Matters of great importance. Tyler Bleyendaal’s nickname is “Swifty”, a moniker that travelled with him from its origins in New Zealand. It’s nothing to do with the former outhalf’s speed as a player, or an allegiance to the famous American songstress.
In matters of other importance, Leinster unveiled a positive medical prognosis ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup match against La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre. Hugo Keenan, Ciarán Frawley, Jack Conan and Thomas Clarkson have all recovered from injury and are available for selection.
Keenan hasn’t played since damaging a wrist in Ireland’s victory over Australia in the Autumn Nations series, Frawley rolled his ankle and was taken off in the URC win over Connacht, a game in which Conan also picked up an injury. Clarkson had picked up an arm injury in the European win over Clermont Auvergne.
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Jamie Osborne, Jordan Larmour and Tommy O’Brien all came through the game against Munster with no issues after their respective return from injury, and are available for selection. Max Deegan has come through the graduated return to play protocols and is available to Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.
Tadhg Furlong is due to step up his rehabilitation this week and will be further assessed before a final decision is made. Bleyendaal was asked about the tighthead prop’s progress and that of wing James Lowe.
“The good thing about last week was the training week so we could integrate those guys safely, there was no pressure, so now we’re ramping up his intensity and we have to see how he [Furlong] recovers from those sessions and assess him later in the week. He’s allowed to train. We’re hopeful to have him back with us before the international break anyway.”
Lowe? “He’s still away from team training at the minute but hopefully he’ll reintegrate soon. I’m not sure how long ‘soon’ is, but he’s not training with us at the minute,” Bleyendaal explained before going on to suggest that it would be before the start of the Six Nations.
In other matters of housekeeping, Dan Sheehan is making good progress from his ACL injury and has returned to on-field training as part of his rehabilitation programme. James Culhane is out with a hamstring injury, while Michael Milne sustained a groin problem in the recent win over Munster in an A match.
Leinster’s defence and physicality have commandeered more headlines in the analysis stakes of late, but as the attack coach, Bleyendaal pointed to the communality of the effort to fine tune all aspects of the team’s patterns.
“We’re working hard to integrate the kicking game, the attacking game, the defensive game, and we’re putting a lot of energy into that and how it all combines together. Purely from an attack point of view, we’re probably making too many simple errors at the wrong time, which is stopping our flow, which [in turn] is stopping our ability to build and probably look good.
“Big-picture-wise, we’re still scoring points, we’re getting the opportunities, we’re very clinical at times and we’re getting points from that. I think we can just do a better job sooner or more effectively. Myself and Jacques [Nienaber] work closely together.
“You defend to get the ball back and once you get the ball back, I must understand his defensive system and who is going to be available to attack [at that moment]. Likewise, when we’re attacking and if we turn it over, now we’ve got to understand how to scramble to defend.
“It’s all intertwined. The kicking game ties it all together. When we’re attacking with the ball, if it is going well, you stick with that, if it’s not going well, how do you kick before you turn it over can be something to consider.”
Bleyendaal pointed to the fact that in reality he’s only had the full squad with its international contingent for six weeks, maybe four games, and that there’s a balance to be struck in the evolution of the attack.
“You’re trying to grow a whole squad’s understanding and skill sets and align with Jacques and how we are defending, so it’s just a good process, good challenge. I was aware it was going to be like that, and I don’t think we’re behind schedule. We’re just enjoying the challenge, we want to perform better, and we set our own standards that we’re trying to achieve, especially in the attack.”
Quick ball is the lifeblood of that ambition, and securing it at the breakdown opens a welter of possibility. Bleyendaal agreed: “It’s Sean O’Brien’s area of expertise, the players lead it, but over the past few weeks it’s an area that Leinster have earmarked” because, as Bleyendaal admitted, “your game doesn’t flow”.
“You can have all the plans, great shape, players and structures, but if you don’t get the ball to play off it is worth nothing. We’ve seen good growth there the last few weeks, but it will have to be up another level for La Rochelle.”
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