THERE IS NO Champions Cup pool more delicately poised going into this weekend’s pivotal third round of games than Pool 4.
Top meets bottom when Leinster visit Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens tonight (19.45, BT Sport), yet only two points separate the sides.
“So literally every little thing matters, every point does count and we have to make sure we realise that,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen after naming his team early before flying to England.
“We’re going out to win the game, clearly, but when you’re in the situation you need to make sure you can get what you can out of it.”
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
A win would be more than welcome. Leinster haven’t experienced victory on the road in Europe since Ian Madigan kicked seven penalties in Castres in 2014. Six defeats and a draw have followed since.
However, there’s no better example of a good salvage job well done than Leinster’s last outing in Europe, when they fought back late on to claim a losing bonus point despite being overpowered for an hour in Montpellier. Cullen had a wry smile as he cast his mind back to a case study of what can go wrong when the foot eases off the pedal. It was his last season as a player and he’s pondered the different paths his final lap might have gone.
“This fixture, three years ago when we put 40 points on Northampton over there and then to lose the following week, and just the knock-on effect that had.
“We had a bonus point (position) towards the end and Jamie Elliott got that breakaway try to deny us a bonus point which meant all of a sudden we had to play away in a quarter-final against Toulon — which happened to be my last game of European rugby I’m afraid.”
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Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Leinster will have to claim these valuable points without Jonathan Sexton of course, but Robbie Henshaw and Sean O’Brien have returned from the injuries that kept them from facing the Wallabies for Ireland.
In Sexton’s place, Joey Carbery will get another big chance to shine in the number 10 jersey, but it’s the solid choices of a game manager that Cullen has demanded first and foremost from the Athy man. He’s no Johnny Sexton, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the eardrums of those closest to him:
“He’s not as grumpy as Johnny, that’s for sure,” joked O’Brien.
They’re different types of players, they’re different people. For a young guy he’s extremely calm and composed.
“He’s directed us around well this week and in previous weeks too. He’s an excellent player, he has a bit of everything.
“He’s a long way to go still, I think, to being the finished article, but he has a lot of very good attributes and he’s a great lad as well.”
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Captain Isa Nacewa will have the kicking tee to ease some pressure from Carbery’s shoulders and outside him will be – with Jared Payne on the long-term injured list – the duo likely to form Ireland’s midfield in the Six Nations: Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose.
Northampton will have a familiar face tasked with unlocking the partnership, Kerry’s JJ Hanrahan giving the midfield a playmaking presence alongside the power of Luther Burrell. That’s as much young Irish midfield talent you would dare hope for in an inter-provincial clash, never mind a seismic Friday night Champions Cup match.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
While Saints coach Jim Mallinder has had to hold heavy hitters like Dylan Hartley and Teimana Harrison in reserve - not to mention George North after his worrying concussion last weekend - Cullen has selected a team full of pace and energy in a bid to start fast and further dent the hosts’ confidence.
The head coach insists internationals Zane Kirchner and Mike McCarthy were fit and available, but he has instead gone without a recognised second row among the replacements (though Rhys Ruddock and Jack Conan have operated there) and given the excellent and very in-form Adam Byrne his European debut.
“It’s great to see Adam and his development this year. He came through a number of years ago and just got an unlucky run of injuries. He broke his leg, came back and broke his other leg. So he was a bit stunted in development, but he works really hard and I’m delighted with the way he’s progressed this season. He’s fully deserving of his opportunity.”
Having suffered in last year’s tournament, Leinster have an excitement opportunity as a collective tonight: to grab control of Pool 4.
Northampton Saints:
15. Ben Foden
14. Ken Pisi
13. Luther Burrell
12. JJ Hanrahan
11. Jamie Elliott
10. Stephen Myler
9. Nic Groom
1. Alex Waller
2. Mikey Haywood
3. Paul Hill
4. Michael Paterson
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Jamie Gibson
7. Tom Wood (captain)
8. Louis Picamoles
Replacements:
16. Dylan Hartley
17. Ethan Waller
18. Gareth Denman
19. Api Ratuniyarawa
20. Teimana Harrison
21. Tom Kessell
22. George Pisi
23. Ahsee Tuala
Leinster:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Adam Byrne
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Joey Carbery
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack McGrath
2. Sean Cronin
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Bent
19. Rhys Ruddock
20. Jack Conan
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Rory O’Loughlin
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'Every point counts' as Leinster take aim at JJ Hanrahan and Saints
Updated at 08.00
THERE IS NO Champions Cup pool more delicately poised going into this weekend’s pivotal third round of games than Pool 4.
