Our PRO12 previews continue with Leinster who will be looking to make it three in a row following their successes in the competition in 2012 and 2013.
A number of question marks surround the champions and none more so than the big one: how they will cope without the reassuring presence of Brian O’Driscoll at outside centre? Question marks also cloud the number 10 shirt this season. Who will Matt O’Connor prefer at fly half, Gopperth or Madigan? How will southern hemisphere signing Kane Douglas fill the boots left empty by Leo Cullen?
How will they fare in this year’s competition?
Players in/Players out
Obviously the losses of the aforementioned O’Driscoll and Cullen will leave huge gaps in the club, particularly in leadership terms, but Leinster have the quality to cope with the losses.
The signing of Australian International Kane Douglas is a major coup for the club and the 25-year-old brings with him 14 international caps for the Wallabies and some great mobility around the pitch. Douglas will be a welcome addition in the second row which has been a bit of a problem area since the departure of Nathan Hines and the natural decline of Leo Cullen.
At centre, they have signed Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league star Ben Te’o to replace BOD (although he does seem like more of a 12 than a 13) and while this could turn out to be an astute signing for the province; Te’o will undoubtedly require some bedding in time as well as a firm warning about using his arms in the tackle.
Video via ZysT | RMDYZ.
Leinster have kept faith in their policy of rewarding academy players with senior contracts with no less than six academy players making the leap from the province’s rugby nursery. Winger Sam Coughlan-Murray and scrum-half Luke McGrath are two of the exciting prospects earning a promotion with the former putting in some great performances for the Irish u20s a couple of years ago.
Combine these signings with the return from injury of a number of first team starters and you would have to say Leinster are in a good position to retain their PRO12 crown or at the very least make the play-offs.
Last Season
Leinster can have no complaints about their league performance last year having won the competition for the second year in a row. They have a really strong squad capable of winning tough games even without players on international duty and last season they topped the table thanks to 17 wins and eight try-scoring bonus points.
While the European season ended with a disappointing performance away to Toulon, the domestic season ended on a high with that victory over Glasgow in the RDS which turned out to be the perfect farewell to O’Driscoll and Cullen. An untimely injury to Sean O’Brien at the business end of the season was a big blow to Leinster and they will be hopeful he can remain fighting fit and recover last season’s outstanding form that produced moments like the one below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN75j0BiIX0
Video via Rugby Banter Page.
Cliché you are most likely to hear this season
(If they lose a game) “They missed O’Driscoll and Cullen’s leadership.”
Cliché you are least likely to hear this season
“Sure we are better without O’Driscoll anyway.”
Room for improvement
All teams have to improve in some way but for Leinster the changes are not that obvious. In the Pro12 they have the pack that can dominate most sides and the quality outside backs to score the tries. They have a solid scrum and when you combine that with their usually accurate line-out, they have good platforms for both attack and defence.
At fly-half, they have two very different options in kicking specialist and tactically strong Jimmy Gopperth and the off-the-cuff and sometimes magnificent Ian Madigan. If Matt O’Connor can utilise this pair effectively, then Leinster will be able to implement two very different game plans depending on which number 10 is playing.
In Europe last season, they were physically bullied by a dominant Toulon side and they will be keen to ensure that a repeat of that does not happen this year. The signings of Kane Douglas in the second row and Ben Te’o in the centre will provide some bulk and coach Matt O’Connor will be hopeful that they can dominate their games physically and tactically this season.
Best case scenario
Well this is the best case scenario and also the expected scenario for most Leinster fans; first place in the league and also winning the PRO12 title. There is no point sugar coating this, anything less in the PRO12 will mean the season ended as a failure such are the high standards demanded of this team (that is unless they win the inaugural Rugby Champions Cup).
Jamie Heaslip will captain Leinster for the coming season
Worst case scenario
Missing out on the semi-finals is probably the worst thing that could happen to Leinster. Obviously there are worse scenarios but we have to be realistic. Leinster missing out on the top four would be a hugely disappointing season for the province, but never fear Leinster fans, with the declining standard in the PRO12, this Leinster team should have more than enough in the tank to challenge for honours this season.
If they were a fictional character
Bruce Wayne from The Dark Knight Rises. Leinster may be slightly past their best from 2011 and 2012 but they have shown that they are still a formidable outfit, much like Batman in the final instalment of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Batman had his back broken by Bane and Leinster have suffered a similar ailment with the losses of O’Driscoll and Sexton in recent seasons.
But they have returned and still inspire fear amongst most of their opponents, much like the caped crusader.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
