These two have had a couple of Grand Final shoot-outs in the last four seasons, making the champions’ first home game of the season one of the stand-out fixtures of the Rabo Pro12 calendar. There’s added intrigue in the prospect of them renewing hostilities again four weeks hence in a Heineken Cup pool opener in Swansea, though the temptation to keep their powder dry will be hard to resist.
During the week Eoin Reddan admitted that this match-up had crept up a little early in the sides’ respective season – as their first meeting usually does. In truth, the pity is that it has crept up so soon, given the absence of so many stellar names still inching their way back from Lions duty.
In addition to Leinster’s missing quintet, the Lions’ winning captain from the third Test, Alun Wyn Jones, along with the tour’s outstanding player, Leigh Halfpenny, are another week away from returning to action, while Adam Jones and Richard Hibbard are on a heavyweight bench.
This is the same formula as last week in Treviso, save for another Lion, Ian Evans, being promoted from the bench in place of the injured Ryan Jones (shoulder), when the Ospreys demonstrated typical obduracy, resilience and set-piece strength in avenging their opening day loss in Stadio Monigo of a year ago.
New recruit
The departure of the outstanding Samoan scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali'I to Northampton compounded the long-term injury to Rhys Webb but their new recruit from Zebre, Tito Tebaldi, made an impressive debut. With a driving maul, strong set-piece and a kicking scrum-half to supplement a good defence – not to mention Dan Biggar, a regular thorn in Leinster's side – this Ospreys team ought to be a severe test.
No doubt mindful of the Ospreys' potency up front, Matt O'Connor has changed half his pack, by promoting the renowned scrummaging of Mike Ross and Mike McCarthy from the bench, while also pitching Richardt Strauss and Kevin McLaughlin in from the start.
Otherwise though, true to his avowed desire to maintain a degree of continuity, Leinster's new coach has named an unchanged backline, with Fergus McFadden's hamstring meaning Brendan Macken retains his place at centre. Thus Ian Madigan has to be content with a place on the bench for his seasonal return to action after Jimmy Gopperth's eye-catching 22-point debut last week away to the Scarlets.
The latter may have finished above the Ospreys by a place last season, but amongst the Leinster squad and supporters this evening’s visitors would be regarded as an altogether bigger danger.
Last May's win over the Ospreys here, which extinguished the Ospreys' hopes of reaching the semi-finals and retaining their crown, also exorcised a few demons as it was Leinster's first win in five meetings and only the second in the last eight clashes. This included two Grand Final defeats at the RDS.
Tricky opponents
Acknowledging they have been tricky opponents, Leinster forwards' coach Jonno Gibbes said: "I think with their stability and their personnel they've been able to get comfortable with a certain approach and they've got some big 'rigs' up front. Their pack is pretty well equipped. Their scrum has been pretty influential in some matches and I don't see that changing too much with the new rules.
“They’ve got a big midfield, they carry well and they back their ‘D’ – they enjoy their defence. Out in the back they’ve got a bit of threat with turnover ball, they can create a bit of damage. So the challenge for us is to have a quality platform to work off, to meet them physically with our defence. If we let them carry too much they enjoy that side, and I guess the scrum will always be a key point for us.”
Leinster can ill-afford 11 missed tackles and the concession of 13 points in the opening 15 minutes as they did a week ago, but will be ill-inclined to do so against these opponents and in front of a big crowd (14,700 tickets were sold as of yesterday). Stiffer up front, which they'll need to be, the skill levels and execution in some of their five tries suggest that Leinster should ultimately have more about them.
LEINSTER: D Kearney; D Fanning, B Macken, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Gopperth, E Reddan; J McGrath, R Strauss, M Ross, D Toner, M McCarthy, K McLaughlin, S Jennings (capt), J Murphy. Replacements: S Cronin, J O'Connell, M Moore, T Denton, R Ruddock, I Boss, I Madigan, D Hudson.
OSPREYS: R Fussell; B John, A Bishop, A Beck, E Walker; D Biggar, T Tebaldi; R Bevington, S Baldwin, J Rees, I Evans, J King, T Smith (Capt), S Lewis, J Bearman. Replacements: R Hibbard, D Jones, A Jones, T Ardron, M Allen, T Grabham, M Morgan, J Hassler.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU).
Forecast: Leinster to win.
