RUGBY CHAMPIONS CUP
The fruits of our labour
LEO: WE’LL RELY ON SQUAD
Daire Walsh
LEO CULLEN has full faith in his squad despite missing his influential joint-captains.
James Ryan is expected to be sidelined with an arm injury for another couple of weeks at the very least.
But it was hoped that Garry Ringrose would have shake off a shoulder issue in time to face Leicester in their Champions Cup last-16 bout this evening.
In their absence, Caelan Doris will lead Leinster at the Aviva.
Cullen said:
“This time of the year, that’s just the nature of running a professional rugby team. It’s rare that you are going to have what the outside perception is of your best 23 available.
“You need to be relying on the group that you have, the squad and making sure you plan for these eventualities.”
As it turns out, their opponents Leicester are in much the same boat with England international George Martin ruled out, as well as Wales star Tommy Reffell.
Even with a new head coach added in the summer, Cullen knows what to expect from his former club in their second meeting this season.
He added: “They have pretty good experience across their group, Leicester. Their DNA is their DNA. They have obviously had a change of coach recently enough with Dan McKellar coming in, but they will go back to forward power and trying to disrupt.
“They have a strong kicking game, they kick the most of the teams in the competition now. It tends to suit these types of games, which is more pressure, knockout games.
“We have seen that at the highest level over the last couple of years. We need to make sure we have prepared for certain things in their game.”
Both teams may need to rely on a strong kicking game, due to the presence of Storm Kathleen.
Although Dublin is not one of the five counties expected to have severe winds today, a Status Yellow wind warning is in place for the entire country from 5am until 8pm.
Considering 8pm is also the kick-off time, it is hoped that the worst of the storm will have subsided.
However, should conditions prove to be tricky, Cullen is confident his side will adapt.
He continued: “The weather does play a big part in this game that we play. We’ve got to play in all sorts of conditions. Think back to La Rochelle away. The conditions were pretty horrific that day.
“Out there earlier on and the wind is due to be a lot stronger tomorrow. Supposed to ease a little bit by kick off so we’ll see how that plays out.
“The Aviva is more enclosed depending on what way it comes. One end is a lot more protected than the other end. It has a tendency to swirl in the stadium anyway, which is another dynamic.
“Adaptability, I think, is key. Again, when you get to this knockout stage it’s a consideration because you’d like to play. There’s definitely more a feeling of shelter at the big end. I think it’s does drop a little as the game goes on, but we’ll see how that progresses.”