Leinster Lions v Sale Lansdowne Road, 7.45 On TV: Net 2, Sky Sports 1Gerry Thornley reports
Leinster have had limited success with their initial move to Lansdowne Road for their Heineken European Cup pool matches, but tonight's meeting with the Sale Sharks should come a good deal closer to vindicating the decision. The "Lansdowne roar" might be too much to ask for, but the experience should be something closer to Friday nights in Donnybrook.
It would probably require a crowd well in excess of 20,000 to replicate the atmosphere of their customary home up the road, but despite weather forecasts which could be more hospitable to sharks than lions, an attendance in excess of 12,000 is hoped for.
Unlike the soul-less, pre-Christmas Saturday afternoon rendezvous with Biarritz, there will be no shopping counter-attractions, nor clashes with club games, and it will be more suitable to those en route from work. The Dart line will also be operating, and at least supporters know that covered seating can be obtained.
With two sides who like to run with the ball, it also should be more conducive to a good game of rugby, according to Gary Ella.
"I love the atmosphere at Donnybrook, but I reckon we're going to get a better quality game at Lansdowne," the coach said. "The surface is far superior, and we're looking for a firm pitch. Hopefully the weather will stay good and we'll produce some exciting rugby ourselves. We'll take them on in the forwards a little bit, but we want to use our pace out wide, and I think we'll get a better game at Lansdowne Road."
Ella is candid enough to admit winning one's home games is simply imperative toward advancing to the last eight. Alas, last week's spate of withdrawals didn't make the run-out against Ulster ideal, and, compounding an extensive injury list which includes Denis Hickie, Leo Cullen and Emmet Byrne, the Leinster hierarchy must feel they're registration gaffe over Felipe Contepomi is being cruelly and continually highlighted.
Sure enough, Christian Warner was duly ruled out yesterday, so Matt Leek again deputises at outhalf. Against that, Eric Miller was passed fit yesterday, though Aidan McCullen wasn't after tweaking a hamstring at training on Tuesday, so Des Dillon is on the bench.
Like Warner, Leek doesn't have a long kicking game, and it will be interesting to see if Gordon D'Arcy again fills in as an alternative line-kicker, even though he is now on the wing rather than at full back.
Leinster will have to be especially resourceful in this regard and make sure of their touches, for Sale are an altogether more dangerous side off counter-attacking or turnover ball than, say, Ulster a week ago.
"They've got some quick backs and they've a mobile back row, so they'll have support if they move it wide. We've got to be on guard, and we can't afford to miss touch either because their counter-attack is exceptional," says Ella.
This is all the more so now that Jason Robinson has been reinstated at full back after being cramped for space and starved of ball in their defeat to Wasps last week at inside centre. This is one of two changes, with Graeme Bond returning at inside centre, Vaughan Going moving to the bench, and Andrew Titterrell replacing Matt Cairns at hooker.
You'd be advised to whisper it quietly in England, but Charlie Hodgson is probably a more natural runner and distributor than Jonny Wilkinson, and Sale cut an irreverent swathe through the English Premiership for much of last season with their expansive, ball-in-hand game.
In truth, they seem to be experiencing something of a second-season syndrome this time around, though they are holding their own with a 50-50 per cent record in mid-table. They also struggled to put Cardiff away at home until Hodgson's last-ditch drop goal, and were soundly beaten in Biarritz.
Nevertheless, with Byran Redpath and Hodgson back in harness, and Robinson as lethal a broken-field runner as any outside back in the game, they can be dangerous if allowed to shoot from the hip tonight. First off, the Leinster pack need to impose themselves and probably not allow the game to become too footloose and fancy free.
Leinster's lineout, which again reigned supreme last week with seven steals, has been excellent all season, though Ella has identified the defensive Sale lineout as one of the best they have studied all season.
The Sale loosehead, Andrew Sheridan, is one of the great white hopes of English front-row play, as he showed in a try-scoring, man-of-the-match performance against Cardiff. But his scrummaging also earned him a yellow card that night and this may be more of a night for getting down and dirty than galloping around in open play.
Leinster's pack play was again top notch last week, and they are strengthened by the return of Miller and Keith Gleeson. With Dillon upping the pressure and Victor Costello's Indian summer showing no sign of abating they should have the ball-carrying power to put the home side on the front foot. Brian O'Meara's rejuvenation as a goalkicker has been a credit to his mental strength and a boon for Leinster.
Sale are not renowned for their away form and if Leinster get amongst them early on and get the scoreboard ticking over, it will encourage their self-doubts away from home - and maybe even get the crowd into the game and generate a bit of atmosphere.
LEINSTER: Girvan Dempsey; John McWeeney, Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Gordon D'Arcy; Matt Leek, Brian O'Meara; Reggie Corrigan (capt), Shane Byrne, Peter Coyle, Malcolm O'Kelly, Ben Gissing, Eric Miller, Victor Costello, Keith Gleeson. Replacements: Jason Moran, Gavin Hickie, Des Dillon, Shane Jennings, Brian O'Riordan, Brendan Burke, David Quinlan.
SALE SHARKS: Jason Robinson; Mark Cueto, Chris Mayor, Graeme Bond, Steve Hanley; Charlie Hodgson, Bryan Redpath; Andrew Sheridan, Andrew Titterrell, Stuart Turner, Chris Jones, Dean Schofield, Jason White, Alex Sanderson (capt), Stuart Pinkerton. Replacements: Matt Cairns, Kevin Yates, Barry Stewart, Iain Fullarton, Magnus Lund, Vaughan Going, Richard Wigglesworth.
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).
Previous meetings: None.
Formguide: Leinster - 32-6 v Biarritz (home), 24-19 v Cardiff (away). Sale - 26-24 v Cardiff (home), 3-31 v Biarritz (away).
Leading points scorers: Leinster - Brian O'Meara 26. Sale - Braam van Straaten 16.
Leading try scorers: Leinster - Shane Horgan 2. Sale - Mark Cueto, Andrew Sheridan 1 each.
Betting (Paddy Powers): 1/7 Leinster, 25/1 Draw, 4/1 Sale. Handicap odds (= Sale + 13pts) 10/11 Leinster, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Sale.
Forecast: Leinster to win.
