This meeting of the last two champions in a reprise of the final two seasons ago, with World Cup final referee Nigel Owens in charge, should have the ingredients to be one of the Guinness Pro12's marquee fixtures. But as the two largest bulk suppliers to the World Cup, each appears to be treading a little wearily and are certainly a long way from their potent best.
Each huffed and puffed their way to less than epic wins at home to Ulster and Glasgow, by 8-3 and 13-6, last week. Admittedly Glasgow are on a run of three successive League wins since losing to Leinster in the RDS, a result which kick-started a sequence of four successive League victories for Leinster.
Alas and alack, the League is sucking the hind tit of the season as winter hits. The forecast of both heavy rain and gale force winds suggests that not even Owens’s empathetic refereeing style will be able to induce a fluent encounter.
Leinster have probably cast a glance or two at the forecast in their selection while adhering to the IRFU’s game management programme as well as keeping one eye on the looming back-to-back meetings with Toulon. The latter’s first-ever win over Clermont at Stade Marcel Michelin last week by 35-9, with a bonus point, was decidedly ominous.
Revamped frontrow
Cullen has revamped his entire frontrow by recalling Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss and Marty Moore, with Mike McCarthy retained and Tom Denton partnering him in the secondrow in what looks like a strong scrummaging unit.
That said, with Jack McGrath, Mike Ross and Devin Toner, along with Jamie Heaslip, Johnny Sexton and Isa Nacewa all being rested, Leinster are missing a few big hitters, while Seán O’Brien’s recovery from the concussion he suffered in the defeat to Wasps three weeks ago has been complicated by an inner ear infection.
The net effect is that Jordi Murphy has been restored at number eight alongside the retained Rhys Ruddock, who will captain the side, and Josh van der Flier. Eoin Reddan and the Kearney brothers return to the backline, with Ian Madigan shifting to outhalf and Luke Fitzgerald to inside centre.
All in all, while seven of their World Cup contingent are missing, nonetheless another dozen will feature, 10 of them in the starting line-up.
Rotated his squad
True to type, Gregor Townsend has rotated his squad, making 10 changes in total to his starting line-up for what is a 6,800 sell-out. Tommy Seymour comes in for Sean Lamont on the left wing, with Peter Horne restored to midfield, while Mike Blair and Duncan Weir form a new halfback pairing.
Townsend also picks a new frontrow of Ryan Grant, 21-year-old Academy hooker James Malcolm (making his first full start) and Tongan prop Sila Puafisi. Fijian secondrow Leone Nakarawa is restored to make his 50th appearance for the Warriors, as are flankers Josh Strauss and Simone Favaro.
Scotstoun, and Glasgow in general, has not been a happy hunting ground for Leinster over recent times. Their 6-0 win there in November 2012 remains Leinster’s sole success in their last nine visits to Glasgow since a 21-18 win at Firhill 10 seasons ago.
Glasgow have also turned Scotstoun into something of a fortress. Their sole league defeat at the ground in 25 matches dating back to early 2014 was on the opening weekend to the Scarlets this season.
Furthermore, Shelva Mamukashvili, Tim Swinson, Rob Harley, Finn Russell and Sean Lamont are all named on what seems a stronger-looking Glasgow bench.
GLASGOW WARRIORS:
S Hogg; T Naiyaravoro, A Dunbar, P Horne, T Seymour; D Weir, M Blair; R Grant, J Malcolm, S Puafisi, L Nakarawa, Jonny Gray (Capt), Josh Strauss, Simone Favaro, Adam Ashe.
Replacements:
S Mamukashvili, J Yanuyanutawa, Z Fagerson, T Swinson, R Harley, A Price, F Russell, S Lamont.
LEINSTER:
R Kearney; Z Kirchner, B Te’o, L Fitzgerald, D Kearney; I Madigan, E Reddan; C Healy, R Strauss, M Moore, T Denton, M McCarthy, R Ruddock (capt), J van der Flier, J Murphy.
Replacements:
S Cronin, P Dooley, T Furlong, R Molony, D Ryan, I Boss, C Marsh, G Ringrose.
Referee:
Nigel Owens (WRU)
Forecast:
Glasgow to win.
