Dexcom Stadium is the place to be tomorrow night (Friday 7.45pm ) when Connacht host Leinster in the first URC interprovincial fixture of the season.
Connacht’s head coach Stuart Lancaster, who has intimate knowledge of both teams, having also coached Leinster to a 2018 Champions Cup victory and four Pro12/14 titles, describes this clash in Dexcom as a “huge game for a whole variety of reasons”.
Leinster are the “benchmark” team, despite currently being only three points ahead of Connacht on the URC table, and the last five meetings have gone Leinster’s way, including a comfortable win last season at both the Aviva and the opening of Dexcom Stadium.
“It’s our first inter pro, and we know from two years ago, we didn't get any return. We did a little better last year, but we didn't manage to beat Leinster, so we know they're the benchmark,” says Lancaster.
Certainly Leinster are the pedigree team, but in terms of statistics, Connacht currently are holding their own. Although Connacht have scored one more try than their counterparts with 17, Leinster sit in sixth spot, Connacht in eighth.
Leinster also prevail in metres gained and defenders beaten, similarly visits to the 22 - Leinster 49 and Connacht 42. And Stuart Lancaster is well aware of Leinster’s attacking prowess, currently Leinster have beaten 24.8 defenders, Connacht 19.8.
However, the gap is closing, and it will be interesting to see how both teams adapt their game in Dexcom. While Connacht rely more on keeping ball in hand, Leinster have adapted their kicking game with some 99 kicks in play to Connacht’s 72.
“Obviously I know them [Leinster] well,” says Lancaster. “I am hugely respectful of the coaching team and the players as well. So it’s a big, big week for us.”
Opportunity
Both sides will be missing internationals which, says Lancaster, will provide an opportunity for “younger lads” to be involved.
“Obviously, Leinster are missing a lot of internationals, we are missing eight, so to give some younger lads an opportunity to experience an inter pro is not a bad thing in my opinion. It’s a great opportunity for the other lads to play in a game of this intensity,” he says.
“We're hugely excited about it. We know we'll need to do our best because they managed to beat us comfortably at the Aviva, and then even on that emotional night for the opening at Dexcom, they did the job on us as well.”
Lancaster says the Six Nations and November internationals provide the ideal opportunity to give younger players a chance.
“The young lads would come through - they'd be put on the bench and they'd get a start, and this will be no different. Leinster will be in the same situation - obviously, they're missing more. But for us, it's a chance for the lads who've been on the fringes and had an opportunity in the last two weeks to get a game.”
No official squad update is available from Connacht, but two players, Shane Jennings and Thomas Connolly, are definitely ruled out following HIA protocols.
However, both Harry West and hooker Dave Heffernan are passed fit, similarly former Leinster players Will Connors and Jerry Cahir, and outhalf Josh Ioane, who was unavailable last week due to the birth his child.
Still likely to be unavailable are scrumhalf Ben Murphy, Dylan Tierney Martin, and Hugh Gavin.
Lancaster also has been boosted by Connacht’s European display, particularly against the English premiership side Saracens.
“Saracens was a big game - a European Champions Cup game - we had some of the best English players, and I thought we played with confidence,” he says.
“Confidence only comes from competence, and improving your skill and getting better every time. I know the challenges that Leinster bring will be completely different to the ones Zebre brought. And being an inter pro changes the dynamic as well.”
Leinster are battle-hardened from their first inter pro, he says.
“We just need to be up to speed from the get-go so we can put our best foot forward and start the game well, which will get the crowd into it.”
