Forewarned is forearmed, or so the saying suggests, so Sunday's opening Champions Cup fixture against Wasps at the RDS should hold few surprises for Leinster.
In the corresponding pool match last season, coincidentally on a Sunday at the RDS on the opening weekend of the tournament, the London club led 20-8 at one point before being overhauled 25-20.
Leinster’s Fergus McFadden – he wasn’t playing that day – has been brushing up on homework ahead of the fixture with a view to trying to ensure a less fraught afternoon.
One of the Irish province's tormentors last season was quicksilver wing Christian Wade, a try-scorer that day. McFadden explained when asked about trying to corral the England international: "I just think not offering him too much space on the edge. I think he comes from a Sevens background and he's an absolute jet so just any sort of space on the edge and he'll just beat players one on one.
"So we'll just look to link together in threes [in defence] and try to get him to cut back inside." McFadden also namechecked former All Black Charles Piutau, expressing surprise than he didn't travel to the recent World Cup as part of the New Zealand squad.
He watched Wasps’ victory over Gloucester last weekend and it merely reinforced his thoughts on the calibre of opposition that Leinster will face at the RDS. “I thought they were pretty clinical. They seem to pride themselves on their defence these days.
“They didn’t concede a try and Wade was on the score sheet again . . . It was Piutau’s first game for them and he looks like a handful in every sense, so it’s going to be tough. I think their squad is better than last year.”
One player he is glad not to be facing in his team-mate from last season Jimmy Gopperth; the outhalf must sit out Sunday’s match as part of a three-game suspension.
Ireland’s demise in the World Cup has benefited the provinces with the early return of players. McFadden explained: “The last two weeks we’ve been feeding some info into the guys who have come back into the setup.
“I think we’ve got a nice run into this game with it being on Sunday. It’s an exciting time, I think we’ve got a great squad and there’s more depth this year than there has been the last few seasons.”
It’s a common theme these days to decry the purse size of the French and English clubs in relation to recruitment but McFadden refuses to regurgitate the familiar refrain.
“I suppose you’ll see over this season and next season [whether it’s got harder for the Irish provinces to win in Europe]. Leinster, Munster and Ulster have been in mix and played some good rugby in Europe [in recent seasons].
“So between those three Irish provinces that have done reasonably well in the competition, I think it will be a good indicator this year to see how we go because you look at the likes of Toulon, the way they’re recruiting, and there’s just a blank cheque-book.”
