LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen is acutely aware of the disparity in cohesion levels between his side and English champions Exeter as they prepare to face off in the Champions Cup on Sunday (kick-off 17.30).
The stand-out case where Cullen is having to trust the pedigree in the absence of a recent track record is the midfield combination of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose.
Through a variety of factors – ranging from Henshaw’s Lions tour to Ringrose’s shoulder and Henshaw’s hamstring – the duo who made themselves a steady axis for club and country last season have not played together since the Pro12 semi-final loss to Scarlets almost a full seven months ago.
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“Garry being out injured, you’re always waiting to see what those guys are like when they come back,” Cullen said in UCD after naming his team today.
“With a shoulder injury you have the advantage that he was able to do a lot of training without the contact part. So he was pretty well up to speed during that block prior to him coming back, so that was an advantage.
“I thought he did pretty well against Treviso and over the course of last season he built up a pretty good relationship with Robbie.”
Of course, the return of Henshaw from injury as well as availability of the likes of Sean O’Brien, Jonathan Sexton and Rob Kearney is a major boost for the province that will undoubtedly help to hose off any cobwebs that have gathered.
Exeter, on the other hand, had only three players called away to Eddie Jones’ England squad last month, so Henry Slade drops back into the midfield of a relatively regular back-line.
Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
“Exeter,” Cullen adds, “one of their great strengths is the cohesion they have and the consistency in selection they have. They’ve a number of players who have played pretty much every game for them this season.”
“They’ve a lot of very good players. They might not have a lot of household (names), big international stars, but as they proved last season in winning the Premiership that can be good, that level of consistency.
“It’s not necessarily what’s going to win you titles and trophies. It’s hard not to admire what they’ve done under Rob Baxter, the progress they’ve made through the Championship, they’re improving every year and getting better every year, adding to their squad, building on that depth.
“When (they last played Leinster in 2012), the way they played then is similar to what they’re doing now. They’ve just added more quality, more depth. You have to really admire what they’ve done.”
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Cullen backs 'up-to-speed' Ringrose in reforged partnership with Henshaw
LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen is acutely aware of the disparity in cohesion levels between his side and English champions Exeter as they prepare to face off in the Champions Cup on Sunday (kick-off 17.30).
The stand-out case where Cullen is having to trust the pedigree in the absence of a recent track record is the midfield combination of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose.
Through a variety of factors – ranging from Henshaw’s Lions tour to Ringrose’s shoulder and Henshaw’s hamstring – the duo who made themselves a steady axis for club and country last season have not played together since the Pro12 semi-final loss to Scarlets almost a full seven months ago.
“Garry being out injured, you’re always waiting to see what those guys are like when they come back,” Cullen said in UCD after naming his team today.
“With a shoulder injury you have the advantage that he was able to do a lot of training without the contact part. So he was pretty well up to speed during that block prior to him coming back, so that was an advantage.
“I thought he did pretty well against Treviso and over the course of last season he built up a pretty good relationship with Robbie.”
Of course, the return of Henshaw from injury as well as availability of the likes of Sean O’Brien, Jonathan Sexton and Rob Kearney is a major boost for the province that will undoubtedly help to hose off any cobwebs that have gathered.
Exeter, on the other hand, had only three players called away to Eddie Jones’ England squad last month, so Henry Slade drops back into the midfield of a relatively regular back-line.
“Exeter,” Cullen adds, “one of their great strengths is the cohesion they have and the consistency in selection they have. They’ve a number of players who have played pretty much every game for them this season.”
“They’ve a lot of very good players. They might not have a lot of household (names), big international stars, but as they proved last season in winning the Premiership that can be good, that level of consistency.
“It’s not necessarily what’s going to win you titles and trophies. It’s hard not to admire what they’ve done under Rob Baxter, the progress they’ve made through the Championship, they’re improving every year and getting better every year, adding to their squad, building on that depth.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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centre Champions Cup midfield matters no ringrust robbie henshaw Exeter Chiefs