LEINSTER KNOW EXACTLY what’s coming on Sunday and Leo Cullen has stocked his side with as much firepower as possible to cope with the physical onslaught Montpellier will throw at them.
The Leinster head coach is under no illusions of the size of the task ahead but he has been able to include all his heavy artillery for the Champions Cup Pool 4 showdown.
The return of Sean O’Brien is a major boost for the eastern province, as is the presence of Johnny Sexton at out-half after he won his race to be fit in time for the trip to France.
Cullen admitted he deliberated whether to throw O’Brien back into the fold for what’s expected to be an incredibly physical encounter or leave him in reserve as one of the six forwards named on the bench.
“It’s always a difficult one trying to reintegrate a guy who has been out, coming off surgery and coming back in,” Cullen said this afternoon.
“The A game was a good hit out for him, 40 minutes, and he’s trained the last three or four weeks as well. We’ve been very cautious in the way we’ve reintroduced him.
“Then you’re wondering do you start him or put him on the bench but he has to come back into the group at some stage. When Robbie Henshaw came back in, it’s different for backs and forwards.
“It will be a big ask stepping into a physical environment. Montpellier are a big strong team but Seanie is a big strong guy so hopefully he’ll go well.”
Advertisement
Cullen speaking at today's pre-game press conference. Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
While conceding that he considered leaving Joey Carbery outside Luke McGrath after his impressive European debut last weekend, Cullen was always going to opt for Sexton’s experience once he was given the green light to play.
The Ireland international has made a good recovery from the hamstring injury which kept him out of the bonus-point win over Castres and the eight-day turnaround was on Leinster’s side in that regard.
With Sexton, O’Brien and Mike McCarthy all back, it’s an encouragingly strong Leinster XV, on paper at least, for the province’s toughest assignment of the season yet.
After starting the campaign in satisfactory, if not fully convincing, fashion at the RDS against Top 14 opposition, Cullen says his side are making good progress but there are still plenty of work-ons.
“We were pleased with the outcome but watching the game back – and even watching our A game as well from last week that we played against Richmond – we had a big score, but straight away you’re looking at all the opportunities you didn’t convert and asking why we didn’t convert them,” he added.
The return of McCarthy and O'Brien bolsters Leinster's pack. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“That’s been a big focus for us this week and all the time we’re just trying to get better, so whether that delivers the actual result you can’t exactly guarantee what our opponents are going to deliver. We just need to focus on how we get better as a group.
“I think we’re making some good progress in that regard but the exciting thing for us as coaches is that we see a huge amount of more potential in this group of players.”
After a difficult week, Cullen insists the camp’s preparations have been good before the trip to face Jake White’s charges, and while it’s not a ‘must win’ fixture, he is confident his side have the capability to come away with the points.
“Is it a must-win game? I think it depends on other results really,” the former second-row concluded.
“I wouldn’t think it’s must-win at this stage because Montpellier have already lost a game. It would be nice to win the game though so we’ll be going there with the intent to try and win.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
'Montpellier are a big strong team but Seanie is a big strong guy'
LEINSTER KNOW EXACTLY what’s coming on Sunday and Leo Cullen has stocked his side with as much firepower as possible to cope with the physical onslaught Montpellier will throw at them.
The Leinster head coach is under no illusions of the size of the task ahead but he has been able to include all his heavy artillery for the Champions Cup Pool 4 showdown.
The return of Sean O’Brien is a major boost for the eastern province, as is the presence of Johnny Sexton at out-half after he won his race to be fit in time for the trip to France.
Cullen admitted he deliberated whether to throw O’Brien back into the fold for what’s expected to be an incredibly physical encounter or leave him in reserve as one of the six forwards named on the bench.
“It’s always a difficult one trying to reintegrate a guy who has been out, coming off surgery and coming back in,” Cullen said this afternoon.
“Then you’re wondering do you start him or put him on the bench but he has to come back into the group at some stage. When Robbie Henshaw came back in, it’s different for backs and forwards.
“It will be a big ask stepping into a physical environment. Montpellier are a big strong team but Seanie is a big strong guy so hopefully he’ll go well.”
While conceding that he considered leaving Joey Carbery outside Luke McGrath after his impressive European debut last weekend, Cullen was always going to opt for Sexton’s experience once he was given the green light to play.
The Ireland international has made a good recovery from the hamstring injury which kept him out of the bonus-point win over Castres and the eight-day turnaround was on Leinster’s side in that regard.
With Sexton, O’Brien and Mike McCarthy all back, it’s an encouragingly strong Leinster XV, on paper at least, for the province’s toughest assignment of the season yet.
After starting the campaign in satisfactory, if not fully convincing, fashion at the RDS against Top 14 opposition, Cullen says his side are making good progress but there are still plenty of work-ons.
“We were pleased with the outcome but watching the game back – and even watching our A game as well from last week that we played against Richmond – we had a big score, but straight away you’re looking at all the opportunities you didn’t convert and asking why we didn’t convert them,” he added.
“That’s been a big focus for us this week and all the time we’re just trying to get better, so whether that delivers the actual result you can’t exactly guarantee what our opponents are going to deliver. We just need to focus on how we get better as a group.
“I think we’re making some good progress in that regard but the exciting thing for us as coaches is that we see a huge amount of more potential in this group of players.”
After a difficult week, Cullen insists the camp’s preparations have been good before the trip to face Jake White’s charges, and while it’s not a ‘must win’ fixture, he is confident his side have the capability to come away with the points.
“Is it a must-win game? I think it depends on other results really,” the former second-row concluded.
“I wouldn’t think it’s must-win at this stage because Montpellier have already lost a game. It would be nice to win the game though so we’ll be going there with the intent to try and win.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Tomás O’Leary on Montpellier bench for Leinster’s Champions Cup visit
Sean O’Brien back and on the blindside for Leinster’s trip to Montpellier
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
European Rugby Champions Cup Isa Nacewa Leinster Leo Cullen the comeback