Champions Cup Pool A: Leinster v Bath
Kick-off: 3.15pm, Saturday. Venue: Aviva Stadium. How to follow: The Irish Times liveblog will begin at 2.45pm. On TV: Live on BT Sport.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admitted that three positive cases among his players, and one staff member, was a disconcerting development, albeit there were other teams in much more trying circumstances ahead of the opening weekend of European rugby action.
“It’s always concerning. Every day we’re in here, every one outside in society at the moment [is the same]. From a personal point of view, I’ve young kids in school and, one of my kids in particular, in the pod, there was someone out with Covid so it always feels like it’s very, very close at the moment.
“A couple of guys this week; it is what it is. Thankfully they’re okay, we just manage them through. We’ve had some cases over the last while. I think back to last Christmas and that was quite a messy period, we lost a couple of people at that stage, particularly around the close contact bit as well.
“We’re learning all the time, how we best manage it. We do all we can about how to minimise the risk and even this week, extra testing and all the rest to make sure we’re covering all the bases as best we can.
“So yeah it’s something that we have to deal with there are other teams out there in a much more challenging scenario than we are it’s fair to say. We’ve got a big group of players registered for Europe this year, way more than we would have had in the past so that certainly allows the teams much more flexibility as well.
“You know we’ve a lot of people through being tested and for the most part guys are okay. Thankfully even the guys who are the cases, the symptoms are very, very mild, generally speaking, which is good.”
Cullen makes seven changes to the starting XV from last week’s win over Connacht for their Champions Cup opener against Bath at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.
The Irish starting frontrow in all three autumn series wins – Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong – are restored, as is Ross Molony. Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne also return at halfback while Ciarán Frawley comes in at inside centre, with Robbie Henshaw a notable absentee.
Rhys Ruddock will captain the side and on the bench there are potential European debuts for Michael Ala’alatoa, Dan Sheehan and Tommy O’Brien.
One consolation for Cullen was the knowledge that Leinster can still put out a strong team.
“We have plenty of experience. Without going into the individuals on the bench, there’s plenty of experience there as well so it’s about delivering a performance now that is a bit of a signal of intent for the group and tries to build that momentum piece for Montpellier next week. It’s going to be a short turnaround.
“Over the four games in Europe it’s making sure we’re battling for every single point that’s there because that’s the big thing that matters for later in the season.
“Even though there’s lots of things to unfold between now and then, the only thing you can control is what you can control so that’s the bit that we can control right now, making sure we have a big performance at the Aviva in front of hopefully a big crowd,” he said, adding wryly: “I believe there’s still a few tickets on sale.”
LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Ciarán Frawley, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Ross Molony, Ryan Baird; Rhys Ruddock (capt), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Michael Ala'alatoa, Devin Toner, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien.
BATH: Tom de Glanville; Semesa Rokoduguni, Will Butt, Max Ojomoh, Will Muir; Orlando Bailey, Ben Spencer; Lewis Boyce, Jacques du Toit, Will Stuart; Josh McNally, Charlie Ewels (capt); Tom Ellis, Richard DeCarpentier, Josh Bayliss.
Replacements: Tom Dunn, Arthur Cordwell, D'Arcy Rae, Will Spencer, Joe Simpson, Gabe Hamer-Webb, Tom Prydie.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France).