Top meets bottom when Leinster visit Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens tonight (19.45, BT Sport), yet only two points separate the sides.
“So literally every little thing matters, every point does count and we have to make sure we realise that,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen after naming his team early before flying to England.
“We’re going out to win the game, clearly, but when you’re in the situation you need to make sure you can get what you can out of it.”
A win would be more than welcome. Leinster haven’t experienced victory on the road in Europe since Ian Madigan kicked seven penalties in Castres in 2014. Six defeats and a draw have followed since.
However, there’s no better example of a good salvage job well done than Leinster’s last outing in Europe, when they fought back late on to claim a losing bonus point despite being overpowered for an hour in Montpellier. Cullen had a wry smile as he cast his mind back to a case study of what can go wrong when the foot eases off the pedal. It was his last season as a player and he’s pondered the different paths his final lap might have gone.
“This fixture, three years ago when we put 40 points on Northampton over there and then to lose the following week, and just the knock-on effect that had.
“We had a bonus point (position) towards the end and Jamie Elliott got that breakaway try to deny us a bonus point which meant all of a sudden we had to play away in a quarter-final against Toulon — which happened to be my last game of European rugby I’m afraid.”
Leinster will have to claim these valuable points without Jonathan Sexton of course, but Robbie Henshaw and Sean O’Brien have returned from the injuries that kept them from facing the Wallabies for Ireland.
In Sexton’s place, Joey Carbery will get another big chance to shine in the number 10 jersey, but it’s the solid choices of a game manager that Cullen has demanded first and foremost from the Athy man. He’s no Johnny Sexton, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the eardrums of those closest to him:
“He’s not as grumpy as Johnny, that’s for sure,” joked O’Brien.
“He’s directed us around well this week and in previous weeks too. He’s an excellent player, he has a bit of everything.
“He’s a long way to go still, I think, to being the finished article, but he has a lot of very good attributes and he’s a great lad as well.”
Captain Isa Nacewa will have the kicking tee to ease some pressure from Carbery’s shoulders and outside him will be – with Jared Payne on the long-term injured list – the duo likely to form Ireland’s midfield in the Six Nations: Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose.
Northampton will have a familiar face tasked with unlocking the partnership, Kerry’s JJ Hanrahan giving the midfield a playmaking presence alongside the power of Luther Burrell. That’s as much young Irish midfield talent you would dare hope for in an inter-provincial clash, never mind a seismic Friday night Champions Cup match.
While Saints coach Jim Mallinder has had to hold heavy hitters like Dylan Hartley and Teimana Harrison in reserve - not to mention George North after his worrying concussion last weekend - Cullen has selected a team full of pace and energy in a bid to start fast and further dent the hosts’ confidence.
The head coach insists internationals Zane Kirchner and Mike McCarthy were fit and available, but he has instead gone without a recognised second row among the replacements (though Rhys Ruddock and Jack Conan have operated there) and given the excellent and very in-form Adam Byrne his European debut.
“It’s great to see Adam and his development this year. He came through a number of years ago and just got an unlucky run of injuries. He broke his leg, came back and broke his other leg. So he was a bit stunted in development, but he works really hard and I’m delighted with the way he’s progressed this season. He’s fully deserving of his opportunity.”
Having suffered in last year’s tournament, Leinster have an excitement opportunity as a collective tonight: to grab control of Pool 4.
Northampton Saints:
15. Ben Foden
14. Ken Pisi
13. Luther Burrell
12. JJ Hanrahan
11. Jamie Elliott
10. Stephen Myler
9. Nic Groom
1. Alex Waller
2. Mikey Haywood
3. Paul Hill
4. Michael Paterson
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Jamie Gibson
7. Tom Wood (captain)
8. Louis Picamoles
Replacements:
16. Dylan Hartley
17. Ethan Waller
18. Gareth Denman
19. Api Ratuniyarawa
20. Teimana Harrison
21. Tom Kessell
22. George Pisi
23. Ahsee Tuala
Leinster:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Adam Byrne
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Joey Carbery
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack McGrath
2. Sean Cronin
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Bent
19. Rhys Ruddock
20. Jack Conan
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Rory O’Loughlin
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