internationally too! Interested to see how Paul Boyle goes, at times he looks like the best ball carrier in Ireland. but has rarely been picked to start in the past 2 years right when he was banging on the Irish door!
@Attacki Acki: Agree, I’d nearly put O Connor on the wing and Hansen to full back with Forde in midfield. Send Cordero packing. Boyle was unfortunate with injuries, but on his day he’s probably strongest ball carrying backrow on the island.
@Ray Ridge: not even the best 8 on the pitch Saturday. Timoney will outplay him in every facet. As for the best 8 the future lions captain is that
Hard place to go, would never bet against Ulster at Ravenhill. Connacht have only won twice (not double checked that) in the last 10 years. Team looks decent tho, may be the best shot they’ve had in a while.
@Thesaltyurchin: Three times including the Rainbow Cup. Not just 10 years though. It’s about 75.
How Cordero continues to be selected is beyond me, considering he hasn’t completed a tackle in the opening 3 games of the season. Not even offering a whole lot in an attacking sense either to make up for it. Hopefully he will manage to catch the ball this weekend without dropping it and nail a few tackles. Not much between the sides otherwise, maybe home advantage will be the difference.
@Ray Ridge: I would genuinely love it if he had a stormer tomorrow for no reason other than for you to be shown up for the clown that you are.
@Patrick Kennedy: I’d love it too, but he’ll have to improve quite a bit on the evidence of the first 3 games.
@Ray Ridge: he missed a whole season through injury. give the lad a break.
@Niall English: Ah Stop, a professional Rugby player out for a few months is no excuse for not being able to catch the ball and make a simple tackle. He’s being back long enough now. I’m expecting a much improved performance from this guy otherwise……. See more
@Ray Ridge: A few months? He played one game last season after doing his ACL. Ignorance on show again, well done
@Patrick Kennedy: yes he was out for a few months, besides you don’t catch the ball with your ACL. He’s had a long pre-season and 3 URC games. Long enough to be able catch a ball and make a tackle. The time for excuses is over.
@Ray Ridge: So August to June is “a few months”? Last time I checked it was 11 months.
@Patrick Kennedy: End of August to middle of May is around 9 months.
@Ray Ridge: Did his ACL during preseason at the beginning of August, played his first game the end of May. But don’t let facts get in the way of your nonsense.
@Patrick Kennedy: The 22nd of August is not the beginning of August and the 18th of May is not the end of May. Besides that’s not the point. The point is he should still be able to catch the ball. I haven’t been on a bicycle for about 20 years but I can still bloody cycle.
Another mouth watering game to look forward to