ALL THINGS BEING equal, we should probably view Wasps as a club who have Leinster’s number.
These two clubs have taken to playing each other pretty regularly in Europe since the breathless 28 – 48 Challenge Cup quarter-final in Adams Park in 2013, Leinster’s only win in the four attempts since came thanks to two Darragh Fanning tries in October 2014.
Since then, Wasps have been an utter pest to the eastern province. In the return pool clash in January 2015, Leinster let a 6 – 20 half-time lead slip to leave with a draw that could have (though didn’t) cost them home seeding in the quarter-final.
When Wasps were drawn against the eastern province again the following season, the fear factor had well and truly dissolved and they tore into the post-World Cup blues, romping to a 6 – 33 win in the RDS and doling out a 51 – 10 thrashing back at the Ricoh last January.
And yet, today’s Champions Cup quarter final (15.15, BT Sport) at the Aviva Stadium feels completely removed from that form guide.
Even with Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney out injured, seven internationals returning to the blue jersey without any match minutes since the Six Nations and a gulp-inducing Wasps back-line, Leo Cullen sends out teams brimming with clarity, intent and with a sense of momentum behind them.
Much of that is down to the fresh faces that have livened up Leinster’s attack and the fresh approach made necessary by the change in personnel, particularly at fullback and number eight.
“They have to put their own stamp, like this is their time to step up to the mark,” Cullen says acknowledging the very different qualities brought to the table by Joey Carbery and Jack Conan in place of the injured veterans.
“(Conan) scored a hat-trick against Montpellier at the RDS in round five and made some really good breaks in the game against Castres away in round six, and he’s performed well during the Six Nations as well. I thought he was unlucky to miss out (on the international frame), but again it’s a very competitive area with Ireland. So this is his time. He’s had to wait a long time for it.
“Joey’s different, it’s come a lot quicker for him. He played all last year with Clontarf, as you know, and he came through an amazing pre-season. He played those games and before you knew it he was on the bench for Ireland against the All Blacks, making history, so it doesn’t come much bigger than that.
“He’s like a veteran at this stage!”
“There’s still a ton of experience there too,” Cullen says to lever some expectation off the shoulders of Adam Byrne and his young number 15.
“You think of the amount of guys who have played in the Six Nations this year alone.
“We understand there are a lot of big games towards the end of the season and that guys at certain stages will not be available. We have to make sure we have planned for those eventualities. We worked hard while guys were away with young guys who have played in the Pro12, and other guys who haven’t actually played in it that are getting closer to it. It’s a huge part of what we are trying to do.”
Cullen’s team selection yesterday was a fine display of what he has been able to reap from seeds sewn during the comparatively dark days of last year. Along with the incontestable return of Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw in midfield, Cullen has trusted in form and promise throughout his 23. In the back row, last year’s breakthrough talent Josh van der Flier is held in reserve to allow Dan Leavy make his mark on the visitors’ breakdown.
“It’s an opportunity for him,” Cullen says of Leavy before talking up the form of Nathan Hughes, the unheralded class of Thomas Young and somewhat wistfully harking back to the early days of James Haskell.
“Haskell has been around for a long, long time – I played against him in a European Cup final in 2007 when Wasps beat Leicester Tigers, that was a very dark day that I remember…”
Cullen doesn’t need to dig that far back for dark days. Leinster’s recent history with Wasps is full of them.
Yet on top of the bright future of the individuals, the hosts at the Aviva today have a solid, grizzled pack and relentless defensive leaders that are very much built for here and now. They’re due a win over Wasps, after all.
Prediction: Leinster by less than a try.
Leinster
15. Joey Carbery
14. Adam Byrne
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Dan Leavy
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Bent
19. Ross Molony
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Fergus McFadden
23. Zane Kirchner
Wasps
15. Kurtley Beale
14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Jimmy Gopperth
11. Willie Le Roux
10. Danny Cipriani
9. Dan Robson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Tommy Taylor
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. Joe Launchbury (capt)
5. Kearnan Myall
6. James Haskell
7. Thomas Young
8. Nathan Hughes
Replacements:
16. Ashley Johnson
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Marty Moore
19. Matt Symons
20. Alex Rieder
21. Joe Simpson
22. Alapati Leiua
23. Josh Bassett
Referee: Nigel Owens
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