Updated at 15.00
Connacht v Leinster, Guinness Pro12 Final
Murrayfield, 5.30pm, TG4/Sky Sports
THERE USED TO be a big white wall in Leinster’s gym at UCD and before games the province’s players scrawled key messages across that big white wall.
‘We will win the fight for inches.’
‘I trust my mates so I just have to get my job right.’
‘We are a tighter group when the pressure comes on.’
Most of the language was internally focused, underlining what Leinster believed they were bringing to the particular fixture, but sometimes they compared themselves to the opposition.
‘We are a group of players and friends who are from the same place, Leinster. They are individuals,” read one message before the province played Toulon in a Champions Cup game.
The big white wall has since been replaced by a mural featuring images of Leinster’s highs and lows and a range of inspirational quotes from players, past and current, underlining what it means to play for their province.
If the white wall was to be brought back to life for a day, one wonders what Leinster’s key messages about Connacht would be ahead of today’s Guinness Pro12 final in Murrayfield.
Pat Lam has been saying all week that Leinster are the “benchmark” for the other Irish provinces but the westerners have increasingly become the darlings of rugby in Ireland.
They are now pushed forward as the symbol of what is good about our game, thanks to an expansive, skills-focused approach to attack, and even their relationship with the IRFU is better than any of the other provinces’.
Yesterday in Murrayfield – after Leinster’s arrival for their captain’s run was delayed by an unavoidably-lengthened journey – Jamie Heaslip gave his usual line about controlling the controllables
That message is repeated so often because it is true but you’d love to know what Leinster really think about Connacht’s rise.
Certainly, it must be a motivation for Leinster to re-iterate their status as the dominant force in Irish rugby and the Pro12, even if Heaslip bluntly rejected the idea yesterday. Even if it isn’t a motivation for the Ireland number eight, today would be a good time for Leinster to underline that they remain top dogs.
Johnny Sexton has questioned the squad’s culture and standards. A reminder that they are the best in Ireland would be timely.
The sense before this final is that if Leinster can bring the rabid intensity they showed against Ulster in the semi-finals – and the ruck aggression, ball-carrying accuracy, kicking mastery and set-piece prowess it brought – in Murrayfield then they will be victorious.
There is perhaps even a sense that if Leinster hit the peak they are capable of, Connacht’s say in the final won’t be that important. But as we’ve been reminded so often already this season, Pat Lam’s side invariably do have their say, and then some.
In the team room in their hotel in Edinburgh, Connacht have been sticking up printed-out messages from fans on their Facebook page, looking to “channel” the feeling of support into the way they play today, according to Lam.
The sense of momentum around Connacht is being driven by this rapidly-growing fan base around them and John Muldoon even revealed he has received ‘luck money’ in the post this week.
“I would say there is a lot of novenas and candles going to be burnt throughout the night and we will take all of the help that we can get,” said Muldoon with a smile yesterday.
Few outside Leinster, and even some from the eastern province, would begrudge Connacht a first trophy.
The losses of captain Isa Nacewa and lock Devin Toner would certainly appear to weaken Leo Cullen’s side, but then Rob Kearney is as experienced as they come and Ross Molony has continually shown his promise and a hefty dose of aggression when he plays.
A glance down the team sheets shows all the most decorated Ireland internationals, aside from Robbie Henshaw, lining out for Leinster, who will wear their white shirts in today’s final after losing the coin toss to be the ‘home’ side.
But then Connacht have Bundee Aki. Oh, but Leinster have Ben Te’o. Tom McCartney; Richardt Strauss. Niyi Adeolokun; Luke Fitzgerald. Kieran Marmion; Eoin Reddan. The various match-ups all over the pitch are fascinating for a range of reasons.
The collective output will prove to be the key, however. Connacht’s attack gives them real confidence in their first-ever final, but it will be met by the energetic, hungry force that is Leinster’s defence.
Separating the two is immensely difficult, but it seems to come back to Leinster’s knock-out know-how and that vast winning experience they possess in the likes of Sexton.
If Connacht are going to give this season a trophy-winning ending, it will take their most momentous performance yet.
Leinster:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Ben Te’o
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Mike Ross
4. Ross Molony
5. Mick Kearney
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Jamie Heaslip (captain)
Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Hayden Triggs
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ian Madigan
23. Zane Kirchner
Connacht:
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Ronan Loughney
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Aly Muldowney
6. Eoin McKeon
7. Jake Heenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:
16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Andrew Browne
20. Sean O’Brien
21. John Cooney
22. Shane O’Leary
23. Peter Robb
Referee: Nigel Owens [WRU].
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